North Shields Fish Quay: Where to Eat
A guide to the best restaurants, pubs, and cafes on North Shields Fish Quay — from Bib Gourmand gastropubs to waterfront cocktail bars.
North Shields Fish Quay has transformed over the past decade from a working harbour into one of the North East's most exciting dining destinations. The fishing boats still land their catch here daily, which means the seafood could not be fresher — but the quay now offers far more than fish and chips.
From a Michelin Bib Gourmand pub to intimate bistros and waterfront cocktail bars, here is where to eat on the Fish Quay.
Best for: The Fish Quay is a 25-minute walk from Tynemouth via the coastal path, or one Metro stop to North Shields.
The Staith House
The Staith House is the headline restaurant on the Fish Quay and holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand — recognition of exceptional food at moderate prices. Set at 57 Low Lights with views over the harbour, this fish-focused gastropub has won numerous awards including The Observer Food Monthly's Best Sunday Lunch.
The menu changes regularly based on what the boats bring in, but expect dishes like whole roasted plaice, fish pie, and crab on toast alongside excellent meat options and a well-curated wine list. Sunday lunch here is a destination event — booking well ahead is essential.
Best for: Michelin Bib Gourmand. Outstanding seafood and one of the best Sunday roasts in the North East.
Dodgin's Yard
A cosy, intimate restaurant with views over the River Tyne, Dodgin's Yard takes its seafood seriously. The menu spans breakfast through to dinner, with grilled fish — from tuna steaks to monkfish fillets — sitting alongside well-executed meat and vegetarian dishes.
The setting is attractive, the service is warm, and the quality of the cooking consistently impresses. It is a good option for both a leisurely lunch overlooking the water and a more substantial evening meal.
Best for: Intimate riverside dining with excellent grilled fish and a warm atmosphere.
Allard's on the Quay
The Fish Quay outpost of Tynemouth's beloved Allard's, this venue is split over two floors — a casual cafe-bar with pavement seating at ground level, and an intimate restaurant space upstairs available for private hire.
The tapas are the draw here, as at the Front Street original: generous portions, bold flavours, and excellent value. The pavement terrace overlooking the quay is a fine spot for an afternoon glass of wine as the boats come and go.
Best for: Generous tapas from the Allard's family, with waterfront pavement seating.
Twelve Twenty Five
Named after the year the quay received its royal charter, Twelve Twenty Five is a cocktail bar and restaurant occupying a prime position on the Fish Quay waterfront. The menu leans toward comfort food done well, with brunch served from 8am and an evening menu of sharing plates, burgers, and grilled dishes.
The cocktails are the real highlight — inventive, well-crafted, and served in a stylish, atmospheric interior. This is the spot for an evening drink with a view of the river.
Best for: Cocktail bar and restaurant with excellent brunch and waterfront views.
Low Lights Tavern
The oldest pub on the Fish Quay — over 400 years old — the Low Lights Tavern is a proper local with bags of character. The interior is dark, cosy, and full of maritime memorabilia (including, famously, Sam Fender's Brit Awards on the bar).
This is not a restaurant — it is a drinking pub with the kind of atmosphere that only centuries of history can produce. The beer selection is good, the welcome is warm, and on a winter evening with the fire lit, there are few better places to be on the quay.
Best for: A 400-year-old pub full of character. Come for the atmosphere and the ale, not the food.
Irvins Brasserie
A Fish Quay institution for over a decade, Irvins occupied a stunning Grade II listed 1913 ex-trawlermen's building and served modern British classics in a spacious, characterful dining room. Sadly, Irvins has now closed its doors, but the building remains one of the most architecturally significant on the quay and its legacy as one of the restaurants that helped put the Fish Quay on the culinary map should be acknowledged.
Practical Information
Getting there: Walk from Tynemouth via the coastal path (25 minutes), take the Metro to North Shields, or drive and use the free Low Lights Car Park at the eastern end of the quay.
Parking: Low Lights Car Park is free and a convenient starting point. From here, all the restaurants are within a five-minute walk.
Booking: The Staith House requires booking, especially for Sunday lunch and weekends. Other venues are generally walk-in friendly, though weekend evenings can be busy.
Best approach: Walk from Tynemouth via the Priory headland for the most scenic route, eat on the quay, and take the Metro back from North Shields station.
Know a Fish Quay spot we should add? Get in touch.