Experienced chef Dean Eccles is behind the new venture which is based at St Nicholas's Cathedral and promises fresh food from the North East
City centre diners rejoice - Newcastle has a new lunch spot.
The interesting-named Dog Leap Cafe has opened its doors at St Nicholas Cathedral, promising fresh food straight from the North East.
The cafe is part of the cathedral building but is accessed via a seperate door and there is an outdoor seating area for when the weather is playing ball.
Owner Dean Eccles says the menu at Dog Leap Cafe is made from local produce and is supplied by a family business in Seaton Deleval, Northumberland.
The cafe contains a deli selling fresh food used in the cafe's recipes, including tomatoes, eggs and potatoes.
And skilled potter Dean makes the cafe's crockery by hand, meaning even the plates are unique.
The 48-year-old has spent the last seven years catering at Tynemouth Golf club but decided he needed a new challenge when the cathedral came calling.
He said: "Since we've been open it's gone really well. Every week we are doing better so we're going in the right direction. Being in Newcastle city centre is great. I'm from Yorkshire but the people up here are the same; you know where you stand.
"Just good, honest, hard-working people. There's no airs or graces, just nice people."
Experienced chef Dean has worked in kitchens all over the world.
Before setting up shop in Newcastle city centre, Dean worked in Michelin-starred restaurants, on Richard Branson's private island and even worked alongside celebrity chef Gary Rhodes.
Dean, the former Yorkshire chef of the year, is originally from Bradford but met Tynemouth-born wfe Sarah while working in Edinburgh and now the pair call the North East home.
And the name of the cafe, which is sure to turn a few heads, is rooted in the surrounding area.
Dean was shown a map of Newcastle from 1680 and the first thing that leapt out at him were the Dog Leap Stairs, so called because they are so narrow a hound could jump from building to building over them.
Dean said: "Behind the castle garth there are some steps that lead down to the Quayside. I wanted a name that anchored the cafe in the local area but wasn't church related. So it was one of thise things."