We pay a visit to sample the best delis, cafés, restaurants and food producers in Tynemouth, Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and North Shields
Di Meo’s
Any visit to Whitley Bay must include a visit to multi-award-winning Di Meo’s for traditional Italian gelato. If it’s a bit too cold ice cream, pop in for a proper Italian pizza, top-notch coffee and a friendly Italian family welcome.
Di Meo’s, Marine Avenue, Whitley Bay, NE26 1LX, tel 0191 252 3814 www.facebook.com/DiMeosIceCream
Longsands Fish Kitchen
Simon Walsh and his team at Longsands Fish Kitchen are renowned for making the most of the finest North Sea produce. Dedicated to the best of the day’s catch, their restaurant menus showcase expert cooking while their takeaway fish and chips is recognised as some of the best in the country.
Longsands Fish Kitchen, Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4DZ, tel 0191 272 8552, www.longsandsfishkitchen.com
PureKnead
The new, bigger PureKnead artisan bakery on Park View in Whitley Bay is a gem. Home to artisan breads and cakes and a very warm welcome, the team’s fresh bread is excellent while the cakes, traybakes and sweet treats along with a cup of excellent Square Mile Coffee make any trip to the coast extra special.
PureKnead, Park View, Whitley Bay, NE26 3QW, tel 07964 864 181, www.pure-knead.com
The Deli Around the Corner
Home to fresh bread and patisserie, local meats and poultry, cheese and hundreds of carefully chosen products from local artisans, The Deli Around the Corner is an essential stopping point on any trip to North Tyneside. Fresh sandwiches, homemade soups and salad boxes make for lovely lunches while the traybakes, cakes, scones and treats are perfect with afternoon coffee.
The Deli Around the Corner, Hotspur Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4EE tel 0191 259 0086, www.thedeliaroundthecorner.co.uk
Dodgin’s Yard
Dodgin’s Yard is a lovely quayside destination with a buzzing atmosphere. Home to excellent brunches and lunches, an evening grill selection featuring local produce along with a cocktail is highly recommended. Dodgin’s Yard, Bell Street, North Shields, NE30 1HF tel 0191 259 1992, www.facebook.com/DodginsYard
Coast Kitchen & Bar
This cool seaside kitchen is home to a delicious range of breakfasts, bar bites and small plates. The breakfast menu is excellent, while the build your own sharing boards come highly recommended as do the Coast gin and tonics, and gin flights!
Coast Kitchen & Bar, Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4BP, tel 0191 257 7257, www.coastkitchenandbar.co.uk
The Cottage Kitchen
Home to proper home cooking, The Cottage Kitchen in Whitley Bay is a go-to for comfort food. The menu is full of hearty fare while you’ll find a top-notch cuppa here too.
The Cottage Kitchen, Countess Avenue, Whitley Bay, NE26 3PN, tel 07530 101 186, www.facebook.com/Cottage-Kitchen-150235811683424
Simpsons Café Bistro
Combining the food heritage of its owners Derek and Uci Kinnear, Simpsons Café Bistro is a real foodie destination. This little warung (a small, family-owned business, restaurant or café in Indonesia) serves up traditional English fayre for breakfast and lunch alongside a selection of dishes rooted in Uci’s family’s warung in Jakarta. This Indonesian menu, which is packed with flavour and imagination, is served throughout the day and on selected evenings – see Facebook for details.
Simpsons Café Bistro, Claremont Crescent, Whitley Bay, NE26 3HL, tel 0191 252 0037, www.facebook.com/simpsonscafebistro
Hinnies
Hinnies is located on the promenade in Whitley Bay and serves Geordie-inspired dishes including Pan Haggerty to Singin’ Hinnies using fresh, local ingredients. The restaurant was voted Best Value Restaurant in the North East by The Journal and it’s a great place to take a break while walking along the coast.
Hinnies, East Parade, Whitley Bay, NE26 1AP, tel 0191 447 0500, www.hinnies.co.uk
Baristocracy Coffee
Aussie coffee roaster Alex Forsyth and his partner Kate Hudson, who is from Tyneside, have an enviable reputation for producing great coffee at North Shields-based Baristocracy Coffee. A taste of Australian coffee culture, Baristocracy has proved popular with lovers of a seriously good brew, and those who love to talk coffee while being surrounded by the stuff. The 7ft-tall coffee roaster sits front and centre and you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee here as well as buying some to take home.
Baristocracy Coffee Unit 2, Larch Court, West Chirton North Industrial Estate, North Shields, NE29 8SG, www.baristocracycoffee.com
SaltHouse
There’s something for everyone at SaltHouse in Cullercoats, from light lunches to quality fish and chips. For those walking the coast, there’s good coffee and plenty of cakes on offer too – making this a great rest stop.
SaltHouse, Victoria Crescent, Cullercoats, NE30 4PN, tel 0191 251 1699, www.facebook.com/SaltHouseNE
The Staith House
When it comes to dining pubs, The Staith House is arguably the North East’s finest. Recently chosen in 13th place in the UK’s Top 50 Gastropubs, The Staith House serves an excellent menu of North East produce, much of it sourced just outside the front door on North Shields’ Fish Quay.
The Staith House, Low Lights, North Shields, NE30 1HF, tel 0191 270 8441, www.thestaithhouse.co.uk
Lobo Rojo
Lobo Rojo – an informal, California-inspired Mexican restaurant and bar – is home to top-noth tacos and burritos. Corn tortillas are made fresh daily along with a slection of fillings packed with flavour – from thinly sliced pork with lime and coriander to crispy fried cod with pico de gallo.
Lobo Rojo, Irvin Building, North Shields, NE30 1HB, tel 0191 257 6986, www.facebook.com/loborojoquay
The Briar Dene
The food at the Briar Dene in Whitley Bay has reached new heights since its refurbishment by Sir John Fitzgerald Ltd. The old Edwardian building has been given a touch of New England charm, and their restaurant and takeaway menus feature classic dishes perfect for the coastal setting.
The Briar Dene, The Links, Whitley Bay, NE26 1UE, tel 0191 2520926, www.sjf.co.uk
