Customers at a upcoming North Shields clothing store will be able to enjoy a sip when they shop as the authority granted the venture a drinks license.
Local surf brand Longsands clothing already has two shops in the region, one in Tynemouth where the business began five years ago and one in the trendy Newcastle Stack container village.
Its popularity has now spread across both the region and the world, with in-store shoppers visiting from Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham, and online purchases coming from as far as Australia.
Now, North Tyneside Council has granted John Armstrong a license to supply alcohol from his new store on Albany Road.
Their clothing, which is inspired by the “cold, hard” conditions faced by North East surfers, is intended to provide a local alternative to the large American brands.
Mr Armstrong said the company is trying something for its new store, which will be called “Longsand Après” and is set to open in three weeks. “We wanted to open in North Shields because the town is having a revival with lots of new bars opening, so we wanted to ride that wave,” he said.
“For the new store we want to be able to offer customers a beer or glass of wine to enjoy while they browse.”
