The catering and hospitality sector in Newcastle
- Head chef salary (July 2019) in Newcastle: £34,050 a year / £16.37 per hour
- Sous chef salary (July 2019) in Newcastle: £25,960 a year / £12.50 per hour
- Chef de partie salary (July 2019) in Newcastle: £24,600 a year / £11.80 per hour
The largest city in the Northeast of England, Newcastle upon Tyne’s reputation exceeds its size. Though only the eighth-most populous urban area in the UK, few cities have had such a disproportionate impact on popular culture. From the world-famous Tyne Bridge (of which the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a copy) to the familiar TV appearances of native sons Ant and Dec, Newcastle is one of the best-known cities in Britain.
This reputation has largely been forged by the gregarious, hardworking nature of its people. The Geordie tones of the Auf Wiedersehen Pet builders were familiar in living rooms up and down the country, as were the sporting exploits of local-boys-done-good Sir Bobby Robson, Paul Gascoigne and Alan Shearer. In Newcastle, football is a religion, and the locals are just as famous for their passionate support of Newcastle United Football Club as they are for their distinctive accent. Music is also in the blood: just ask Sting, Mark Knopfler, Cheryl, and one half of Little Mix.
When it comes to food and drink, however, Newcastle is not particularly on the radar – which is a surprise given its rich culinary heritage. Geordie cuisine has given us pease pudding, the stottie cake, Newcastle Brown Ale, and the UK’s favourite bakery chain, Greggs. Panackelty, a type of casserole, also originated in the nearby city of Sunderland. For lovers of hearty British food, the Northeast is in a league of its own.
But there’s no need for more adventurous chefs to miss out. As a welcoming, cosmopolitan city, the Toon is fast becoming a foodie hotspot. From Gateshead to North Shields, a crop of excellent eateries are popping up all over Tyne and Wear, giving catering and hospitality professionals plenty of choice for employment in the city. Whether you’re after tapas and cocktails or steamed bao buns and beer, Newcastle won’t let you down.
With such a vibrant dining scene and strong wages, Newcastle is increasingly becoming a destination for ambitious catering and hospitality professionals. According to our most recent data, the average head chef in Newcastle earns up to £34,000 a year. A sous chef can expect to take home £26,000, while the average chef de partie makes earns around £11.80 an hour. All of these wages are higher than the national average for these roles.
Newcastle also has plenty of opportunities for catering and hospitality workers looking to upskill. Newcastle College, for example, runs a popular Chefs’ Academy. No matter if you’re a commis chef, bar back or barista, Newcastle is a great place to work in our industry right now.
