Small Plates at Arlo Jesmond

Newcastle Bar Interiors and Food Photography


Small Plates and Big Drinks!

This summer Arlo of Jesmond launched it’s yummy new small plate menu served from 6pm along with a diverse range of delicious cocktails, artisan gins and local craft ales to accompany a brand new refurbishment.

Restaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of Jesmond, Newcastle

Restaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of Jesmond, Newcastle


Newcastle people who are Arlo regulars are likely to know the dynamic, warm and truly lovely owners, Lucus and Susan. I met the family around 7 or 8 years ago capturing family portraits of their children at a pop up studio of mine in Gosforth.

We have stayed in touch ever since and a short while after their family shoot they launched Arlo on Brentwood Avenue, West Jesmond. It’s been a fantastic success as a perfect stop off for school running parents in need of coffee, students after a brunch to cure the mother of hangovers and oldies like me loving all things easy and local, live music and great food.

Restaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of Jesmond

 

I am always flattered when they bring me on board for their food and drink photography, asking me to capture new menus, staff portraits, themed evening events and interior design for their website and marketing as they expand and grow. I love feeling part of their dynamic team.

A highlight for me was scoffing cake and coffee one morning and spotting my interior photos on posters in their windows. This was illustration photography of Lucus’ story telling nicknacks that adorn Arlo’s walls and shelves. So this summer when they announced their refurb and the wonderful new bar installation I was thrilled to be there at the launch party.

Restaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of Jesmond, Newcastle

 

The new look and feel is consistent with their well established brand being a cosy, friendly and inviting atmosphere. Materials throughout are natural and inviting much like the food. The rich conker coloured leather upholstery, textured solid wood bar and the soft glowing lights on the metalwork are the perfect Autumnal setting for a sophisticated tasty small plate.

Restaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of Jesmond

 

The food is so fresh it’s absolutely the energy of the place with breakfast, daytime and then an evening menu of small plates designed to eat at the bar with a colourful tipple alongside. I photographed a selection which I sampled afterwards (obviously) so I can vouch they taste as great as they look.

The Japanese Salmon Gravlax is delicate and generous slices of sake wasabi cured salmon with wasabi mayo, torarashi spice and pickled cucumber to make your mouth zing and tingle.

JAPANESE SALMON GRAVLAX
sake wasabi cured salmon + wasabi mayo + torarashi spice + pickled cucumber

Restaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of Jesmond

 

The Mini Poke Bowl, its roots in native Hawaiian cuisine boasts a beautifully seared piece of tuna sitting on an interesting and diverse eastern base of matcha rice, edamame, avocado, wakame, tofu and a pink grapefruit dressing to boot.

MINI POKE BOWL
seared tuna + matcha rice + edamame + avocado + pickled cucumber + wakame + tofu + pink grapefruit dressing

Restaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of Jesmond, Newcastle

 

And for the veggies there is the most yumtastic Buratta. This is a fresh Italian cow or buffalo milk cheese made from mozzarella and cream. The outer shell is solid mozzarella, while the inside contains stracciatella and cream, giving it a gorgeous melt in the mouth, soft texture. I’d mistakenly thought it a poached egg, but it’s way more sophisticated than that.

BURATTA
Italian burrata + tomato salad + fennel seed + peach dressing + toasted sourdoughRestaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of Jesmond, Newcastle

 

The full menu can be found on their website here

Of course the food is great but so are the drinks, equally as colourful as the food and well worth sampling. The cocktail menu is creative and interesting and the gins on offer include two North East made, poetic Licence Picnic Gin from Sunderland and Hepple Gin from Northumberland.

The bar staff are skilled and will whip you up cocktail with a smile, the three potions I photographed were Elderflower Spritz, Arlo Summer Breeze and Espresso Martini. There are also great ales with Camden Hells, Sierra Nevada and lovely local Tyneside Blonde.

How fantastic to see local food made with local ingredients served with locally brewed specialist drinks and all shot by a local photographer of course! Arlo is a wonderful place to eat in Newcastle bringing a buzzing food and drink community together making many of us feel so proud to live and work here. A big bravo to the North East and well done to Arlo!

Arlo Summer Breeze (Strawberry, Elderflower, Rhubarb & ginger gin)
Elderflower Spritz  (Elderfower, Prosecco, Soda)
Espresso Martini  (Vodka, Kahlua, Espresso)

Restaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of Jesmond, Newcastle

Restaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of JesmondRestaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of JesmondRestaurant interiors photography to show the newly refurbished Arlo of Jesmond, Newcastle

 

 

BBC Music Day’s Dementia Initiative

Musical Memories

Today, 26th September the BBC celebrates it’s official Music Day 2019. A large part of this event is the BBC’s Music & Dementia Initiative which highlights the benefit and importance of music to those who are living with Dementia. There are pop up concerts in village halls, sing alongs at charities and and even raves in care homes!

There are over 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK and this is set to rise to over one million by 2021. Mostly the over 65’s are affected but it can also hit us earlier. This initiative boasts over 800 music events held today by collaborating organisations across the country raising awareness whilst having lots of fun.

The BBC recently launched Nile Rogers as the ambassador of this initiative as the subject is close to his heart having a mother and Aunt who suffer from dementia. His mother has had Alzheimers for over 13 years but can sing faultlessly along to old songs from her past. He talks of an ‘internalised’ memory of music, so embedded that tunes and words to songs never leave us.

Nile Rogers BBC World Music Day

The joy that this can bring to those who suffer from anxiety and other stress related symptoms of dementia is becoming strongly recognised and increasingly promoted by charities and support groups nationwide.

I began working with a local charity Chrysalis Tynedale, during a rebrand and renaming of Chrysalis Club this summer by local agency Design Engine. Heather from DE got in touch having worked together on similar local projects and knew my documentary photography style would fit her client’s brief perfectly.

It has been one of the most rewarding projects I have worked on, feeling part of a team and seeing the positive effects that Chrysalis brings to those with dementia, their families and carers. This friendly and fun club based in Hexham works hard to deliver twice weekly workshops with enjoyable themes such as gardening, art, sports and music. The first workshop I photographed was a music workshop taken by local drummer Simon Wood. The images below are a small selection I captured at this event with permission from those involved.

Photography taken in a documentary style in Northumberland by a newcastle based photographer

Photography taken in a documentary style in Northumberland by a newcastle based photographer

 

Simon created a drum circle with the group following simple rhythms with shakers and hand drums then played familiar songs on the hang drums (which look like a bbq and sound like a harp!) which brought big smiles and happiness to the group. This was a documentary photographers dream, smiles, energy, movement, concentration and expression at its best!

Photography taken in a documentary style in Northumberland by a newcastle based photographer

 

Simon then rounded off with the most magical version of  Faithless’ Insomnia, resulting in such an electric and euphoric atmosphere many of the regulars got out of their seats and danced aided by sticks and volunteers. The music seemed to soothe any confusion or trouble and it felt joyous. It was such a fantastic moment I had to hide my watery eyes behind the camera.

Photography taken in a documentary style in Northumberland by a newcastle based photographer

 

Photography taken in a documentary style in Northumberland by a newcastle based photographer

 

Hurrah for charities that bring such relief from the of difficulties dementia and how fantastic that the BBC has the power to bring this to peoples attention and with an ambassador as high profile and delightful as Nile Rogers on their BBC Music Day 2019.

For more BBC info visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/CNd36D4NJfvSq36jNtYWJd/music-dementia

If you like my style and have time to browse more of my event photography please go to https://www.sarahdeanephotography.co.uk/commercial/events-and-editorial/

Simon is for hire for events and workshops and is totes amazeballs. His details are at https://www.simonwoodmusic.com

Design Engine are superb graphic designers and branding experts at http://www.thedesignengine.co.uk/index.html

and the shiny new Chrysalis website is coming soon on https://www.chrysalis-tynedale.org.uk

 

Frenchie Kisses

French Bulldog Portraits
So I was going to write a big blurb about this… but you know I think sometimes pictures speak for themselves. I am portrait photographer and I have a cute puppy! It’s a match made in heaven.
Her name is Blue (Bell) or also known as Batpig, Baby Rhino and my husband’s fave in light of her vast quantities of toxic wind and toilet time; Poopitino Pumpatron. He helped with my shoot, squeaked the toys and wore some pretty sweet trainers- on brand no less. She is a soppy and smoochy French Bulldog and loves the camera… so I just had to share her shots.
I have added some of her dog portraits my to Pets galleries page too so if you are crazy about Frenchies, like a poochy pet photo or want to see more of my studio’s work please go to my studio gallery on this furry link;
Dog Portraits:
Pet Portraits taken in Newcastle Photography studio of French Bulldog PuppyPet Portraits taken in Newcastle Photography studio of French Bulldog Puppy Pet Portraits taken in Newcastle Photography studio of French Bulldog Puppy Pet Portraits taken in Newcastle Photography studio of French Bulldog Puppy Pet Portraits taken in Newcastle Photography studio of French Bulldog Puppy Pet Portraits taken in Newcastle Photography studio of French Bulldog Puppy Pet Portraits taken in Newcastle Photography studio of French Bulldog Puppy
Pet Portraits taken in Newcastle Photography studio of French Bulldog Puppy

Greggs Jolly Genius Ho Ho Ho!

So it’s the talk of the town! Clever old Greggs has thoroughly entertained everyone who has been gazing into Fenwick’s window this Christmas. The display is tasteful and colourful, celebrating 40 years of the iconic Christmas character The Snowman in 2018.

Greggs is situated directly opposite Fenwick and had the fabulous and playful idea of switching it’s front of shop signage to reverse when the crowds flocked this Christmas. So currently when you look in the window or snap with your phone, the Greggs brand is there shining brightly back at you, the right way around!

It surprises you the first time you see it, makes you chuckle and it feels a bit naughty! Greggs and Fenwick are great pals so it’s all above board and people are loving it, sharing across social media, shouting about it in the press and so it’s around a little longer than planned. Very clever advertising indeed!

So here’s where I come in….. Greggs got in touch with a really interesting and fun branding project to create a portfolio of lifestyle shots in a documentary photography style. The aim was to capture real imagery of their diverse customers in Newcastle city centre.

Whilst I was chasing people with their pasties in the rain up Northumberland St it would have been rude not to have got some of this beauty for their archives! As a documentary photographer I thrive on this type of shoot, and working for such an established well known  North East brand makes me feel proud.

Many of you may have seen it either ‘in the flesh’ or even in the “RONIGAAAL” (Chronicle that is…) but those who haven’t you may like to see the effect in my photographs below. But those who plan to visit soon, please look away NOW!

Fenwick's window photography winter 2018 by Newcastle Photographer Fenwick's window photography winter 2018 by Newcastle Photographer Documentary Professional Photographer in Newcastle Fenwick's window photography winter 2018 by Newcastle PhotographerFenwick's window photography winter 2018 by Newcastle Photographer Greggs Photography on northumberland street in Newcastle city centre Documentary Professional Photographer in Newcastle Greggs Photography on northumberland street in Newcastle city centre Greggs Photography on northumberland street in Newcastle city centre

Introducing Emma!

Wowee! 2018 has been absolutely phenomenal! I can’t tell you how grateful I am that I have amazingly lovely repeat clients who are such a delight to work with such as Centre for Life, John Lewis, RTC North, Guide Dogs for the Blind and AHSN NEC and not to mention fab new relationships with Millie’s Cookies, Fentimans, The Helix and last (but certainly not least) Greggs (oh yes, oh yum)! There is not a day that goes by where I don’t thank my lucky stars for the success of this biz. Pardon my French but I bloody love it!

So with all this busy biz as you can imagine I have seriously needed a helping hand. When Emma Cheng, a Photography graduate from Leeds Arts University, returned to her native city of Newcastle this summer she got in touch asking for a intern position at the studio. I was delighted! Emma’s photography work is fantastic, beautifully executed with creativity, sharp graphic compositions and superb retouching and edit skills. Her work really stood out amongst the many emails of requests for work experience I receive from students and graduates.

Emma specialises in product photography and her eye is a fab match for mine. This studio in fact now has not two but FOUR very arty eyes!! So after a few months of training and learning the ropes over these Summer and Autumn months Emma has recently become my assistant on a regular freelance basis. Emma’s role currently supports me behind the scenes, helping edit my shoots turning around hundreds of raw images a day, as general studio assistant and will be supporting my clients when I take two weeks off in January 2019.  As Emma’s role develops we plan to progress and promote the studio’s product photography together so please watch this space for updates and new work. You see now she is held captive in my basement studio at Clavering House in Newcastle city centre and I am certainly not letting her go!

Emma and I are having a great time getting to know one another, sharing a silly sense of humour, educating each other on ‘good old’ and exciting new editing techniques (I am a dinosaur) and old and new music and radio while we work- yes I like radio 4 Woman’s hour and she likes Kisstory and Radio 1! Emma is of tremendous support to me and and this year it feels celebratory, I’ve worked so incredibly hard on building my photography business, celebrating 8 years this spring, that she is the winning prize! I can’t tell you what a relief it is to be out shooting on location knowing my clients work is being edited with skill and care back at the studio by Emma. I am excited to see her how her skills excel, her role develops and how my business grows, so here she is….. introducing the delightful Emma, please give her a big wave and a giant smile!

Staff photos taken in a Photo studio in Newcastle Staff photos taken in a Photo studio in Newcastle Staff photos taken in a Photo studio in Newcastle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff photos taken in a Photo studio in Newcastle

Staff photos taken in a Photo studio in Newcastle