A new drug and alcohol recovery centre has opened on Queen Street in South Shields. It brings specialist addiction recovery support to residents across South Tyneside. Drug and alcohol misuse costs the UK economy an estimated £21 billion a year. Because of this, local provision has never been more vital.

From Abandoned Café to Addiction Recovery Support Centre

The building now housing the drug and alcohol recovery centre was previously a café and takeaway. Eden Facilities, owned by Robert Jones, 35, and Daryll Evans, 41, won the contract from STARS. The Peterlee-based company transformed the space in just three months.

Alison Sharp, area manager for STARS, explained how the move came about: “We had outgrown our site at Cookson House. We needed more space to develop our service offer. We found the premises at Queen Street, but they needed so much work. It was hard to visualise how they could look.”

She praised Rob and Daryll for their speed and professionalism. In just three months, they finished all work and the service moved straight in.

What the New Drug and Alcohol Recovery Centre Offers

The centre delivers far broader addiction recovery support than Cookson House could provide. Services include enhanced rehabilitation programmes and structured group sessions. The team also runs drop-in groups like Wellness Wednesday. Furthermore, they offer aftercare for community detox and one-to-one interventions. STARS supports anyone over 18 from South Tyneside.

Sharp said the environment plays a key role: “This new facility is perfect for us. It’s relaxed and welcoming for people who are often very nervous about accessing support.”

Research consistently shows that physical setting affects how likely people are to engage with addiction services. As a result, a calm and non-clinical space removes one of the most common barriers to seeking help.

A Space That Exceeded Expectations

Evans said the team took pride in what they delivered. Moreover, the result went beyond what they had imagined.

“We were delighted to win the contract to redevelop two buildings for STARS,” he said. “It came fairly early in our business journey. We faced a few challenges, but we still completed the project in three months. The team are delighted with the quality of the development.”

He added that the centre now strengthens the addiction recovery support that STARS brings to the community.

A Borough Taking Action on Drug and Alcohol Recovery

South Tyneside has invested in its public health infrastructure in recent years. Consequently, this new drug and alcohol recovery centre reflects that broader commitment. NHS figures show around 275,000 adults in England use drug and alcohol treatment services each year. However, many more go without support entirely.

Local services like STARS bridge that gap. They offer people somewhere accessible, stigma-free, and staffed by people who understand recovery.

Anyone in South Tyneside aged 18 or over can contact STARS directly. The new centre is open now on Queen Street.

Source: dbrecoveryresources