This is an advert for May 2023. Any edits / shares beyond this date have not been asked or paid for. Always check with venues direct for the most up-to-date info as details can change. The photographs in this post were taken with permission.
There are currently three PaddlePod venues across North East England (Killingworth, Shiremoor and Whitley Bay). They're best known for their state-of-the-art swimming facilities but did you know, they're also a fantastic hub for activities aimed at families with children aged 5 and under?
You can expect lovely play areas, fantastic cafes, baby/toddler/pre-school classes, sensory rooms and more. Check out everything that's on offer here: PaddlePod Facilities
This post will focus on their Whitley Bay venue which opened in late 2022 and is somewhere I think should definitely be on your radar.
Let's step inside........
PaddlePod Whitley Bay Overview
Situated in the heart of Whitley Bay, facilities include: 
- A 10m heated swimming pool with a viewing area which you can book for an open swim, party or swimming lessons
- Black Drop Coffee - a dog-friendly cafe serving delicious homemade food, kids meals, cakes, snacks and plenty of gluten free and vegan options too
- A beautiful 'Outdoors-in' play area exclusively for ages 0-5 years with a dedicated baby area and high quality toys to spark imaginative play
- Parties are available
PaddlePod Whitley Bay Location
Address: PaddlePod Whitley Bay. 55 Marden Road. Whitley Bay. NE26 2JW.
PaddlePod Whitley Bay is in the heart of Whitley Bay town centre. Located across the road from Fidgets Hair Salon and next door to St Paul's Church, it's super easy to get to and just a 6 minute walk from Whitley Bay Metro Station or a few minutes walk from the centre of town (and main bus stop).
There is some parking in the surrounding streets (make sure you read the signs) but personally, I prefer to use one of Whitley Bay's free car parks. Here are my suggestions:
- Crescent Car Park at Whitley Bay Metro Station - NE26 2QT (currently free and a 6 minute walk away). Please note, this car park will be closing in July while work is carried our on Whitley Bay Metro Station
- Park Road Car Park - NE26 1LT (currently free and a 9 minute walk away)
- Playhouse Car Park - NE26 1LZ (currently free and a 10 minute walk away)
PaddlePod Whitley Bay Play Area
I managed to sneak into PaddlPod just before they opened to shoot this video tour of the play area. It's so lovely! Click to watch: PaddlePod Whitley Bay Play Area Video Tour 
The Play Area at PaddlePod Whitley Bay is exclusively for little ones aged 0-5 years. It's open Monday-Saturday 8:30am - 4pm (last entry is 3pm) and there is no need to book - simply drop in.
Entry is £3.50 per child (1-5 years) or £1 for under 1s. Adults go free.
You can expect high quality wooden toys, beautiful and captivating decor, role play areas and construction zones, places to climb and slide, ride on dinosaurs, play kitchens, cars and tracks, dress up areas and more. There's a dedicated area for under 1s too.
You can expect high quality wooden toys, beautiful and captivating decor, role play areas and construction zones, places to climb and slide, ride on dinosaurs, play kitchens, cars and tracks, dress up areas and more. There's a dedicated area for under 1s too.
The play area is surrounded with tables and chairs where you can enjoy a drink / bite to eat from Black Drop Coffee.
What really stands out for me with this play area is that everything is super clean and of the higest quality. From the toys and play equipment to the furnishings, design and the fact that they serve proper fresh coffee.
You can also order from the counter and enjoy food/drinks at the tables in the play area section or order to take out. I have to say, it is SO refreshing to see a play area focus on good quality coffee and high quality food.
You don't need to have kids with you to visit either. Black Drop Coffee is dog-friendly and an ideal place to pop in after the school run for breakfast / coffee and a catch up with friends.
Black Drop Coffee is dog-friendly so a brilliant option for families with young children who can't / don't want to leave their dog at home but want to get out of the house and visit somewhere indoors that is both child and dog-friendly.
Swimming lessons & private hire are available (more on that later) but you can also book an open swim in this pool too. Sessions available include:
Swimming Lessons at PaddlePod Whitley Bay are delivered by Nemo Swimming (baby, toddler and pre-school) and SwimNE (school age) in a warm pool (30-32C) with a fantastic viewing area for parents/carers.
You can grab a drink to enjoy from Black Drop Coffee to enjoy as you watch and there is a small toy box for younger siblings to enjoy in the viewing area too. I feel like they've thought of everything! Nemo swimming lessons are £49.20 per month & SwimNE lessons are £37.96 per month.
Timings / dates are subject to change, but at time of publishing, the following lessons are available at PaddlePod Whitley Bay :
Nemo Swimming Lessons are delivered in small groups with instructors who teach in the water. Little ones are accompanied in the water with a parent / carer until 36 months.
I've observed a few of these sessions over the years and have to say, they're fantastic with enthusiastic, friendly and engaging instructors who get the best out of your children whilst ensuring they are comfortable and have lots of fun / build confidence.
SwimNE are an award winning team with instructors who teach in the water in small group sessions (max 6 per class). Lessons are designed to be super fun with lots of games.
Find out more & book: Check current timetables and book Swimming Lessons at PaddlePod
PaddlePod Whitley Bay is a fantastic venue and really lends itself well to a party venue. Swimming parties or Swim. Play. Eat parties are available or why not hire with a group of friends for a special get together / celebration? Enquire about parties / private hire here: Parties at PaddlePod
What a venue! Like I said in the introduction, a real hub for families, especially those with children aged 5 and under.
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PaddlePod Whitley Bay
Situated in the heart of Whitley Bay, facilities include:
Black Drop Coffee (Dog Friendly Cafe)
Black Drop Coffee is a lovely place to grab a bite to eat either post-swim, after a visit to the play area or just in it's own right.
There are doors and windows through to the play area but Black Drop Coffee feels like it has it's own identity with modern lighting and decor. A new menu is coming soon and they focus on freshly prepared meals and snacks, homemade cakes and fantastic local coffee.
Their menu features GF and vegan options as well as healthier choices including a nice range of salads (I have my eye on their homemade quiche with allotment salad), homemade soups and flatbreads. As everything is freshly prepared, most requirements can be catered for and the staff are super friendly.
You can also order from the counter and enjoy food/drinks at the tables in the play area section or order to take out. I have to say, it is SO refreshing to see a play area focus on good quality coffee and high quality food.
You don't need to have kids with you to visit either. Black Drop Coffee is dog-friendly and an ideal place to pop in after the school run for breakfast / coffee and a catch up with friends.
Black Drop Coffee is dog-friendly so a brilliant option for families with young children who can't / don't want to leave their dog at home but want to get out of the house and visit somewhere indoors that is both child and dog-friendly.
The kids could play in the play area/swim with one adult and another adult could stay in Black Drop Coffee with the dog / older children.
Just to clarify, dogs are not permitted in the play area or the tables around the play area, they are permitted in Black Drop Coffee only which is connected to the play area via an internal door.
Black Drop Coffee is currently open from 8:30am Monday-Saturday and from 9am on Sundays. You can check out their latest menus and scroll through some delicious looking photos on their Facebook page here: Black Drop Coffee Facebook page.
PaddlePod Whitley Bay Swimming Pool
There is a lovely (and warm) 10m swimming pool at PaddlePod Whitley Bay with modern changing facilities and a comfortable viewing area for non-swimmers. The pool is maintained at a tropical 30-32 C with a depth ranging from 0.9m - 1.3m.
Swimming lessons & private hire are available (more on that later) but you can also book an open swim in this pool too. Sessions available include:
- Baby & pre-school open swim sessions
A lovely chance for you to enjoy a relaxed swim session in the pool with your little one. These sessions are exclusively for children aged 0-5 years and their grown ups. 60 minute sessions cost £3.50 per person and can be booked online here: Book a PaddlePod Open Swim Session - Open swim sessions (all ages)
These open swim sessions are open to all ages. The pool will be filled with water toys, floats and small inflatables and there is a real focus on family fun. Paddlepod increase the number of these sessions during school holidays. A 60 minute session costs £3.50 per person and can be booked online here: Book a PaddlePod Open Swim Session - Swim, Eat. Play.
This is a brilliant offer for children aged 0-5 years (& their grown ups). Each session is £8.50 per person (under 1s go free) and includes a 60 minute open swim session, a toastie and hot drink for grown ups and lunchbox and juice for children plus access to the brilliant PaddlePod play area. Find out more and book here: Book a Swim. Eat. Play Session
Need to know:
- One adult can supervise up to two children under the age of 8 years
- One adult can supervise up to five children aged 8-16 years
- Sessions need to be booked in advance using the links above
The pool here really is lovely and I'd recommend if you're looking for a relaxing swim session.
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| PaddlePod Whitley Bay Viewing Area |
Swimming Lessons at PaddlePod Whitley Bay
Swimming Lessons at PaddlePod Whitley Bay are delivered by Nemo Swimming (baby, toddler and pre-school) and SwimNE (school age) in a warm pool (30-32C) with a fantastic viewing area for parents/carers. 
You can grab a drink to enjoy from Black Drop Coffee to enjoy as you watch and there is a small toy box for younger siblings to enjoy in the viewing area too. I feel like they've thought of everything! Nemo swimming lessons are £49.20 per month & SwimNE lessons are £37.96 per month.
Timings / dates are subject to change, but at time of publishing, the following lessons are available at PaddlePod Whitley Bay :
- Nemo Babies (0-18 months)
- Nemo Toddlers (18-36 months)
- Nemo Pre-school (3-4 years)
- SwimNE stages 1-4 (school aged children)
Nemo Swimming Lessons are delivered in small groups with instructors who teach in the water. Little ones are accompanied in the water with a parent / carer until 36 months.
I've observed a few of these sessions over the years and have to say, they're fantastic with enthusiastic, friendly and engaging instructors who get the best out of your children whilst ensuring they are comfortable and have lots of fun / build confidence.
- SwimNE Swimming Lessons Stages 1-4 (ages 5-12 years)
SwimNE are an award winning team with instructors who teach in the water in small group sessions (max 6 per class). Lessons are designed to be super fun with lots of games.
Find out more & book: Check current timetables and book Swimming Lessons at PaddlePod
Book a Party / Private Hire at PaddlePod Whitley Bay
PaddlePod Whitley Bay is a fantastic venue and really lends itself well to a party venue. Swimming parties or Swim. Play. Eat parties are available or why not hire with a group of friends for a special get together / celebration? Enquire about parties / private hire here: Parties at PaddlePod
What a venue! Like I said in the introduction, a real hub for families, especially those with children aged 5 and under.
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PaddlePod Whitley Bay
Situated in the heart of Whitley Bay, facilities include:
- A 10m heated swimming pool with a viewing area which you can book for a swim, party or swimming lessons
- Black Drop Coffee - a dog-friendly cafe serving delicious homemade food, decent coffee, kids meals, nutritious salads, cakes, snacks and plenty of gluten free and vegan options too. Open to all and you can just walk in / visit without using the other facilities
- A beautiful 'Outdoors-in' play area exclusively for ages 0-5 years with a dedicated baby area and high quality toys to spark imaginative play. £3.50 per child (£1 for under 1s). Adults go free. No need to book - just pop along during opening hours. You can order proper coffee / food from Black Drop Coffee too
- Parties are available
- Address: PaddlePod Whitley Bay. 55 Marden Road. Whitley Bay. NE26 2JW.
PaddlePod Whitley Bay is in the heart of Whitley Bay town centre. Located across the road from Fidgets Hair Salon and next door to St Paul's Church, it's super easy to get to and just a 6 minute walk from Whitley Bay Metro Station or a few minutes walk from the centre of town (and main bus stop). - There is some parking in the surrounding streets (make sure you read the signs) but personally, I prefer to use one of Whitley Bay's free car parks. Here are my suggestions:
- Crescent Car Park at Whitley Bay Metro Station - NE26 2QT (currently free and a 6 minute walk away)
- Park Road Car Park - NE26 1LT (currently free and a 9 minute walk away)
- Playhouse Car Park - NE26 1LZ (currently free and a 10 minute walk away)
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