21

About 21

21 is the restaurant that shaped a good deal of modern dining in Newcastle. Terry Laybourne opened it in 1988 as 21 Queen Street, with his wife Susan and brother Laurance, and it won a Michelin star within three years. In the mid-2000s it moved a short distance to Trinity Gardens, just back from the Quayside near Broad Chare and the Live Theatre, and shortened its name to 21. It remains the flagship of the 21 Hospitality group, which also runs The Broad Chare nearby. Laybourne has been recognised with an MBE for services to hospitality and, in 2025, the Freedom of the City of Newcastle.

The cooking is described by the restaurant as flavour-first and unashamedly influenced by French classics, served in a large, comfortable, low-lit room that works equally well for a business lunch and a celebration dinner. Menus change with the seasons and lean heavily on ingredient quality rather than elaborate presentation; set lunch and early-evening menus have long made it one of the more approachable ways to eat well in the city. Michelin currently lists it in its guide with a Plate for good cooking. It is a reliable choice when you want somewhere grown-up and central that does not require a months-ahead booking.

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