Mark Toney, Newcastle Upon Tyne
For generations of Newcastle families, a visit to Mark Toney was much more than an opportunity to enjoy an ice cream. It was a childhood tradition, a special treat during a shopping trip and a place where memories were made. Now, reports of a possible closure have raised concerns about the future of one of the city's most recognisable names.
Mark Toney, the historic Newcastle ice cream business whose origins date back to 1892, is at the centre of reports suggesting that a Newcastle city centre premises may have closed on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
The news will be of particular interest to residents of Newcastle Great Park, Gosforth and surrounding communities, many of whom grew up visiting the famous ice cream parlours with their parents and grandparents.
Although the reported closure has been shared by Denis Hazon on social media, the Great Park Gazette has not yet been able to independently verify the information or obtain official confirmation from the business.
No verified explanation for the reported closure is currently available.
Whatever the outcome, the reports provide an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable history of a Newcastle institution that has been associated with family outings, sweet treats and special occasions for well over a century.
A Newcastle institution since 1892
The story of Mark Toney begins not in Newcastle, but in the mountains of Italy.
In 1892, Giovanni Marcantonio travelled to Newcastle from Picinisco, a small Italian village between Rome and Naples, accompanied by his young son Antonio.
Like many Italian families arriving in Britain during that period, the Marcantonios hoped to establish a better life through hard work and enterprise.
Giovanni began selling traditional Italian ice cream from a handcart around Newcastle's streets and markets.
The business gradually developed, with Antonio eventually taking over alongside his wife Angela.
As the family's ice cream became increasingly popular, they opened their first parlour in the Grainger Arcade.
Over the following decades, the Mark Toney name became firmly established in Newcastle.
The business expanded into cafés and ice cream parlours, serving generations of customers who developed an enduring affection for its traditional desserts and welcoming atmosphere.
What started with a handcart eventually became one of the North East's most recognisable family food businesses.
Mark Toney, Newcastle Upon Tyne - 1962
The famous Grainger Street and Percy Street cafés
For many Newcastle residents, the name Mark Toney immediately brings to mind its two long-established city centre cafés.
The Grainger Street café opened in 1962 and has been described by the business as Newcastle's oldest surviving coffee shop.
Its traditional interior, displays of ice cream memorabilia and familiar café atmosphere helped make it a distinctive destination.
Meanwhile, Mark Toney's association with Percy Street stretches back to the 1930s.
The current Percy Street premises opened in 1974, replacing an earlier parlour on the opposite side of the road that had been demolished during the development of Eldon Square.
Located close to Haymarket, the Percy Street café became a familiar stop for shoppers, students, families and visitors travelling into Newcastle.
Both establishments developed their own character while sharing the traditional ice cream recipes that made the Mark Toney name famous.
Over the years, the cafés served much more than ice cream, offering breakfasts, lunches, sandwiches, hot meals, coffee and a variety of desserts.
But for many customers, it was always the ice cream that brought them back.
Knickerbocker glories and childhood memories
Ask people who grew up in Newcastle about Mark Toney, and there's a good chance the conversation will turn to childhood memories.
For some, it was the excitement of being taken into town by their parents and knowing that an ice cream might be waiting at the end of the shopping trip.
For others, it was the opportunity to enjoy a Knickerbocker Glory, banana split or traditional sundae served in surroundings that seemed to change very little over the years.
There was something special about visiting a café that parents remembered from their own childhood.
Those experiences helped make Mark Toney more than an ordinary ice cream parlour.
It became a place where memories were passed between generations.
Grandparents who had enjoyed visits decades earlier could return with their grandchildren, introducing them to the same traditions.
For many people, the familiar shopfront, traditional seating and distinctive desserts became inseparable from memories of growing up in Newcastle.
The company's own history acknowledges this special connection, recalling generations of Geordies who visited as children or met friends in its cafés.
Why the news matters to Great Park residents
Although Mark Toney's cafés are located in Newcastle city centre, their history extends far beyond the immediate neighbourhood.
Residents across Gosforth, Kingston Park, Newcastle Great Park and the wider North East have longstanding connections with the business.
Many people now living in Great Park grew up elsewhere in Newcastle and will remember visiting Mark Toney long before Great Park itself was developed.
For some, those memories may stretch back to the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s.
Others will remember visits during the 1990s and 2000s, perhaps as part of family shopping trips to Eldon Square or days out in the city centre.
And for younger families, the cafés offered an opportunity to continue those traditions with their own children.
This is why the possible loss of such a familiar establishment can resonate with people living across the city.
It isn't simply about losing somewhere to buy an ice cream.
It is about the memories, experiences and traditions associated with a place that has been present throughout much of Newcastle's modern history.
The business remained in the founding family following a 2022 sale
Mark Toney's more recent history also reflects the importance of family connections.
In March 2022, specialist business property adviser Christie & Co announced that Mark Toney & Co Limited had been sold following the retirement of Antony Marcantonio, the founder's great-grandson, and his wife Anne.
The sale included the company's ice cream production facilities at Benton Square Industrial Estate and its two longstanding Newcastle city centre cafés.
Importantly, the business remained within the wider Marcantonio family.
Chris Raynes, a great-great-grandson of founder Giovanni Marcantonio, became a co-owner and managing director.
At the time, the new ownership expressed enthusiasm for continuing the family's traditions and preserving the business's strong connection with Newcastle.
The 2022 sale was a change of ownership rather than a business closure.
There is currently no verified information linking that earlier transaction to the closure now being reported.
What has been confirmed about the latest closure reports?
As of Tuesday 20 October 2026, the Great Park Gazette has not been able to independently verify the exact circumstances surrounding the reported closure.
It remains unclear whether the reports relate to a single city centre café, both premises or another aspect of the business.
The exact final trading date, any reasons behind the reported closure and the future of the Mark Toney name have not been confirmed.
It would therefore be premature to conclude that the entire business has ceased trading.
The Gazette will update this article when reliable confirmation becomes available.
More than a café: A part of Newcastle's identity
Newcastle has seen many familiar businesses come and go over the decades.
For residents who have watched the city change, the disappearance of a much-loved shop or café can carry a particular sense of nostalgia.
Mark Toney occupies a special place in that history.
Its Italian heritage, traditional ice cream recipes and longstanding city centre presence made it recognisable across generations.
The business survived enormous changes in shopping habits, the redevelopment of Newcastle city centre and the transformation of the hospitality industry.
Its name remained familiar long after many other establishments disappeared.
Whatever the eventual outcome of the latest reports, Mark Toney's contribution to Newcastle's history is undeniable.
Few businesses can claim to have been part of local family life for more than 130 years.
What are your memories of Mark Toney?
The Great Park Gazette would love to hear from residents who remember visiting Mark Toney over the years.
Were you taken there as a child by your parents or grandparents?
Do you remember enjoying a Knickerbocker Glory, a banana split or your favourite flavour of ice cream?
Perhaps you celebrated a birthday there, met friends after school or made regular visits during shopping trips into Newcastle.
And did you later take your own children or grandchildren to experience the same traditions?
We would love to hear your memories and see any old photographs you might have of Mark Toney through the decades.
You can share your recollections through the Great Park Residents Group on Facebook.
For a business whose history stretches back to 1892, the stories and memories of its customers are an important part of its legacy.
Whatever happens next, Mark Toney will remain a name closely associated with growing up in Newcastle.
Sources and further reading
Mark Toney – Official history of the business
https://www.marktoney.co.uk/History
Mark Toney – Grainger Street café history
https://www.marktoney.co.uk/GraingerStreet
Mark Toney – Percy Street café history
https://www.marktoney.co.uk/PercyStreet
Christie & Co – Mark Toney & Co sale announcement, March 2022
