A community coffee house that raises vital funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) has celebrated its first birthday after welcoming tens of thousands of visitors through its doors.
Hangar 63, based at the charity’s headquarters in Eaglescliffe, officially opened on 19 August 2025 and has since become a popular destination for supporters, local residents and visitors, with every purchase helping to fund GNAAS’ life-saving critical care service across the North East, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man.
What began with hot and cold drinks and pre-packed cakes and sandwiches has expanded into a full menu, including breakfasts, lunches, homemade cakes and barista-style coffee.
Over the 12-month period, staff have served more than 10,000 lattes, 5,000 cappuccinos and 9,000 cups of tea, alongside more than 4,000 cheese scones, 4,500 fruit scones, 1,900 bacon rolls and 1,200 sausage buns.
In addition to offering a variety of food and drink, there is also a small gift area selling GNAAS merchandise and products from local businesses which has raised more than £16,000.
Today, Hangar 63 serves an average of more than 2,500 coffees, 1,000 cups of tea and 400 breakfasts every month.
The coffee house has also become a popular stop during GNAAS’ monthly classic car and bike nights, which are held on the third Thursday and Friday of the spring and summer months.
Phil Hall, commercial project manager at GNAAS, said: “When we opened Hangar 63, we hoped it would become a welcoming place where people could come together while supporting our charity. Seeing so many people walk through our doors over the past 12 months has been fantastic.
“We’ve loved watching the coffee house grow, from expanding the menu to becoming a real hub during our classic car and bike nights. It’s wonderful to see so many familiar faces returning, whether they’re meeting friends for coffee, calling in for lunch or supporting one of our events.
“Every coffee, breakfast and slice of cake helps our charity continue delivering life-saving critical care across our region, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us.”
Behind the scenes, Hangar 63 is powered by a dedicated team of volunteers who contribute an average of 85 hours every week.
Phil added: “We have been overwhelmed by the support of our wonderful customers and our fantastic volunteers. Their dedication has made Hangar 63 the success it is today, and we can’t thank them enough.”
Named after GNAAS’ North East helicopter callsign, Helimed 63, Hangar 63 is open daily from 8.30am until 3pm and is also open on the evening of the classic car and bike nights this month and next month.
