‘Wasn’t for me’ - Popular Hebburn deli owner goes back to work after two-month retirement

Brenda Hallowell, the owner of The Kelly Deli in Hebburn, has announced that she is returning to the popular eatery on Saturday, February 1 - just two months on since she revealed that she was retiring.

She opened the venue, on Hedgeley Road around four years ago, having been the landlady at The Kelly pub, which is right next door to the deli, for 12 years.

On November 1 last year, Brenda looked like she was calling time on a more than 30-year long career in hospitality, with her also having previously operated a sandwich shop next to Hebburn Comprehensive School for 15 years.

However, Brenda has decided that retirement “wasn’t for her” and is now returning to work at The Kelly Deli a few days a week.

The 66-year-old said: “A few of my staff were renting the business off me but I’ve decided to take it back over because retirement doesn’t suit me.

“I like to be on the go so it wasn’t for me, some days I was climbing the walls with nothing to do.

“However, I’m going to be putting a manager in place as I’m not going to be there full time because I’m still intending on going away a lot more.

“It will take me a few weeks to get back to normal but I’m looking forward to it - I can’t possibly do the hours that I used to do but I don’t mind going in a few days a week to keep me active.

Brenda has also revealed that she will be transforming the deli upon her return to work to bring a bigger offering of food to her customers.

Read South Tyneside’s latest news and sport on the go with the Gazette’s email newsletters - sign up online here

She added: “We’re going to be revamping the front of the shop and alter the menu as we are wanting to do a lot more home-cooked style meals.

“There are plans get a hot plate in the front of the shop so customers can see what we are serving and that will be done in the next couple of months.

“We’ll also be back in business for catering so if anyone needs catering for an event, then we can look to sort that.

“In the past, we’ve been open on Sundays where we’ve served Sunday lunches but because that is a really stressful day, I’ve decided that we won’t be doing that anymore and the shop will be closed.

“It will be open every other day though.”

You can keep up to date with The Kelly Deli by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567853080385.