Member spotlight: Hooked on Group
Date published:
This week we caught up with Hooked on Group to find out how they’re going further with Chamber membership.
Where are you based?
Friars Street, Newcastle, NE1 4XN
How many employees do you have?
75
Give us a brief overview of your business.
The Hooked on Group is the parent company of three successful restaurants in the North East:
- Blackfriars is the oldest purpose-built dining room in the UK and houses an award-winning Restaurant, Banquet Hall, Parlour Bar, Cookery School, Tasting Room, Meeting Rooms and Cloister Garden. It’s a unique venue for client and staff parties and events with a difference.
- Dobson & Parnell offers casual fine dining on Newcastle’s quayside and serves 5 and 7-course tasting menus as well as a set menu for lunch and dinner for business entertaining.
- Hinnies serves a Geordie-inspired menu on the main promenade in Whitley Bay and serves weekend brunch, lunch and dinner – a perfect setting for a business lunch.
Tell us about a recent business success.
In 2023 we will celebrate 21 years since we took over Blackfriars. As well as occupying most of the complex, we also stage more the 700 events per year including weddings, cookery classes, corporate events, food and drink events and wine, whisky and gin tastings.
Plans are underway to extend further into the site which dates back to 1239 and has historical importance in the city. In May they will be launching their exciting new Cloister Garden for outdoor dining and events and they are also launching a new website enabling customers to book onto events and view our spaces more effectively.
Dobson & Parnell was named Taste of the North East in the North East Tourism Awards in lock down and has been shortlisted again this year and has secured listings with Michelin and the Good Food Guide and has an AA Rosette.
We completed a refurbishment of Hinnies in 2022 and were voted Best Value Restaurant by The Journal.
Finally, we were voted a 5-star accreditation with the Good Food Pledge, the first hospitality company in the North East to achieve this award which recognizes that we are a good employer and are good to do business with.
Coaching services
We also launched Uniquethinking which helps North East businesses to grow across the region through coaching. Director Sam will be speaking about Building your Business confidence at the North East Expo on 27 April 2023
Why are you a Chamber Member?
To promote our corporate facilities at our restaurants and the range of events we can host for them including private dining, cookery classes like Ready Steady Cook!, cocktails and canapes, pizza and prosecco nights and wine, whiskey and gin tastings, as well as using restaurants for business lunch or client entertaining.
To work with businesses to offer coaching and consultancy services.
We are also keen to discuss new business ideas and opportunities with like-minded businesses in the region.
For more information see
Blackfriars Restaurant, Friars Street, Newcastle, NE1 4XN | t: 0191 261 5945
Dobson & Parnell, 19-21 Queen Street, Newcastle, NE1 3UG | 0191 221 0904
Hinnies Restaurant, 10 East Parade, Whitley Bay, NE26 1AP | t: 0191 447 0500
Uniquethinking, Friars Street, Newcastle, NE1 4XN www.uniquethinking.co.uk
To read more member spotlights click here.