With a nationally renowned shop, its very own ‘curry mile,’ a beach previously crowned ‘the best in the UK’, and a stylish bar owned by an international pop star, South Shields has it all.
Just a short jaunt from Newcastle, this seaside town is a top spot during the summer months due to it’s beautiful – but it also offers year-round attractions that don’t depend on sunny weather.
Familiar to millions of TV viewers as the backdrop to the finish line of the Great North Run, South Shields offers art, history and a vibrant restaurant and bar scene.
In fact, local lass Jade Thirlwall of owns one of these chic cocktail bars right in the heart of South Shields. Originally named Red Door when it opened its doors in October 2019, it later underwent a rebranding to become Arbeia, named after the nearby Roman fort.
Jade Thirlwall, pictured with partner Jordan Stephens, owns 2 bars in South Shields (Image: Getty)
Fans have been lucky enough to have seen Jade perform with local bands at the bar, and some have even been served drinks by the pop star.
Jade’s musician partner, Rizzle Kicks’ Jordan Stephens, is a massive fan of South Shields. He recently expressed his affection for the area on a podcast with Alan Carr, where he described its main beach as a real ‘hidden gem’.
The beach he referred to is Sandhaven, which, aside from being ‘just like Ibiza’ in the summer, was crowned the UK’s best beach by the Sunday Times in 2022.
South Tyneside has been a fertile ground for many successful stars, with Jade’s pal Perrie Edwards also born and raised in the area, along with fellow X Factor winner Joe McElderry and Chris and Rosie Ramsey, hosts of one of the nation’s most popular podcasts.
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South Shield’s beaches fill up in the summer heat with Sandhaven being particularly popular (Image: Chronicle Live )
Near it is Colmans Seafood Temple, which has garnered significant acclaim, welcoming A-list patrons such as Hilary Clinton and James Corden. The eatery frequently features on the UK’s best lists and has received glowing reviews from top food critics.
The widely-followed YouTube influencer ‘Food Review Club’ hailed it as the location of the ‘best fish and chips of his life’ after dining there – referring to the battered fish as ‘white gold’ and professing to being ‘blown away’ by the meal.
And a review of South Shields wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Ocean Road – often dubbed the ‘curry mile’, owing to its array of highly-rated eateries like Delhi 6, Zeera, Radhuni and Spice Garden – thought to be the largest concentration of South Asian restaurants in the UK.