Feast by the Sea, Whitley Bay: Dates & Guide

Feast by the Sea is a free street food and drink festival held at Spanish City Plaza in Whitley Bay. Run by Proper Food and Drink Festivals, it returns across three weekends in summer 2026 and draws thousands of visitors to the seafront each time.

2026 Dates

The festival runs on three separate weekends:

• Friday 26 – Sunday 28 June
• Friday 24 – Sunday 26 July
• Friday 29 – Sunday 31 August

Each session runs across the full weekend. Arrive early on Saturdays for the best choice of stalls — by mid-afternoon on sunny weekends, queues build and some vendors sell out.

What to Expect

Around 30–40 street food traders set up across the plaza, offering everything from wood-fired pizza and loaded fries to Thai curries, gourmet burgers, and Mexican tacos. Several bars serve craft beer, cocktails, and prosecco alongside soft drinks and coffee.

There are small fairground rides for younger children, plus live entertainment throughout each weekend. The atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly — most people grab food and find a spot on the plaza or the promenade steps overlooking the beach.

The Setting

Spanish City Plaza is the pedestrianised area around the iconic Spanish City dome on Whitley Bay seafront. The dome itself — originally an Edwardian pleasure palace, now home to Trenchers and other cafes — provides a dramatic backdrop. On a clear day you get views across the bay to St Mary's Lighthouse.

Getting There

By Metro: Whitley Bay Metro station is a 10-minute walk from Spanish City. Follow the signs towards the seafront — you can see the dome from the station exit.

By car: The nearest car park is the Links car park on the seafront (pay and display). Park View car park behind the High Street is a short walk. On busy weekends, arrive before midday or expect to park further out.

By bus: The 306, 308, and 309 services all stop on Whitley Bay High Street, a 5-minute walk from the plaza.

Tips

• Admission is free — just turn up. No tickets needed.
• Bring cash as backup — most stalls take card, but a few smaller vendors may be cash-only.
• Dogs are welcome on leads.
• Seating is limited — the plaza has some benches but most people stand or sit on the promenade. Bring a blanket if you want to settle in.
• Check the weather — it is outdoors with limited shelter. The dome cafes offer a backup if it rains.

Other Feast by the Sea Events

Proper Food and Drink Festivals also run similar events at South Shields (Bents Park) through the summer. If you enjoy the Whitley Bay edition, the South Shields dates are worth a trip.

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Know a street food vendor who should be at Feast by the Sea? Get in touch.