North East high street ‘legend’ closes down
Written by Jonny Thompson on 4th November 2026
One of Mark Toney’s restaurants which closed last week
A legendary North East restaurant and ice cream parlour has closed down.
Mark Toney & Co, a familiar name to ice-cream-loving families across the North East, has closed its two Newcastle restaurants, with staff being made redundant.
The company has a wholesale business supplying other food businesses and two high-street locations, one on Grainger Street and a second one on Percy Street in Newcastle.
The Percy Street cafe has a handwritten sign in the window saying it is closed “due to an electrical fault” and paper covering the windows, but staff have been told they are being made redundant.
One member of staff, who didn’t wish to be named, confirmed the news, saying: “I work there and was told yesterday I was being made redundant. Devastated – right before Christmas”.
The company’s website is down and the phones aren’t being answered. Companies House shows overdue accounts but no administrator is listed as of yet.
How Mark Toney used to look.
The business dates back to 1892, when it was founded in the Grainger Market of Newcastle by Italian Giovanni Marcantonio, and has been passed through the family for generations. It was sold in 2022 but even then to Chris Raynes, the great-great-grandson of the original founder.
Mark Toney was best known for its traditional Italian-style ice cream, enormous ice cream sundaes, banana splits and knickerbocker glories – a Newcastle favourite for generations.
The family business also served waffles piled high with ice cream, cream and toppings, alongside milkshakes, coffees, freshly made sandwiches and hearty café meals.
For many Geordies, a trip to Mark Toney was about more than just a dessert. Whether it was a childhood treat, a post shopping stop or a catch-up over coffee, its parlours became part of Newcastle’s food and social history.
Spark has contacted Mark Toney & Co Ltd for comment but hasn’t received a reply.
