The shopping arcade based in Morpeth has recently celebrated the opening of a new trendy café bar called Martino Lounge, marking the first of the Lounges chain to open in the North East.
The former Laura Ashley shop has been transformed into a retro-inspired retreat, with a nod to a glamorous bygone era. Heavily patterned wallpapers, tiling and stripped wooden floors feature alongside oversized vintage sofas, upholstered lounge chairs, eclectic artwork and statement wall and pendant lighting, creating a variety of cosy and elegant drinking and dining areas to choose from. The new café bar also features an impressive, large-scale mural behind the bar featuring historical figure, Emily Davison, who had close family links with Morpeth.
A real home-from-home, Martino Lounge caters for all tastes throughout the day with a varied and innovative all-day menu. Whether it’s a coffee with friends, a long lazy brunch with family or a relaxed dinner and drinks, Martino Lounge is the perfect place to relax and unwind in good company.
The all-day menu features everything from tapas and salads to burgers and buttermilk fried chicken, with vegans and those favouring a gluten-free diet well catered for with their very own menus.
Particular attention has been paid to families with a selection of games, books, colouring pencils and pads on offer. A full menu, highchairs and baby-changing facilities are also available for Little Loungers with the venue also being dog friendly.
With community and neighbourhood at its heart, Martino Lounge will welcome locals looking for a welcoming and relaxed space for regular catch ups, meetings and events – everything from business networking, book or knitting clubs to parent and baby meets and life drawing classes.
Martino Lounge is the 198th opening for Loungers and will create 25 new jobs in Morpeth, with a range of front- and back-ofhouse roles currently available.
The new arrival has strengthened the leisure and hospitality offering at Sanderson Arcade – the centre is already home to Barluga, coffee shop Central Bean and the independent café Morpeth Larder.
Continuing with the new openings, the Arcade also welcomed TUI to its Next store based at Stanley Terrace, providing another welcome boost to the local Morpeth economy.
The company currently has 321 branches nationwide and have a strong partnership developing with high street giant, Next.
Already housing a busy Costa Coffee branch, the Next store has now brought back into use some surplus storage space to house a TUI travel shop complete with Bureau de Change.
The new store is managed by Nicola Atkinson, who has more than 32 years’ experience working with TUI and has generated 7 new jobs with advisors on hand to assist travel goers with their dream holidays offering specialist knowledge in family package holidays, luxury cruises, long haul excursions and European city breaks.
Sanderson Arcade boasts a weekly footfall of 55,000 – 60,000 visitors per week. The centre holds a waiting list for retail and office tenants wanting to join and very rarely has empty space, but anyone wishing to explore starting up or relocating their business to Sanderson Arcade, Morpeth should contact Olly Jansen.
Olly Jansen, 01226 360644
olly.jansen@dransfield.co.uk
www.sandersonarcade.co.uk