What Not to Miss in South Shields
Discover the hidden charm of South Shields this weekend
History buffs will want to start at the historic Roman fort (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) of Arbeia where regular events and re-enactments bring the town’s Roman history to life. Art enthusiasts should visit Littlehaven Beach where there are plenty of sculptures to see, including The Weebles – Juan Muñoz’s Conversation Piece featuring 22 strange sculptures, named after the popular 1970s toy. The neighbouring North and South Marine Parks are great picnic spots, and in Bents Park you can catch Sister Sledge playing Pride in South Tyneside at the end of July. Save some spare change for The Dunes, a family entertainment centre with an arcade, bowling, soft play, sports bar and a menu of familiar favourites. When the weather is nice, head to Ocean Beach Pleasure Park for thrilling rides or make your way around the 12-hole crazy golf course at Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf. Those brave enough to face the North Sea should head to South Shields Surf School CIC, or venture a little further along dry land to Marsden Bay, home of the iconic Marsden Rock, where you can explore the hidden caves before paying a visit to Souter Lighthouse, the first lighthouse in the UK designed to be powered by electricity.
Base Camp
For a room with a view, try Little Haven Hotel whose location at the mouth of the Tyne provides stunning views over the Tyne and Little Haven Beach. A little further down the coast, The Sea Hotel, overlooking South Marine Park, has 34 elegant ensuite rooms and its own restaurant and bar which are open to both guests and visitors. If you’re looking for a boutique bed and breakfast, The Clifton is the perfect place to unwind and of course, there’s the hotel at the iconic Marsden Grotto where you can experience life as a (luxury) cave dweller.
Perfect Weekend
Whether you’re heading to the arcade, or carrying on to the clifftop paths of The Leas, the promenade at Sandhaven Beach is an integral part of any day out in South Shields. Scoop & Bean is a must-visit while you’re there, with good coffee, 36 flavours of delicious ice cream, brownies and cakes. A pillar of South Shields’ ice cream scene is, of course, Minchella & Co – find their first ice cream parlour on Ocean Road and Toney Minchella in South Marine Park. While you’re at the seafront, look out for ‘Hugo’, the van from which Bessy’s Sweet Bakes sell their decadent coffee and cakes. The Sand Dancer is located right on the beach at Sandhaven, and is a lovely dog-friendly pub (they even have a ‘Doggo Menu’) with a busy live-music schedule. A couple of streets inland, Up North Pizzeria & Deli is the place to go for fresh, Neapolitan-style pizzas and affogato but when it comes to fish and chips we swear by Colmans, who have been serving up this staple of seaside holidays for almost 100 years now. They have a restaurant and takeaway on Ocean Road, while Colmans Seafood Temple on the seafront boasts panoramic views while you eat, with a menu that ranges from chippy classics to cocktails and oysters. Ocean Road is just a stone’s throw from the seafront and it’s a foodie’s heaven – try Zeera or Café India for Indian cuisine, Pacino’s or Bravi for Italian and The Marine for proper pub grub. It’s a little further out of the way, but craft-beer aficionados will be well-rewarded by the selection on offer at Harton Hop House (with an equally great selection of flat breads and sharing boards to soak them up with).
