South Shields Ice Cream experts expand Walkway site

The expansion allows for an increase in 115 covers at the restaurant on South Shields' sea front and involved building out at both the North and South ends of the existing property.

Minchella & Co has been around for nearly a century and it is now the third and fourth generations that are in charge of the long-standing family business. Trading from four separate locations around South Shields, Minchella & Co also manufactures ice-cream to a secret recipe for sale to shops and restaurants across the North East.

Michael Minchella said: "This expansion is crucial for us as we had seriously out-grown the building we were in. It was my Grandfather that originally travelled from Italy to England in the early 1900s and the business has been in the family ever since then. We're all delighted to see this project complete and look forward to serving more customers than ever."

NatWest part-funded the expansion and the bank's Managing Director of Business Banking, Ian Walters was on hand to meet the owner Michael Minchella.

Ian Walters, Managing Director of Business Banking for NatWest said: "It's been a pleasure to come and visit one of our customers who has really benefited from what our teams are doing in the local area. Michael clearly has a well-respected business and I'm happy we've been able to support him in this expansion."

Dominic Duke, Relationship Manager at NatWest added: "Our relationship with Minchella & Co goes back 40 years and it's great for me to see this come to fruition, they are a famous brand in the North East and going from strength to strength."