WYLD, the new rooftop restaurant at Freight Island in Newcastle, is now officially open to the public following a VIP launch event last week. The venue, created by two North East food industry figures, promises a dining experience accompanied by some of the best views of the city.
A standout addition to Newcastle's food scene
The restaurant arrives in a year that has already seen the launch of several new businesses in the city centre, including bars Dirty Murphy's and Duke's, and Brazilian-Japanese fusion restaurant NIPO. However, the largest of the new arrivals has been Freight Island, the multi-million pound entertainment complex first announced in early 2025, which welcomed its first guests a few months ago.
Freight Island has become a popular spot for watching World Cup games and hosts weekly DJs and live music, alongside a range of local food vendors. WYLD now serves as the complex's standalone eatery, described as 'way more than a restaurant,' featuring a chic cocktail bar, a stage for singers, and a catwalk stage set for entertainment events before the year ends.
Menu and leadership
The restaurant is led by Nick Grieves, founder of Michelin-recognised The Patricia and Ophelia, and Lawrence Norman, co-founder of SOKU and 2024 North East Chef of the Year. The menu focuses on live-fire cooking, seasonal produce, and regional ingredients.
Lunch options include oysters, olive fed beef carpaccio, and cochiligie with North Sea crab, while the evening menu features herd fed chicken, dry aged Yorkshire beef, and butterflied sea bream. A Sunday dinner service is also planned, complemented by a schedule of live music and an eclectic cocktail menu.
The restaurant was previewed on Friday, just before its official opening, with a gallery of photos showcasing its interior, open kitchen, and dishes such as confit tuna with coco beans and sausage, and grilled mora farm vegetables with Pont D'Yeu and black olives.
