I was born and bred in Northumberland, with countryside connections, but my head was turned last October when I started visiting North Shields. I first dipped my toe into the coastal waters there in the wintertime, and since then, I have experienced so much throughout the seasons. North Shields has quite a bit of history, a vibrant music scene, a friendly fishing community, and a golden mile of Quayside restaurants and bars to choose from. There is some exciting development happening on the Quayside and in the centre of North Shields. Nile Street is an ongoing project worth keeping an eye on, and I’ve discovered Northumberland Square, which is very smart any time of year it seems. The square is a welcome space, hosting the annual Christmas market during my first visit, with a great selection of festive stalls, local makers, and roasted chestnuts to get you into the Christmas mood. Last weekend, the square basked in sunshine, with children playing and plants flourishing.
I can personally recommend the Little Italy restaurant to eat in the town centre. They serve authentic Italian food, and you can bring your own alcoholic drinks if you like, so I enjoyed a pizza/pasta with some vino! Browns at the Exchange is a refurbished town centre bar and restaurant, and there’s a bit more to it with an auditorium and gallery, which I’ve visited twice now. I saw Marty Craggs and the Little Band Jam on a cold winter night in the auditorium at Brown’s, and The North East Street Band, who did a great Springsteen tribute. I haven’t tried the food at Brown’s yet, but it’s on my list of places to visit, and I might just pop in next time I’m in the town centre for a bite to eat.
The River Tyne at North Shields brings its own entertainment, with many fishing boats, yachts, cruise ships passing by, and the Amsterdam ferry crossing twice a day. Big waves bring even bigger waves—and of the friendly kind. So when the biggest cruise ships pass by, I respond to the passengers by waving them off with a smile, wondering where their next adventure is going to be. I’ve watched the River Tyne many times and find it interesting as the pilot ship heads out from the port and returns with the big ships, helping steer them into the port safely. If it’s particularly choppy at sea, you often see a tugboat or two alongside the ships to protect them while the pilot steers them in. The biggest cruise ship I’ve seen at North Shields was the ‘Aida’, which reportedly had 2,500 people onboard, and there was a canny bit of waving when she passed us that day—from both sides, the ship and the shore. The North–South Shields ferry crosses regularly, much like the Battersea Uber Boat in London, which cruises the River Thames. I wonder if Uber might start a boat service from North Shields to Newcastle and back. I wish!
One afternoon, whilst I was back in North Shields, I chatted to a couple of ladies who were ship spotters, like trainspotters but for ships, with a radio transmitter. They were listening to the ship-to-shore radios at Smith’s Dock—it was an exciting time for them, and they were ready, ahead of time, to take photographs of the ship leaving the port. Of course, we all waved as the cruise ship passengers sailed by the shore.
From what I’ve seen, the North Shields Quayside has already undergone some major development, and further regeneration work is being planned. Old warehouses are being transformed into very smart flats, venues, pop-ups, and residences, with appropriate place names such as the Dolphin Quays and the Smokehouse Apartments—two snazzy, red zinc, contemporary residential blocks located at Smith’s Dock. By the looks of the estate agents’ prices, North Shields properties offer great value, with a fantastic coastal neighbourhood and the opportunity to get well into the groove and vibe, which the area is certainly oozing!
When the boat comes in, I’ve had a little fishy on a dishy and tried a few more places North Shields has on offer. Here are some of my experiences and thoughts.
31 The Quay Restaurant sits on the ground floor of the Smokehouse Apartments. The view of the river is amazing, and the food was also amazing—beautifully presented, flavoursome without the need for salt or pepper. A special treat for that someone special ❤️.
Mid-week, steak date night (Thursdays) at Dodgins Yard. Friday night, music at the Low Lights Tavern. Saturday music in the Duke Shed or a trip to Sambuca’s for steak, caramelized onion, and goats cheese pizza, followed by a Salty Dog Sunday lunch with fantastic Yorkshire pudding. I’ve never had a bad meal at any of the places in North Shields. The Ships Cat—which is a great name for a venue—is also worth a visit. I’ve been there mid-week, and they serve cocktails, even on school nights.
The unmistakable smell of fish and chips lingers at North Shields Fish Quay—mouthwatering, and they always taste so much better at the coast. Follow your nose, as I’ve found all the chippies to be excellent, whether you sit in or take away. The seagulls are quite large, probably being overly fed on leftover scraps and batter crunchings.
I recently bought a fish pie mix from Phil’s Plaice, a very busy fish market that opens early with the daily catch. There was a helpful member of staff wearing his white coat and wellies, which were very clean compared to some of the ones I’ve seen in the countryside! I was served promptly at Phil’s, and with a quick whizz around the town centre afterwards for the rest of the ingredients, I had the makings of a ‘North Shields fish pie’ which, when cooked, tasted simply delicious—even though I was dining in for once and had to do some washing up.
At the start of the summer season in North Shields, I tried the Stones Throw Festival. Tickets and wristbands were collected from the pop-up venue, the Salt Market Social, and we took the pre-booked festival bus to nine or ten different event venues in North Shields and Tynemouth. Each venue had a bar, whoopee, and various bands and singers to entertain guests throughout the day and into the night. The bands that played were a real mix and provided great entertainment for the day’s festivities. We’ll definitely be back and festival-ready soon! Music venues included The Three Tanners, King Street Social Club, and Tynemouth bars, with the lighthouse museum also within a “stones throw”! A North Shields music festival event to look out for in 2025—or sooner if the organisers do another event—fingers crossed! It was a well-organised festival and a super day.
Ever seen a pop-up bar or an Airstream caravan serving food in a second-hand car sales showroom with live music? Well, I did at Select Cars in North Shields. Honestly, I even saw Elvis that afternoon! Medhead is the food vendor, and he’s there most days, so grab a coffee (even buy a car!) and support another local business. The atmosphere in the garage is relaxed, and there’s outdoor seating. We look forward to the new walkway right outside Select Cars, which will lead up and down from the town centre onto the Quayside. Hopefully, the Old Wooden Doll will reopen soon. Walking around and embracing the sea breeze is an excellent way to get around and see the sights of North Shields. Bikes are also very popular, and the regular bus and metro services make for easy travel.
At the start of my North Shields adventure, not only did I find a great place to be part of, I’ve also found friendship and someone special to share these experiences with. I am very pleased I’ve been to North Shields, and I feel very lucky indeed. The journey continues, and if you haven’t already been on the scene at North Shields, add it to your bucket list now!
Following social media posts such as @ILoveNorthShields has enhanced my knowledge of the area. So, my recommendation is to start following them too!
