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Why Choose Whitley Bay?
Whitley Bay is a lively seaside town on the North East Coast. The beach here has been awarded Blue Flag Status and the town is a brilliant place to enjoy some traditional seaside fun with the family. Expect award winning ice cream and fish and chip, beautiful walks along the coast, a lighthouse which is brilliant for rockpooling / seal spotting (please keep your distance), amusement arcades and mini golf.Whitley Bay is also a bit of a hub for small independent businesses and restaurants and a brilliant place to visit if you like trying out new places to eat or enjoy shopping local.
There is a nice little playground in the heart of the town (with water play area when available), a skate park, a brilliant independent cinema and even a theatre.
The town is a perfect base for touring the North East with excellent Metro and bus links too.
Find out more about what there is to do in Whitley Bay here: 25+ Things To Do In Whitley Bay.
During this trip, we stayed with Stay Coastal in the heart of the town with the beach at the end of our street.
Stay Coastal Location
Stay Coastal is located in the heart of Whitley Bay. They are a set of 7 luxurious self-contained suites sleeping between 2-6 guests. The ground floor rooms are dog-friendly.
Stay Coastal is located on Linden Terrace, the road that runs between Whitley Bay Metro Station and the sea. You are seconds from the beach yet in the heart of the town too. It is very easy to enjoy a car-free holiday here with excellent transport links to the rest of the North East and so much to see and do within easy walking distance.
Not having to worry about finding a parking space at the coast and being able to walk to some of our favourite restaurants and enjoy a glass of wine rather than having one of us as a designated driver was definitely a big selling point of this break.
The street that Stay Coastal is located on is a fantastic area with lots of fab businesses on the same road - Pablo Eggsgobao (for epic breakfast buns), Second Bite Bistro (for fab parmos & sunday lunches including Vegan), Dil & The Bear at The Station (for beautiful lunches and a stunning outdoor terrace), Shukran Indian Restaurant , La Casetta (for cheap & cheerful Italian Happy Hour Deals) and even Sushi Me Rollin' (opening soon). The rest of Whitley Bay and the coast is within easy walking distance.
If you look at the above, it feels like there is a lot going on but actually, the suites are in a quiet tucked away location and because you are away from any of the bars, you are not disturbed by noise at all. You cannot hear the Metro either (and are not adjacent to the line).
There are two designated parking spots for the accommodation but this has to be shared between seven suites and is available on a first come, first served basis. Parking on the street immediately outside of the accommodation is free and we often park here when visiting without any issues.
On this occasion though, we could not find a parking spot on the street (we arrived fairly late on a Friday evening) so parked in the Metro Car Park at the end of the street which has 76 spaces which are free with no restrictions (see here for details/postcode).
On this occasion though, we could not find a parking spot on the street (we arrived fairly late on a Friday evening) so parked in the Metro Car Park at the end of the street which has 76 spaces which are free with no restrictions (see here for details/postcode).
Stay Coastal Accommodation
Stay Coastal is a former guest house which has been refurbished into seven boutique style self-contained suites. Each suite comes with a kitchenette, luxury furnishings, SMART TV(s), high speed WiFi, coffee making facilities, en suite facilities and keyless self check in.
Suites sleep between 2-6 people and the ground floor rooms are dog-friendly. The finish is modern and smart and even the communal space between rooms is lovely.
I would say the suites offer more than a traditional hotel room / b&b. I loved having our own fridge to store drinks. The kitchenette is not a full kitchen. It features a sink, dishwasher, cutlery/crockery, microwave, fridge, kettle, ironing board/iron and cafetiere. There is no oven/cooker so preparing meals is limited. It is ideal for a takeaway / breakfast / snacks though.
Suites sleep between 2-6 people and the ground floor rooms are dog-friendly. The finish is modern and smart and even the communal space between rooms is lovely.
I would say the suites offer more than a traditional hotel room / b&b. I loved having our own fridge to store drinks. The kitchenette is not a full kitchen. It features a sink, dishwasher, cutlery/crockery, microwave, fridge, kettle, ironing board/iron and cafetiere. There is no oven/cooker so preparing meals is limited. It is ideal for a takeaway / breakfast / snacks though.
The suites feel bright and modern and I appreciated the thoughtful touches such as fluffy white towels (they actually were fluffy too), plug sockets next to the bed (plus USB sockets), SMART TVs, a dressing table, a decent shower with complimentary toiletries and our own bag of Tynemouth Coffee waiting for us.
There is no lift on the property and it is spread across three floors. We were on the third floor and the stairs weren't a hassle for us. If you have mobility issues, a ground floor room might be best.
One thing that really stood out for me during our stay was how exceptionally clean the suites were. It was like we were staying somewhere brand new. Huge shout out to the cleaning team who do a brilliant job. I loved that our beds were made up for us already and from the moment you stepping into the room, you felt comfortable and 'on holiday' if that makes sense.
As a guide, suites are generally available from around £90 per night. If you keep an eye on the Stay Coastal Facebook page they often post special offers too (for example £300 Monday-Friday was available last month). I think for the quality of accommodation on offer as well as the fantastic location, these prices are fantastic and I reckon these suites are going to be super popular so if you fancy staying, I would probably recommend booking sooner rather than later.
The day before you are due to arrive, you are provided with a door code which you use to enter the main front door and your own suite. You can come and go as you please and no key is required.
One little extra we did appreciate was this bucket of beach toys by the front door for guests to help themselves to. A lovely touch and will probably save a bit of plastic over the months / years too. Every little helps.
One little extra we did appreciate was this bucket of beach toys by the front door for guests to help themselves to. A lovely touch and will probably save a bit of plastic over the months / years too. Every little helps.
Finally, I think Stay Coastal is a brilliant option for people to stay when visiting the North East - comfortable and modern suites, fab facilities and a perfect location for visiting the region.
Stay Coastal Family Studio (Sleeps 6) Review
We stayed in the Family Studio (Room 7 on the third floor). This room can sleep up to six which is a rare find and perfect for larger families like us.
The room is all open plan but the main King Size Bed is kind of tucked away so you do still get that feeling of privacy without a physical divider.
The Family Studio includes a King Size Bed, Two Single Beds and a Double Sofa Bed. Despite us all sharing the same space, the layout of the room meant that we all felt as if we all had our own areas and we didn't feel as if we were on top of each other at all.
The beds were super comfortable with lovely white linen and the blinds fit the windows perfectly and kept out any morning light. We slept with our windows open in the height of summer and the temperature was fine for us and we weren't bothered by any outside noise.
The room is all open plan but the main King Size Bed is kind of tucked away so you do still get that feeling of privacy without a physical divider.
The Family Studio includes a King Size Bed, Two Single Beds and a Double Sofa Bed. Despite us all sharing the same space, the layout of the room meant that we all felt as if we all had our own areas and we didn't feel as if we were on top of each other at all.
The beds were super comfortable with lovely white linen and the blinds fit the windows perfectly and kept out any morning light. We slept with our windows open in the height of summer and the temperature was fine for us and we weren't bothered by any outside noise.
Our room had plenty of storage with a built in unit opposite the single beds featuring a dressing table, mirror and chair, hanging space, drawers and shelves. The space has been used really well. There were bed side tables and all of the bedding for the Sofa Bed was stored inside which meant it didn't take up any extra room (it is the type you lift up like an ottoman so very easy to access).
There is a small entrance area between the main suite door and your bedroom door which was handy for storing our shoes and kept them out of the way so we weren't tripping over them.
The main living area is a bit of a squeeze if the room is filled to capacity and I would not recommend planning on eating a full meal around the table if there are 5/6 of you. The space was fine for a takeaway/breakfast thought with three of us sitting at the table and two of us on the sofa (the table can seat four if you move it out slightly).
The kitchenette area was brilliant and really made the difference to our stay. A washing up kit is provided on arrival for you too and being able to leave drinks and snacks in the fridge / not have to fill the kettle up in the bathroom was so convenient.
The integrated microwave will be so useful for those who are staying with weaning babies / toddlers too.
As mentioned above, the addition of our own personal bag of Tynemouth Coffee is such a welcome touch. You all know how fussy I am about my morning coffee, well this one was perfect. There are biscuits and various types of Ringtons Tea too.
The bathroom was nice and modern (and immaculately clean) with a rainwater shower, large sink and loo. Couldn't fault it at all. There is a hairdryer at the dressing table area too.
Speaking of TVs, there are two in this room (one in the bedroom area and one in the living area). They are both SMART TVs and good quality - you can log into your own Netflix etc......
High Speed WiFi is also available for as many devices you need and it is easy to access - the password is in your welcome email or on the information in the room. This was brilliant for the kids who could stream on their phones/iPads with their headphones on without any buffering.
Our Whitley Bay Holiday
I want to begin by saying, we live less than 10 miles from Whitley Bay and we can actually see the sea at Blyth from our house in Cramlington. We decided with this break to try and enjoy a proper traditional seaside holiday with ice cream, fish and chips and plenty of sea air. We certainly achieved that and it really felt like a proper break away. It was a lovely relaxing break and nice and chilled with no real set itinerary which we all really needed.We stayed with Stay Coastal over a sunny weekend (Friday - Sunday) which was enough time to leave us feeling relaxed and refreshed. I could have easily stayed a full week, there is plenty to see and do.
Friday Night
We checked into our accommodation once Steve had finished work, popped to the nearby shop for snacks/drinks for the weekend and then found a bar for a few drinks. We visited Tanner Smiths on South Parade (a few streets across from Stay Coastal) and a few drinks with the kids catching up on our week was a lovely way to start the weekend.
Tanner Smiths allows children on the premises until 10pm and serves a variety of beers, soft drinks, wines and cocktails. They also stock over 50 types of Gin. Prices were reasonable.
Our stay coincided with the first night of the Euros so we ordered a takeaway from Stacked who specialise in Dirty Dogs, Filthy Fries, Munchie Boxes, Shakes and Pimped Up Pancakes.
You can order via Just Eat for collection (the collection point is just inside of Pantrinis) or delivery if you are local. Take a look at their menu and order online for delivery / collection here.
You can order via Just Eat for collection (the collection point is just inside of Pantrinis) or delivery if you are local. Take a look at their menu and order online for delivery / collection here.
We were back in our suite for 8pm just in time for kick off and our takeaway was fantastic and the perfect accompaniment to the football.
The kids munchie boxes are such a good idea and really good value at £7 (there are loads of fries). They include a main, two sides and a bag of pick n mix.
You can order from collection from anywhere and I reckon if England progress, we will probably order from here again as we all loved it. For me, the pizza topped fries were the winning dish. I find myself constantly craving them and highly recommend. Order online here.
After a lovely night's sleep, I woke up naturally at my usual time of around 7:15am. I waited for the others to stir before getting ready and popping up the road to Pablo Eggsgobao. Now I don't even like eggs but I had heard amazing things and wanted to give them a try. Luckily, you can easily customise an order and I actually ordered without eggs and it was still absolutely lush.
This place is literally a hop, skip and a jump away from where we were staying. It is popular though so do expect a queue. I got there for 8:30am and there were 8 people in front of me.
As the menu is super compact though, the queue moves extremely quickly and the whole process of ordering through one hatch and collecting from another is super efficient.
If you are ordering more than 4 baos, you can pre-order via their website here (also use this link to take a peek at the menu).
OMG the hype is real! These bao buns were out of this world and just the best way to start the day.
We wanted a bit of a lazy morning so back to bed with a nice cup of Tynemouth Coffee and James Martin on the TV for me.
The North East Coast is stunning and we always say we need to make the effort to enjoy more beach days. It's a free / cheap day out and keeps the kids out of mischief.
You can of course visit Whitley Bay Beach which is on your doorstep and just at the bottom of the road where you are staying or I imagine lots of people might enjoy the walk along the coast to Tynemouth where you can explore Longsands Beach and King Edwards Bay.
For me, Cullercoats Beach is my favourite spot in North Tyneside. Cullercoats is an easy 15-20 minute stroll from the Stay Coastal suites.
There are a few reasons why Cullercoats is my favourite:
- It is a nice and sheltered cove with soft sand
- The sea is usually pretty calm
- Lifeguards on duty
- There is a beach kiosk serving ice cream, drinks and deckchair hire
- Fab for people watching - lots of people paddle boarding and kayaking
- Toilets available overlooking the beach
- Step-free access down to the sand available
- Lots of lovely cafes / places to grab an ice cream or bite to eat on the prom above
There is no phone signal down here though - be warned!
We spent a lovely 4 hours here burying each other, paddling in the sea, building sandcastles, enjoying an ice cream and generally just relaxing in the sunshine. It was so lovely.
Sunkissed and showered, we were looking forward to a nice meal out on Saturday night. Spending the day at the beach, coming home to your room and getting showered for a meal out by the sea was just like being abroad and I had all of the holiday vibes.
We were treated to a beautiful evening at the coast and enjoyed a pre-dinner walk taking in the views and happy atmosphere.
We had a short amount of time to kill before our dinner reservation so popped into TJ Leisure Amusements which were super clean (they had a dedicated member of staff constantly walking around cleaning).
I said to the kids we weren't going to stay long enough for them to win any substantial number of tickets but £10 later and they had over 400 between them which they promptly exchanged for a selection of sweets. I swear winning tickets at the arcades makes my kids disproportionately happy. They are always chuffed to bits when they exchange them for a lollipop that probably would have cost them 20p from the shop. If they're happy, I'm happy.
We had booked a table at Spanish City in advance of our visit. I am a big fan of the dome and really enjoy all of the different venues here. On this occasion, we were visiting Trenchers which sits under the famous dome.
For those who aren't local (or if you just fancy a trip down memory lane), the famous dome was built in 1910. Over the years it has been a Ballroom, Theatre, Rotunda and live music venue. I love the history of the building and as you sit under the dome you can really imagine your grandparents dancing here in the 50s.
In my childhood years, Spanish City was home to an amusement arcade and laser quest and there was a permanent funfair to the rear. I have brilliant memories of spinning around on the waltzer with my mates and being too scared to go on the ghost train. There was even a rollercoaster. Happy days and whenever I return to Spanish City I am always hit with a wave of nostalgia.
Sadly, the dome fell into disrepair in the late 90s and beyond but the whole area and building has recently been regenerated (the dome reopened in 2018) and you will now find a range of dining options and retail outlets inside. Visiting any venue in Spanish City is always such a treat for me.
Dining under the dome certainly elevates your fish and chip experience but to add to the sense of occasion even further, there is often a live pianist playing and there is no additional charge for this.
Our table was booked for 6pm and we arrived just as the Pianist started playing, 'Never Enough' from The Greatest Showman. Ah it was so beautiful. This sounds way OTT but it made me feel all emotional. Throughout the evening he played everything from The Beatles to hits from the Musicals and was even taking a few requests too. The addition of live music really did add to our evening.
Spanish City is a little more refined than your average chippy and is one of those places where you don't mind spending an extra few pounds for the ambience, food quality and location.
There are various menus available and something for all tastes and budgets. You can find out more and view sample menus online here.
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Steve was swayed by the specials and ordered the Black Pudding Scotch Egg which the staff explained was new on the menu that evening. This kind of dish is Steve's cup of tea and he really enjoyed it. I like that they have a few specials available as it means there is always something new to try.
I decided to dine from the evening set menu which I think offers such good value at £20.95 for two courses. Available from 6pm, this menu includes dishes such as Scottish Mussels, Sun Blushed Tomato and Goats Cheese Arancini (below - I had this and it was a big 10/10 from me), Smoked Salmon, King Prawn Risotto and Sirloin Steak.
When I shared that we had dined at Trenchers on Instagram, a few people mentioned that they are fantastic for GF options too so worth considering if you have anyone with dietary requirements in your party.
The kids menu is also fantastic value at £6.95 for three courses and a drink. A bargain in fact! There are veggie options available too and Jack and Dee were both more than satisfied with their 3 courses and I think the portions are perfect for under 11s (even hungry under 11s).
Sometimes kids eat free at Trenchers which is even better value - check out the offers page of the Spanish City website for details and t&cs.
Teens are generally happy dining here too and Harry was chuffed his chip shop favourite (battered sausage) was on the menu. He highly recommends the curry sauce here too.
What I like about dining here is that some of your table can enjoy traditional fish and chips whilst others enjoy a more refined seafood dish or something a little different. There is something for everyone and Trenchers is so much more than just a seaside fish and chip restaurant.
My steak was delicious and it was served with loads of fries which I ended up sharing with Dee as there were so many. I can't believe this was available as part of the two course deal without a supplement.
We were all pretty full up after two courses but weren't ready to leave so we ordered three desserts to share between us. The baked cheesecake was perfect to share and I was impressed with the brownie included in the kids deal too. As you can see by Harry's face, he was in his element with sticky toffee pudding too.
Trenchers at Spanish City is such a versatile venue. You can get dressed up for a proper Saturday night out and dine on Oysters and the finest seafood or you can visit straight from the beach and order fish and chips followed by knickerbocker glory. Or a combination of both! The tables are all set far apart from each other and the dome is naturally very spacious with high ceilings and lots of room. We felt very comfortable spending a few hours here.
We left Spanish City at around 8pm and look at that evening sunshine. We really could have been abroad!
Find out more about Spanish City, view menus and book online here: spanishcity.co.uk
Sunday
Check out is at 10am which gave us plenty of time to pack up. We popped our bags in the car and headed to Dil & the Bear at The Station which is on the same stretch of road as Stay Coastal and joined onto Whitley Bay Metro Station. We didn't book and there were plenty of seats available (inside and out) for breakfast.
The outdoor courtyard is beautiful and filled with real plants rather than the plastic ones you often find. Real plants really make a difference to the local wildlife, the ambience and the environment and I hope more venues use them.
We decided to sit in the outdoor area which is hidden from the Metro Station and if it wasn't for the announcements, you would never guess you were sitting in the heart of a transport hub.
The outdoor area is dog-friendly and it seemed popular with families with small children - plenty of space for prams and high chairs are available. On the day of our visit (not sure if this was the norm or if it is to do with current restrictions), it was table service and you order and pay at the same time. I actually much prefer this as there is no hanging around / trying to catch someone for the bill and when you are ready to leave, you can just leave. Service was lovely and efficient.
The boys ordered breakfast sandwiches which were substantial! They looked delicious and there were certainly no complaints.
I ordered Dil & Bear's homemade coconut bread which was served with poached pears and greek yoghurt. It was divine and such a nice change from the usual french toast with berries. I would certainly recommend this dish.
From Dil & the Bear, it would have been ideal for us to jump on the Metro to either Newcastle, Tynemouth (for the market) or Wallsend where we were heading. We were on a schedule though as Steve was heading out to watch (another) match later that day so we jumped in the car and spent the rest of the morning getting our history fix at Segedunum in Wallsend which is just 6 miles away.
I don't want to be one of those annoying people who makes it look like we had a perfect weekend but I can hand on heart say that on this occasion, we did. I hope you can agree that the North East Coast is a fantastic option for a staycation. I have only just scratched the surface with this post when it comes to sharing what there is to do here.
Other Ideas For Things To Do
Whitley Bay has it going on and there is loads to see and do with new businesses popping up all of the time. You also have brilliant Metro links to Newcastle, South Tyneside and the rest of Tyne & Wear so it is a brilliant place to base yourselves for a little break.
Check out some of my other ideas for things to do in the area below:
25+ Fun Things To Do In Whitley Bay With Kids
A 4 Mile Coastal Walk & Seal Spotting At St Mary's Lighthouse
14 Reasons To Visit Seaton Delaval Hall
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Please follow social distancing rules & Government guidelines , respect the local area, leave no trace, take litter home, park responsibly and if somewhere is busy on arrival, please consider leaving and returning at a later date.
Remember face coverings are required for indoor attractions / shops for those aged 11+ (usual exemptions apply)
Check for local lockdowns / travel restrictions before visiting anywhere.
Always check updated opening hours / protocols with venues direct before setting off as things may have changed after this post was published.
Remember face coverings are required for indoor attractions / shops for those aged 11+ (usual exemptions apply)
Check for local lockdowns / travel restrictions before visiting anywhere.
Always check updated opening hours / protocols with venues direct before setting off as things may have changed after this post was published.
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