Narc. Magazine Online
Reliably informed
Online shopping and deliveries
Image: Curvy Sounds
In the last of our serialised editions of Reasons to be Cheerful, we’re focusing on where you can buy direct from independent retailers, from musical instruments to beer!
If you’d like to tell our readers your news, please get in touch: narcmedia@gmail.com.
As things seem to be changing on a daily basis at the moment, we apologise for any errors or changes to what’s listed here.
So much more than a musical instrument and repair shop, Curvy Sounds provides a thoroughly important community service to musicians. The Heaton Hall Road shop is determined to help artists in their endeavours to create. Repair work is currently on pause while they catch up with orders, but they will create a collection service at the shop, arranging a time when customers can collect purchases made online or repairs from the shop doorstep if they are able to. They’ll post all updates on their website and socials and their online shop is available at any time.
Netflix and Amazon may have sorted out your viewing needs in isolation, but when things return to normal the lure of the big screen will be hard to resist. We recommend purchasing a voucher for Tyneside Cinema to help see the independent picture house through this rough time. They’re also appealing for donations, which you can do online or by texting TYNESIDE and your chosen amount (10, 20 etc.) to 70085.
The #artistsupportpledge is helping artists through a simple concept; they post images of their work that they are willing to sell for up to £200 each (plus shipping) and each time they reach £1000 of sales, they pledge to buy another artist’s work for £200, helping others within the artistic community.
It’s never been more important to keep your local record store in business. All our regional stores are able to offer web shopping and deliveries, so check individual pages for information. Some, like Newcastle’s Beyond Vinyl, are also setting up live streams and podcasts. 586 Records, Beatdown Records, Beyond Vinyl, Reflex CD & Vinyl, RPM, Saxosoul Records, Sound It Out Records, Vinyl Guru
Buy direct from some of the region’s best breweries, bars and producers. Get in touch if you’d like to be added to this list
Beer
Allendale Brewery, Anarchy Brew Co, Box Social, Brinkburn Street Brewery, Credence Brewing, Cullercoats Brewery, Donzoko Brewing Company (who also sell local produce), Durham Brewery, Errant Brewery, Firebrick Brewery, Full Circle Brew Co, Grounding Angels, Hadrian Border Brewery, McColl’s Brewery, Northern Alchemy, The Golden Smog (Stockton), Tyne Bank Brewery, Wylam Brewery
Wine
Tyneside’s Laneberg Wine
Spirits
Alfie & Fin’s (gin bar, Tynemouth), Durham Distillery, Poetic License
Big thanks to Daisy at Craft Beer Newcastle who let us use some of the info on her website for this list.
Support the region’s independent restaurants by buying your takeaway from them direct. Please get in touch if you’re offering this service (or know someone who is)
109 General Store (open for shopping), Gingerinos (pizza), Goodtimes Tacos, Little Green (vegan), Meat:Stack (burgers, drive-thru only, next door to The Dog & Parrot), Magpye (vegan pie), Pink Lane Bakery, Redheads Mac N Cheese (Friday only), Zucchini’s Pasta Bar
Bellini (Italian), The Calabash Tree (Caribbean), Clean Bean (gluten free), No 2 Church Lane (burgers), The Little Refill Shop
Fat Hippo (burgers), Lebaneat (Lebanese & shopping service), Thai River
Marco Polo (Italian)
Barbarossa (sourdough pizza), Mannequin Cafe (Polish/sandwiches), Oven Restaurant (contemporary), Real Meals Delicatessen
Caruso (Italian), Scrann (pizza/charcuterie), The Waiting Room (vegetarian)
Haughton Chippy, Oven Restaurant (contemporary), Reema (Indian), Santorini Greek Restaurant, Sol Tapas, The Tapas Bar, Tea With Alice (sweet treats/pop-up shops)
Keep in touch with your favourite boozer or restaurant by following local magazines Appetite and Cheers on social media – they promise to regularly share updates from those in the trade.
