North East’s first gaming cafe opens in Middlesbrough

The Cerberus Gaming Café, on Wilson Street, is the brainchild of three friends, Simon Glass, Siobhan Daniels, and Tyne Shears.

Tyne Shears, 35, of Stockton, said: “Simon’s been an avid gamer all his life and always dreamed of having his own shop.

“I’m a massive nerd and I have a business where I make nerdy things for Dungeons and Dragons.

“Siobhan is our baker extraordinaire.

“She’s worked as a chef for 18 years and has always wanted a café to sell her wonderful cakes.”

The café caters to fans of Dungeons and Dragons, a game that allows players to create characters and embark on adventures in a fantasy world.

Created in the early 1970s, the game has tens of millions of followers, including celebrity fans like Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel.

Visitors to the Cerberus Gaming Café can also enjoy other board and trading card games.

Tyne Shears said: “It’s a great opportunity for people to get out, meet people and share their love of gaming.”

The café is located in a building that was once a branch of the Darlington Building Society.

Richard Wilson, a director of Dodds Brown, part of the Portland Group, said: “It used to be a branch of the Darlington Building Society and it’s great to see such a historic building being brought back into use, although for a very different purpose.”

He added: “There’s a lot going on in this part of Middlesbrough, with the opening of the Stack and the continued success of the nearby escape room Project Escape and indoor golf Putter Chaos.

“It’s just what’s needed: new attractions to encourage people to come to Middlesbrough, particularly during the evening.”

The café is located just outside the entrance of the Dundas Shopping Centre and Indoor Market, where a major investment programme has created seven additional shop units and allowed two popular businesses to expand.