Café 16 — Café in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Café 16 is in St Nicholas’ Church Yard, just outside Newcastle Cathedral. The space was once a religious dining hall and now serves as a quiet community café with natural light and traditional wooden tables. It’s best known for its afternoon tea, which must be booked in advance. You can find coffee here during the mornings or cake and conversation in the afternoons, staffed by former prisoners trained through the Oswin Project and using baked goods from HMP Northumberland. The café supports rehabilitation efforts while offering a peaceful setting near historic church grounds.

Café 16 is housed in a former refectory, originally used for religious dining at St Nicholas’ Church Yard. Simple wooden tables and modest finishes reflect its traditional church hall roots. Natural light from large windows creates a calm atmosphere with low noise levels even during peak times. Since opening in 2021 as part of the Oswin Project’s outreach work, Café 16 is run by former prisoners who also bake goods at HMP Northumberland, linking past and present through daily experience.

Café 16 offers quiet mornings with coffee or relaxed afternoons with tea and cake. You can come here alone to work, meet friends for afternoon tea, or enjoy a family visit during opening hours. The café is known for its vegan-friendly menu and baked goods made by former prisoners from HMP Northumberland, a key part of the mission that shapes each day.