We take a foodie trip along the North Tyneside coast, taking in Whitley Bay, Tynemouth and North Shields
The Roxburgh
The Roxburgh is a must-visit for quirky British food from owner and head chef Gary Dall. He’s worked around the world, including stints as a tour bus chef for some of the world’s biggest music acts and a few years in Australia, where he discovered the nose-to-tail eating which informs his menus. If good food, Chesterfield sofas and comic books on the walls are your thing, The Roxburgh is a must. Park Ave Whitley Bay, NE26 1DJ. tel 0191 253 1661, www.facebook.com/The-Roxburgh
Hinnies
Sister restaurant of Newcastle’s Blackfriars, Hinnies is friendly and relaxed and serves up the best comfort food from a rustic menu featuring local produce. Head chef Jonny Wardale focuses on local dishes including creamy crab soup, Newcastle Brown Ale slow-cooked beef with horseradish dumplings, and Geordie favourite singin’ hinnies, which inspires the restaurant’s name. East Parade, Whitley Bay, NE26 1AP. tel 0191 447 0500. www.hinnies.co.uk
Di Meo’s
It may be cold outside, but that’s no reason to stop you heading to Di Meo’s in Whitley Bay for traditional Italian gelato. And if it’s a bit nippy for ice cream, this family-run retreat serves up good food and coffee too. A coastal gem with a proper Italian family welcome, it’s a must-visit, whatever the weather.
Marine Ave, Whitley Bay NE26 1LX. tel 0191 252 3814, www.facebook.com/DiMeosIceCream
The View
Coastal rooms with a view don’t get much better than this, and The View’s spectacular location on Tynemouth’s Longsands is reason to visit in itself. Opened in summer 2016, just along the beach from its always-packed sister café Crusoe’s, this café, bar and restaurant serves up fabulous fresh local produce and a range of beer and wine. Perfect after a long walk on the beach. Longsand’s Beach, Tynemouth, NE30 4NT. tel 0191 253 5459, www.theviewtynemouth.com
Longsands Fish Kitchen
With the North Sea just a stone’s throw from the front door, it’s no surprise top chef Simon Walsh chose Tynemouth for his restaurant dedicated to the best of each day’s catch. Walsh, a veteran of some of the North East’s best kitchens, fills his super-fresh dishes with the best of the North Sea, from Lindisfarne oysters to the sharing platter featuring the best seafood and shellfish each morning from North Shields. There is also a traditional fish and chip takeaway at the front of the restaurant, which has been named one of top three in the UK. Deserved praise indeed. Longsands Fish Kitchen, Front Street, Tynemouth NE30 4DZ, tel 0191 272 8552, www.longsandsfishkitchen.com
Pan Asia
Pan Asia is a wonderful new deli and takeaway offering a taste of eight Asian countries. Run by Anjana Doshi, the offerings here fuse food and influences from Singapore, Korea, Thailand, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. The regularly changing takeaway menu, which is inspired by one of the eight countries each week, is always deserving of a return visit.
Front Street, Tynemouth NE30 4BX. tel 0191 908 3959, www.facebook.com/Pan-Asia-Delicatessen-Gourmet-Store
Mister Woods
A buzzing coffee shop at the seaside end of Front Street in the shadow of Tynemouth Priory, Mister Woods is a must-visit for its buzzing atmosphere and relaxed vibe. A cosy mix of booths and stools, it’s home to
great coffee, speciality teas, panninis and sandwiches, and a selection of homemade traybakes, muffins, cakes and treats. The perfect place to watch the world go by. Front Street, Tynemouth NE30 4BT. tel 0191 257 5556, www.misterwoods.co.uk
The Deli Around the Corner
The Deli Around the Corner is filled with foodie treats, from fresh bread and patisserie to beautiful local meat and poultry, cheese and hundreds of hand-picked products from local artisans including TR Johnsons, North Chocolates, Tynemouth Honey and Mordue Brewery. Fresh sandwiches, homemade soups and salad boxes make for a lovely lunch, while the traybakes, cakes, scones and treats are perfect with afternoon coffee. Hotspur Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4EE. tel 0191 259 0086, www.thedeliaroundthecorner.co.uk
Irvins
At the heart of North Shields’ Fish Quay, Irvins serves up the best of modern British cooking featuring the freshest of fish from the quay yards from the front door and classic brasserie dishes perfect for cold winter evenings. The breakfast and brunch menus are particularly good and feature more local produce, while the deli shop is filled with the Irvins’ chefs’ favourite ingredients, including organic olive oils, olives and sherry vinegar from Spain. Fish Quay, North Shields NE30 1HJ, tel 0191 296 3238, www.irvinsbrasserie.co.uk
Beldons @ The Exchange
Beldons @The Exchange in North Shields opened in the re-launched cultural hub earlier this year with a family-run bar and café/restaurant open daily. Run by Gerry Beldon, the lunch menu features local produce served up in soups, sandwiches and salads. Meanwhile, the performance spaces in the auditorium and bar serve up musicians, dancers and theatre companies. Howard Street North Shields, NE30 1SE
tel 0191 258 4111
