Wine & Sunshine: The Perfect Spring Evening
A quiet evening in Gateshead’s Railway Quarter.
Sunshine streams through the window. Shopping bags sit by my feet. A glass of bubbles catches the light. For me, this is the perfect spring evening.
Lately, I’ve been appreciating a slower pace at the weekends, and finding time to properly unwind and switch off for a while. It’s so easy to fixate on filling the blanks in your calendar, but there’s something to be said for leaving space to relax and just be.
Sometimes, no plans are the best plans – and a glass of wine is all you need. Find out how I spent a sunny afternoon in the Railway Quarter – with sunshine, easy company, and a very good choice of vino.
Axis, Gateshead
Having spent the afternoon browsing the shops (and doing my bit for the local economy), it only made sense to linger in the sunshine a little longer – especially after the winter we’ve had.
I found myself at Axis, a tucked-away bar in one of the Railway Quarter’s archways in Gateshead. Inside, exposed industrial textures are softened with greenery and quirky artwork, and complemented by a wonderfully laidback atmosphere (read more about the Railway Quarter here).
There was a steady hum to the space, with a sunny Saturday afternoon and match day keeping things lively. I sat nestled in the window seat, which is ideal for a spot of people watching. Top tip: this corner is a real suntrap if you’re after some sun (though we did have to shuffle along after a while, unless we fancied slowly melting).
Enjoying the first taste of spring sunshine.
What they said.
The space filled with soft shadows as the sun went down.
A glass of something good
The afternoon softened into evening, and I soon found a glass of bubbles that became an instant favourite. Axis is known for its range of craft beers and natural wines, and my usual go-to is the Chin Chin Vino Verde (highly recommend).
That was until we stumbled across Mikaël Bouges Clic Clac – a French sparkling wine with notes of apple, citrus, pear, and honeydew melon. I personally picked up a lot of vanilla through both the aroma and taste (which is ideal, as I’m obsessed with anything vanilla). It was incredibly smooth and went down a treat, so if you’re after an easy glass of fizz, I’d definitely recommend it. I’ve since been calling it “Birthday Cake Fizz” – you’ll understand why once you try it.
There was also a chilled red that we spotted on a lot of tables, so we decided to try a glass of La Vrille et Le Papillon ‘Silène’. It was light, juicy, and best served cold – not your typical red, but it worked really well. It’s such a nice way to make red wine feel a bit more summery.
Mikaël Bouges Clic Clac.
A glass of French fizz.
A glass of La Vrille et Le Papillon ‘Silène’.
A blissful afternoon
It’s easy to forget how nice it is to slow down and spend time in places like this. For me, there’s nothing better than catching up over a glass of bubbles and having a good old chat – about the small things, the ordinary things, the things you’re looking forward to.
Lately, I’ve been trying to do more of it, to enjoy what’s close to home and not always feel like every weekend needs to be filled with extravagant plans. Axis was a good reminder of that: somewhere easy to sit for a while, enjoy a glass of wine, and watch the afternoon slip into evening.
And sometimes, that’s all you really need.
Axis has a soft, subdued industrial interior.
The bar looks out onto Wellington Street in the heart of the Railway Quarter.
Don’t miss the weekly specials.
Sunshine and wine. A lovely evening.
