Newcastle Restaurant Opening

NORTH East restaurateur Terry Laybourne, is to open new restaurant Caff? Vivo in the Live Theatre, Newcastle in early March.

The 78 cover Italian restaurant is in the city centre, featuring glass fronting and bare brickwork.

Head Chef Luca Mastromattei has worked in his family’s Italian restaurant on the continent, and was chef de partie under Laybourne at Jesmonde Dene House for 18 months.

The menu will feature artisan Italian ingredients in dishes such as Rosemary Foccacia, and Tuna and White Bean Salad.

Caff? Vivo is the latest venture in the restaurateur’s expanding 21 Hospitality Group, all of which are based across the North East.

Laybourne has said of the opening: “I love Italian food and have spent a significant amount of time sourcing the best products we can get from Italy.

"Caff? Vivo will follow the same philosophy as our other restaurants using the best produce to create simple, generous, flavoursome food.

“Our head chef, Luca Mastromattei, has been a big influence in the creation of Caff? Vivo. Cooking’s in Luca’s blood and he’s an excellent chef.

Mastromattei said of the new restaurant: “The atmosphere will be light and bright and we’ll offer authentic sunshine food characteristic of the best Italian cooking. I’m really looking forward to seeing the place full.”