Mark Toney Ice Cream Cafes in Newcastle Have Closed

One of Newcastle's longest-running family food names has served its last scoop in the city centre. Mark Toney's ice cream cafes on Grainger Street and Percy Street, closed since mid-October, will not reopen.

What has happened

Both cafes closed in the middle of October. A sign at the Percy Street branch blamed an electrical fault, and the company website stopped working at around the same time. On Sunday 1 November, a farewell message from staff was shared on social media, thanking customers. "It's been a pleasure serving you, having a chat, sharing a smile and being part of so many people's days," it read.

The closure was reported by ChronicleLive and picked up by Brit Brief. Infrastructure Now and The Newcastle Drop have since reported the closure as confirmed. The owners have not made a public statement, and we will update this post if the business says more.

A long history in the city

The Mark Toney name goes back to 1892, when the business began selling ice cream in the Grainger Market. The Grainger Street cafe opened in 1962 and the Percy Street branch followed in 1974, and for generations of Newcastle families they were a fixture of a day in town. The business changed hands in 2022.

Where to get ice cream in town now

The city centre still has plenty of choice. Di Meo's is another long-standing North East ice cream name, with a parlour by the Ouseburn, Amorino serves gelato on Grainger Street, and Kaspa's is the place for sundaes, waffles and late-night desserts. Our guide to the best ice cream in Newcastle city centre has been updated to reflect the closure.