Though Salt Market Social is on my doorstep on North Shields Fish Quay, I must admit it was only last year that I attended one of their events for the first time and it was a revelation. I was surprised at how big the venue was then blown away by the unconventional and stylish space that lay behind the blue corrugated façade. Industrial chic had been given a quirky twist with the placement of funky upcycled pieces such as an old Waltzer car and spray painted piano. On the ceiling, steel pendant lights hung alongside strings of colourful Chinese lanterns and disco balls. Street art adorned the walls, and the length of the bar had a Prefab 77 paint job.
Keen to find out more about the background and ethos of the business, I met up with Salt Market owner, Barney Miller. His car dealership, Tynemouth Motor Company Select, is on the ground floor of the building and despite being in that business for more than thirty years, it was apparent that his other passion was for collecting – anything and everything it seemed. During my tour of the expansive Salt Market building, I saw that there was something weird and wonderful to catch your eye in every corner and on every wall. Even a barely used back corridor was decorated with the zany, like the female mannequin wearing boxing gloves. Barney explained that he had started going to auctions in his early twenties and had been buying off-beat lots ever since. The eclectic style of Salt Market Social was starting to make sense.
Barney bought the old Cosalt building back in 2017 with business partner and long-standing friend John Fairs. Though the place had come with planning permission for apartments, after input from pal Jim Mawdsley, who had a music and hospitality background, they decided to try out a pop-up venue instead. This took both time and money, building a staircase, two stages and adding essentials such as soundproofing and ventilation. Stalled by Covid, there was a great sigh of relief when Salt Market Social eventually opened its doors in August 2020.
What started as a monthly pop-up is now a hugely successful venture with a packed calendar which has something for everyone, be it enjoying a tribute band, attending a comedy night or watching the match on the big screen. Every musical taste is catered for, from Indie to Country, from Ibiza anthems to Soul. With a 450-person capacity, modern kitchen facilities for four hot food vendors and adaptable seating, the Salt Market lends itself to other events too and is even available for private hire. They have street food events, night markets for arts and crafts and cater for wedding receptions. They even hosted an event for the annual Whitley Bay Film Festival, the Salt Market taking on a Reservoir of Dogs vibe for a themed film showing. The newest addition to the Salt Market’s entertainment programme are day parties – afternoon clubbing – which have proved extremely popular. Barney is a big fan of these events which finish at 7pm. “You can have a great time, enjoy your weekend and still be home for Strictly,” he joked. “Your Sunday isn’t ruined, and you can still get to B&Q,” he added with a grin.
Though Covid delayed the Salt Market’s opening, it is partly responsible for the expansion of the business downstairs into what is known as the Loading Bay – literally the car showroom’s loading bay. Barney initially introduced the Jungle Coffee van there to serve hot drinks to his click and collect customers. A hot food business was added to the mix when Medhead started serving up Mediterranean street food from his Airstream trailer. Barney warmed the place up with cosy sofas and colourful wall art and it soon became a cool place for passersby to call in during a Fish Quay stroll.
A recent addition to the Loading Bay is the equally trendy Salt Bar, a weekend pop-up where you can listen to music from a live DJ and enjoy a beer or something fancier from the cocktail menu. In keeping with the Salt Market’s eclectic décor, the Salt Bar has a vivid graffiti-style mural by Brown Ox Art as a backdrop and even the bar itself is out of the ordinary, having been salvaged during a refurbishment of the main dressing room in Newcastle’s City Hall – a rescued piece of history where many a music icon would have stood back in the day.
Though the Salt Market is undoubtedly a true Fish Quay success, it is an unfinished story. Standing outside on top of the building, Barney teased about future plans for its large, undeveloped flat roof space with stunning river views – a beach bar, a wedding venue? Just watch this space!
