North Tyneside seafood spot named one of the UK's best seaside restaurants, cafes and shacks

One of North Tyneside's top spots for seafood by the sea has been named among the best seaside restaurants, cafes and shacks in the country.

The Guardian compiled a list drawing from all across the UK, featuring pizzerias on picturesque waterfronts, fine dining with stunning sea views and even a café that Broadchurch viewers might recognise. And the North East's one and only spot on the list went to Tynemouth's Riley's Fish Shack.

It's not the first and it probably won't be the last time Riley's gets a glowing recommendation from a big publication - having had rave reviews by food critic Jay Rayner, featured on Michel Roux Jr's Hidden Restaurants, and being shortlisted in the 'Off Map Destination' category at 2019's World Restaurant Awards. More recently, it was named by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the best beachside restaurants in the UK for the second year in a row.

Read more: Two North East seaside fish and chip shops named among the best in the country

The restaurant, which sits overlooking the sands of King Edward's Bay, has been serving fresh seafood for a decade now, after launching at the Tynemouth Food Festival as a mobile street food business. It has since been followed by Riley's Fish Shop on Percy Park Road in the seaside village.

Of Riley's Fish Shack, the Guardian wrote: "One of the most renowned seafood spots in the northeast, Riley’s combines a chic beachfront restaurant, tucked into the back of King Edward’s Bay, with firepits and deckchairs out front (bookable in advance).

Riley's Fish Shack on King Edward's Bay has helped put Tynemouth on the food map - and almost always has a queue outside (Newcastle Chronicle)

"Breakfasts include locally sourced Craster kippers, while lunches and dinners feature the best of the day-boat catch, from chargrilled salt and chilli squid to pan-fried hake, halibut and lobster. It’s pescatarian heaven, with a nice line in homemade drinks, including buttered rum and cider."

To read The Guardian's full article on the UK's best seaside restaurants, cafes and shacks, click here.

Where is your favourite place to eat by the sea on the North East coast? Let us know!

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