Beloved UK food chain closes iconic shop after 36 years

After nearly four decades of serving loyal customers from behind its counter, a beloved and well-frequented branch of Dicksons has closed its doors in the North East. However, regulars need not despair, as while that particular Dicksons has shut up shop in North Shields, the town is set to welcome a brand new one.

Much like the famous Geordie bakers Greggs, Dicksons is a proud North East institution that many have visited since childhood, whether for its meat, sweet treats, a generously filled sandwich or its speciality — the often divisive saveloy dip. Having first opened its doors in the early 1950s, Dicksons still boasts shops throughout the region, from Pelaw to Peterlee, Boldon to Battle Hill, Whitley Bay to Wallsend and Concord to Cramlington. Sadly, however, the Bedford Way branch in North Shields is no longer amongst them, reports Chronicle Live.

Its closure was confirmed several weeks ago and, on Friday, the shutters came down for the final time, with the occasion marked in a heartfelt post on the Dicksons Instagram page.

This was just days before the new North Shields Dicksons is set to open its doors to its first customers on the high street.

Bidding a fond farewell to Bedford Way, the post read: “5 Bedford Way. 36 years. Countless memories. Closing these shutters is emotional! Tracy, the manager, has worked in this shop for 23 years! To every single customer who walked through those doors, supported us, shared a chat, thank you.

“Truly. You’ve been the heart of Dicksons from day one. This may be the end of an era, but it’s not goodbye. A new Dicksons opens next week… and we can’t wait to welcome you back for a brand new chapter.”

Mike Dickson was there for the launch of the new shop earlier this month and gave a bit of background to how the business started back in the early 1950s.

He told ChronicleLive: “My grandfather met a German woman, Helen in Howdon. They fell in love, got married, set up the first shop in 1953 in South Shields. It’s still there today and we’ve grown to 32 sites now.

“We produce all of our products in South Shields – Tyne Dock. We were in the Beacon Centre a long time, with Tracey the manager, I think there for the whole duration. We’ve got a lot of long-serving staff in the new shop, which is a bit of a redesign to be more contemporary and current.”

On what people can expect from the new Dickson, Mike added: “Originally we were a butchers, but we’re not really defined by that anymore. Our new descriptor, as we do so many different things, is ‘breakfast, lunch and tea.’ We’re known for the saveloy dip, which we’ve got in, as well as pies, fresh salads and jacket potatoes, great barista coffee. Loads and loads of different things.”

This year has seen considerable upheaval for Dicksons, with its Newcastle city centre branch — having been placed on the market last year — now shut, shortly to be taken over by a major new chippy as popular Scottish fish and chips favourites Blue Lagoon arrive.

The full list of Dicksons’ locations (currently open at the time of writing):

• North Shields: Bedford Street, NE29 6QF
• Sunderland: Durham Road Retail Park (SR3 1TQ), High Street West
• South Shields: Fowler Street (NE33 2LR), Horsley Hill Square, and Prince Edward Road
• Jarrow: Edinburgh Road (NE32 4BB) and Hedworth (Fellgate Avenue)
• Gateshead: Interchange Centre (NE8 1BH)
• Newcastle: 124 Shields Road (NE6 1DS) and 77 Grainger St
• Other Areas: Hebburn (St James Mall), Guide Post, and Washington (The Galleries)