Newcastle’s DOOD up for global design award

A Newcastle restaurant is gaining international recognition for its design.

DOOD, a Persian and Levantine restaurant on the city’s Quayside, has been shortlisted in the visual identity category of the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2025. 

The competition celebrates the most creative and innovative hospitality spaces, with this year’s finalists including venues from New York, Miami, Barcelona and Dubai.

Since opening in November 2024, DOOD has impressed visitors with its striking interiors and distinctive menu. 

Housed in a Grade II-listed former map printing house, the restaurant blends the building’s historic character with Persian and Middle Eastern design details, including unique furnishings, hand-finished textures, curated artwork and warm, atmospheric lighting.

DOOD’s branding and interior vision were created by award-winning London-based studio Run For The Hills, known for crafting spaces that combine storytelling, creativity and craft. 

Christopher Trotman, creative director at Run For The Hills, said: “We had an absolute blast collaborating with the DOOD team on this project. 

“They had a brilliant concept, inspired by the nomadic travellers on the ancient Silk Road, and it was a true joy to bring their vision to life. 

“It’s not often we get to create such a rich tapestry, an immersive brand world guests can step into that takes them away to another time and place. 

“It is a brand fully intertwined in the interior space – not just the menus and the usual brand touchpoints you would expect – but through the hanging Persian rugs we created, which subtly feature brand motifs, the framed art on the walls, the design of DOOD’s own beer can (Nomad’s Tale Pale Ale), even the tiles in the bathroom featuring our nomads; they all tell stories of the Silk Road.”

The restaurant has quickly become a destination for North East diners seeking authentic regional flavours, from mangal-grilled meats to freshly baked taftoon bread and traditional Levantine dishes.

Taking place on October 27 at EPIK Dubai, the awards ceremony will put DOOD on a global stage and highlight Newcastle’s growing reputation as a centre for exceptional food and design.

To find out more about the awards, or to view the full shortlist, see here.

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