2024 has been a year of exciting growth and flavour for Carlisle’s food and drink scene.
With new spots opening and old favourites making a comeback, the city’s eating and social scene is full of fresh energy and certainly merits shouting about.
Here’s a look at the ventures we’ve welcomed to the city in 2024:
Bites and eats
Adriano’s
Adrian Ionita, George Furis, Andrew Cromie and Robert Konkoly breathe new life into Adriano’s (Image: Supplied)
Four former employees of a popular Carlisle restaurant brought it back into use in November this year.
The Roman villa-style restaurant at Rickergate, opposite the Civic Centre, closed back in September 2022 after 17 years in the city, falling victim to the energy crisis and staff shortages within the Cumbrian hospitality industry.
The group of former employees decided to reopen the popular venue hoping to bring back the ‘unique dining experience’ that the well-loved venue provided diners in the city.
Smash Shack
Smash Shack van (Image: SAddis) Sam Addis’ fun-loving street food truck hit Carlisle in July, offering smash burgers and hearty street food grub.
Known to sell out on the regular, the new addition to the Carlisle street food scene has proved hugely popular as it pops at various spots throughout the city on a weekly basis.
To find out more about the van’s whereabouts, you can follow the Smash Shack on Facebook.
NACHO NACHO
Nacho Nacho on West Tower Street (Image: Supplied) Undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated food openings in Carlisle this year, Nacho Nacho started as a small venture serving meals from a van at Botcherby Community Centre on Thursday evenings.
In August, Carlisle sisters Gill and Laura Hutton achieved their dream of bringing their hugely popular Mexican food into its first physical location on West Tower Street.
Sketch and Sip
Sketch and Sip owners Agata Ostapowicz and Ada Gumula (Image: Supplied)
Sketch and Sip, based on Carlyle’s Court, is a unique café with a colourful and artistic vibe that encourages visitors to create something while they’re there.
Owners Agata Ostapowicz and Ada Gumula share a passion for art and have had a dream of opening their café for years – with that dream eventually becoming reality in October this year.
The Dhaka
The Dhaka reopens under new management with fresh look (Image: Supplied)
Whilst always being a firm staple in Carlisle, The Dhaka restaurant reopened under new management in November.
The Indian restaurant on London Road welcomed customers back with a new look and menu after a three-week overhaul.
Bridgeside Bites
Jamie & Joshua outside Bridgeside Bites (Image: Supplied)
Local lads Joshua Monk and Jamie Combe, who also run JDM Automotives and JC Car and Commercials, opened the new lunch spot on Rome Street in April.
The deli seeks to offer a fresh take on lunchtime fare, with a commitment to using high-quality ingredients catering to passing trade in the area.
Sage & Vine
Matt Nelson, Jane Beesley and Sofia Giovannini of Sage & Vine (Image: JMoorhouse) At the beginning of the year, the restaurant selling Mediterranean tapas, mezze and wood-fired pizza opened up on Carlisle’s Crescent.
Owner Jane Beesley has run La Mezzaluna, the neighbouring restaurant, for more than 20 years, but was excited about the ‘new challenge’ that Sage & Vine presented.
Tasties Baguette Bar
Tasties Baguette Bar (Image: Supplied)
The grab-and-go sandwich bar on Myddleton Street near the University of Cumbria campus brought new life into the former Cumbria Tasty Bites unit following a full refurbishment towards the end of the year.
Owner Lesley Clark aims to keep prices as ‘affordable as possible’.
La Cueva de La Llorona
Michael (centre), Bruno (right) and bar manager Petru (left) outside the premises (Image: La Cueva de La Llorona)
Michael Boone and Bruno Lokutijevskis brought a new Mexican restaurant to the newly revamped Devonshire Street in November this year.
La Cueva de La Llorona promised to bring the ‘flavours, art, and atmosphere of Mexico’ to the city.
Biggies
Biggies on Cecil Street (Image: Archives)
Biggies, a burger joint dedicated to the American rapper Biggie Smalls, opened its doors on Cecil Street on October 16, promising a ‘notorious taste in every bite.’
Plans for the takeaway had been in the works for around 18 months, with the owners, a group of friends from Carlisle including manager Shaha Alom, delighted once they could finally open.
Zurri Bar & Restaurant
Zurri on London Road (Image: SUPPLIED)
The London Road restaurant was opened in August by Carlisle takeaway owners Koyes ‘Kaz’ Uddin and Shazidur Rahman.
The Indian restaurant was delighted to refill the space of the Bluerare.
Taste of Asia
Taste of Asia (Image: Supplied)
The pan-Asian restaurant opened its doors at the beginning of the year in the former Let’s Greek unit on London Road.
It has a menu that traverses Korean, Japanese, Thai, and Indian cuisines set in an Asian-style and ‘fine-dining’ ambience, promising a treat for all tastes.
Cherry’s Bakes
Cherry’s street food trailer at Border City Autos (Image: Supplied)Carlisle’s newest street food trailer is on a roll, steadily selling out even though it opened only in November.
Cherry’s is open three days a week—Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday—from 9.30am to 2.30pm at Border City Autos, Crown Street.
The trailer offers a mix of hearty breakfasts, home-style comfort food, ever-changing weekly specials, and plenty for the sweet tooths.
London Cafe & Sweet Bar
London Cafe and Sweet Bar is located on London Road, Carlisle (Image: Supplied) The new café opened in the unit of a former London Road tearoom in July, specialising in ‘unique flavours, handmade cookies, cakes, and desserts.’
Bars
West Walls Brewing Co.
West Walls Brewing Co. founders Joe Harrison and Fergus Campbell (Image: Supplied)
The highly anticipated West Walls Brewing Co. launched in July, marking the first city-centre brewery since 1987.
After a year of hard graft, Fergus Campbell and Joe Harrison renovated the former Twisted Wheel site on Carlisle’s West Walls with the venue opening in July.
The brewery’s layout intends to facilitate the perfect space for both large and small groups, with the brewing equipment on public display and the team on hand for anyone fascinated by the process.
Old Bank bar
Old Bank bar on Fisher Street (Image: Supplied)
One of Carlisle’s favourite restaurants added a splash of colour to Fisher Street with the official opening of its new bar area in November.
The new, albeit quirky, drinking lounge, which connects to Carlisle’s number one restaurant on TripAdvisor, aims to accommodate 20 to 25 customers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Owner Matt Rayson said they are ‘overwhelmed’ by the ‘incredible support’ they have received since it opened.
Skool
Pete Moss outside the club venue on Devonshire Street (Image: Supplied)
Former CFM radio presenter Pete Moss opened a new bar on the city’s recently revamped Devonshire Street in November.
Skool will be open six days a week celebrating old school dance music from the 90s and early noughties.
The site was previously home to The Temple tattoo studio which is moving to Cecil Street.
Pete has been a regular DJ in the city centre for the last few years and believes the bar will add something new to Carlisle’s ever-improving night life scene.
The Live Lounge
Live Lounge bar (Image: Supplied)
Ben Read and Kelsey Little, who have previously brought Ballers and Truth nightclub to the city, opened the new bar dedicated to showcasing local talent and supporting emerging musicians on Warwick Road in October.
Speaking previously to the News & Star, Kelsey said: “We want to give these kinds of musicians and performers a chance to shine and grow into what they desire to be as well as using our connections and contacts of current events performers and musicians, from our background in the industry, to create an all-round musical success”.