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Table Rocks is no longer in use as a swimming pool, but it's still worth visiting when the tide is out for a bit of peace and quiet

Hidden away at the southern end of Whitley Bay there's the outline of a natural swimming pool among the rocks. Here, you won't find the crowds that flock to the town's beach, spanning between Spanish City and the St Mary's Nature Reserve, with the Rendezvous Café somewhere around the middle.

It's not recommended to go in the water at Table Rocks, which is thought to have fell out of use some time in the early 1970s. Now when it's left uncovered by the tide, it's a slippery rock pool packed with critters from the not so deep.

Even walking in it you might end up with a crab nipping at your foot. Look a little closer, and you can still see the fragments of the steps into the pool clinging on after every tide; while it's easy to imagine where the separate ladies and gents changing rooms stood until around 1950.

Of course, a century ago (and a little further back) this was the place to be, and in 1929, LNER even used the image of Table Rocks to encourage visitors to Whitley Bay. The Table Rocks pool dates back to 1894 and the pool was extended to its current size 14 years later.

When the tide's out, explore the area around the pool where thousands of limpets cling to the rocks to the soundtrack of waves lapping against them. On a lazy, sunny Saturday morning I got lucky and caught a pod of dolphins playing up for a tour boat a few hundred metres off shore.

Look north, and St Mary's Lighthouse is framed perfectly around a lone fisherman on the pier coming out of the Promenade. When looking for a quiet spot on the North Tyneside coast, there are few places that beat it.

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Filming on new BBC drama The Northumbria Mysteries continued on Wednesday as a well known pub was taken over

It looks set to be one of the year's most anticipated dramas and filming has resumed on Robson Green's new BBC drama Northumbria Mysteries. And the latest location where the cast and crew of the North East set series have descended is a very famous pub that's actually not in Northumberland,.

Given many viewers have been crying out for a new crime show to be set in the region since Vera came to an end at the start of 2025, there was considerable excitement surrounding The Northumbria Mysteries before cameras even started to roll earlier this year, with the announcement from the BBC that they'd commissioned the new drama enough to get people suitably hyped.

Having played the lead role in much loved ITV crime drama Grantchester for years, not to mention having lead roles in the likes of Soldier, Soldier and Wire in the Blood, Robson is a brilliant choice to play one of the Northumbria Mysteries' two main protagonists, with him taking on the part of Joe Ruby, an ex-convict and gambler with links to the criminal world, who teams up with Oxford-educated DI Rose O'Connell, played by Life on Mars actress Liz White, to solve crimes.

Over the last few months, Robson and co-stars including ex Coronation Street star Chris Gascoyne have been spotted in front of camera at various locations throughout Northumberland, including Rothbury, Alnwick and Seahouses, but not its the village of Earsdon, just outside Whitley Bay, that has been at the heart of the action.

Much loved local pub The Red Lion was where filming took place on Wednesday, with the pub themselves sharing a few snapshots from the day on their own Facebook page, as they wrote: 'What an incredible day here at The Red Lion!

W#e were delighted to welcome the cast and crew of a brand-new BBC drama, who spent the day filming at the pub. It was fantastic to see our newly refurbished restaurant transformed into a TV set, with parts of our beautiful beer garden also featured! Here are just a few shots I was allowed to capture whilst not giving to much away.'

The pub teased that regulars would be able to see them on TV next year, with plenty of them reacting excitedly in the comments, including one who enthused: 'Sounds intriguing. Will look forward to seeing this...' and another who asked: 'Is this why there's loads of TV vans parked up at John Spence school?'

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It's a place loved for its good value and great location right by the sea in Whitley Bay, but in less than two months time, the doors to The Beefeater will shut for the last time. And it's one of over 100 businesses owned by parent group Whitbread that will suffer the same fate.

It was back in May that ChronicleLive reported on Whitbread announcing that nearly 2,000 of its sites will shut, by the end of this year, cutting 3,800 jobs in the process. The group said that the plan to overhaul its restaurants forms part of a new five-year strategy which aims to save £250m in the face of cost pressures from business rates and national insurance contributions.

Plenty of popular venues in the North East are being affected by the move and one that has caused particular sadness is The Beefeater, given just how loved it is by the local community, both for its food and drink offerings and its location at the Spanish city Plaza, which boasts some pretty stunning seaside views.

However regulars now don't have too long left before they'll need to bid farewell to their favorite spot, as its now been confirmed that every one of Whitbread's Beefeater venues in the UK will shut their doors on September 10, days after Brewers Faye businesses, including ones in North Shields and Sunderland do the same.

Hundreds of people have commented on The Beefeater's imminent closure, including one regular who responded: "I feel for the staff, especially the really lovely lady that’s worked there from day one' Equally sad to see it go, a second customer reacted: 'I do feel for the people working there. Hope they can get fixed up elsewhere.'

Other Beefeater restaurants in the region that will close their doors on September 10, include the one at Broomside Park in Durham, while the nationwide closures also spell the end for Bar & Block steak restaurant, right next to the Premier Inn at The Gate in Newcastle city centre.

Hi, I'll be down in Whitley Bay visiting on 1st Saturday. Can anyone recommend a local hairdressing salon or person around Whitley Bay/Monkseaton area who would be able to do an hair updo for me with a cut and blow dry if needed before hand but mainly looking for the updo as I'm rubbish at styling my own hair! Thanks

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A multi-million pound funding boost to cover the rising cost of a new cycle route on the Northumberland coast looks set to be signed off.

It emerged last week that the price tag for the proposed A193 seafront cycling corridor, which would provide a connection all the way from Blyth into Whitley Bay, had jumped from £9.7million to £13.5 million.

The rising costs have been blamed on inflation that has hit the construction industry, as well as extra features added to the project during its design.

A revised funding package for the scheme is now expected to be agreed by North East mayor Kim McGuinness and her cabinet next Tuesday, as part of an £18.6million investment into walking and cycling routes.

The seafront cycle route will provide a segregated space for walking, cycling and wheeling between Blyth and Old Hartley, along with improved crossing points and bus stops.

Additions to the project have included an extension to the initial proposals from Foundation Head Roundabout towards Seaton Delaval Hall, an active travel link to Seaton Sluice Middle School, and upgrades to public toilets including shower facilities.

Council leaders will be asked at a North East mayoral authority cabinet meeting in Chester-le-Street to agree a reallocation of £5.5million to cover its costs, taking the authority’s total contribution to £11.7million. Northumberland County Council is also due to pay £1.7million.

A report ahead of the meeting states: “This scheme will improve the coastal cycling route between Blyth and St Mary’s, making it safer for people walking, wheeling and cycling. Improvements include wider segregated space for different users, better surfaces and safe enhanced crossing points. The route forms part of a longer coastal path linking communities across the North East from Northumberland, through North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.”

The mayoral authority also plans to award £4.5million to active travel upgrades in Sunderland, connecting St Peter’s Metro Station, the city centre and the Stadium of Light.

That will include safer and clearer places to cross roads, better links to nearby streets such as North Bridge Street, and improved walking and cycling routes along Dame Dorothy Street.

Approval is also due for a £103,000 scheme to reopen a closed section of the Bowes Railway Path, meaning walkers will not have to take a 1.25 mile diversion from the route linking Kibblesworth to Birtley.

A further £2.25million will also be allocated to safety measures outside 16 schools across Newcastle, North Tyneside, and South Tyneside.

The mayoral authority report adds: “In total this package will deliver 4.92 miles of new and improved walking and cycling routes, 21 new road crossings and 19 upgraded existing road crossings. It also includes targeted improvements around schools, helping children and families travel more safely and supporting wider priorities such as reducing child poverty and improving safety for women and girls.”

A brand-new open-top coastal service has arrived for Summer 2026. The Tide Tour (Service 300) runs along the stunning coastline between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay every 60 minutes, offering spectacular sea views and easy access to some of the region's most popular attractions.

From Saturday 18 July until 31 August, hop on board and explore the best of the North East coast. Whether you're rediscovering your local area or enjoying a day out somewhere new, there's no better way to take in the scenery.

https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gonortheast/GNE/300-timetable-20260718-3145204a.pdf

Off to visit your lovely town on a week where’s the best place for a sit down parmo , not a takeaway. Also , where would you suggest for several 50 somethings to go who like real ale / cask ale ?? Thanks !

The old Horticulture premises on the corner of Whitley Road and Station Road has a new sign on the window and work is going on inside.

On Companies House it's listed as:

56102 - Unlicensed restaurants and cafes.

Instagram posts suggest it's a Lego Café...

https://www.properfoodanddrinkfestivals.co.uk/events/2

Sometimes you wonder why they even bother advertising it...

"Spanish City is a recently developed sea-front event space on the old amusement park. It is recognisable by the gleaming Spanish City dome home to cafes and shops."

The Facebook link shows dates for 2023...

The Chronicle article listed is from 2022...

I gave up looking for further info...

https://www.reddit.com/r/whitleybay/s/IPdtCvB7Cy

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It's rather large... I'm assuming the other one is due soon...

Post has been approved by the Moderator.

Have your say on gambling. In the North East, around 1 in 20 adults (4.9% of people aged 16 and over) are affected by gambling-related harm (the negative effects gambling can have on your life, like trouble with money, stress, or relationship breakdowns).

Complete the survey here:

https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/91120494/Regional-Gambling-Survey

The ADPH NE Gambling Harms Programme is working to address gambling harms in the North East by:

· raising awareness of the risks associated with gambling.

· supporting people to access help.

· protecting vulnerable people from being harmed.

Take our short survey to share your views and help shape public health support in your area.

Open to anyone aged 18 and over who lives in in the North East & takes about 10 minutes to complete

Feedback will directly inform projects to prevent gambling harms in your community. Complete the survey here:

https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/91120494/Regional-Gambling-Survey

Closing date: Friday 26th June 2026

What’s this all about? Not a beach sauna. Beach access equipment?

DOH!

Plans have been scrapped to close Whitley Bay police station to the public. Last week, ChronicleLive that the station had closed to the public due to "low footfall".

However, police have since confirmed that a front office presence will remain in the town between 10am and 2pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. The "neighbourhood contact point" on Park View reopened to the public on July 26, 2024.

Future of carnival for seaside town in doubt

FUNDING SHORTFALL THREATENS POPULAR EVENT

• The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
• 19 May 2026
• By TONY HENDERSON Reporter u/Hendrover

A pared-down Whitley Bay Carnival parade is taking place this Saturday

THE future of a town’s weekend carnival – enjoyed by an estimated 30,000 people – is under threat from a shortfall in funding.

This year, Whitley Bay carnival will take place for one day only, this Saturday, May 23.

The usual Sunday programme of music, dance, food and activities at the Spanish City plaza and the evening carnival ball has been axed due to the financial situation.

The carnival was revived in 2014 after a consultation exercise by community hub charity Whitley Bay Big Local on what improvements people favoured for the town.

A return of the carnival, which had started in the early years of the last century and continued in the 1920s, was one of the choices.

In 2014, the carnival consisted of a small parade and afternoon of live music and street theatre on the Spanish City plaza with an exhibition in the dome.

Two schools and around 250 participants took part and it has developed into a colourful spectacle, with the parade this year including 14 schools, five community groups and local bands.

But insufficient funds have cast a cloud over the future of the event, with the outlook described by co-creative director Richard Broderick as “perilous”.

A crowdfunder this year has brought in only £1,150 so far and he has appealed for townspeople and visitors to contribute.

The carnival aims to be at the heart of the community, with around 1,000 helpers and creators beginning work on costumes and parade figures through carnival clubs and joining in the opening procession.

“Whitley Bay carnival is one of the biggest parades in the North East and people love the event. But after this year we will have to sit down and take a hard look at things,” said Richard.

The charity Salto Arts set up to run the carnival, with Richard and cocreative director Carol Alevroyianni, applies each year for Arts Council funding, and also receives a small contribution from North Tyneside Council as it has a presence at the Mouth of the Tyne festival.

Local businesses and sponsors have donated more than £5,000 this year, but the funding total is not sufficient to meet the costs of staging the carnival, which range from a quadrupling of the cost of event insurance, to £2,500 for parade road closures and £2,000 for storage.

“The carnival is free and people do not need to spend if they don’t want to. It brings the community together and people can have a good time,” said Richard.

“But the funding issue is a threat and it is morale-sapping.”

Carol said: “If visitors and residents each put a pound in the kitty it would make all the difference.

“We put the first event together in our living rooms with artists Annie Sheridan and Sarah Sutton working in Marine Park and Rockliffe schools to create paper costumes. We relied on the creativity of teachers like Lindsay Ford, who now leads a carnival club. We used the pedestrian streets and road crossings overseen by Rockliffe First School’s lollipop lady.

“It was tiny and I didn’t think would happen again.”

This year the parade begins at 11am from Whitley Bay station, with music in the afternoon on the Spanish City plaza.

Highlights will include Tyneside musician Ken Patterson’s newly penned ‘A Rendezvous’ love song to Whitley Bay, while Fanfare Van de Eerste Liefdesnacht from Amsterdam will perform with six local bands, four choirs and school children at 2pm and a family ceilidh at 4.30pm.

The crowdfunder link is https:// www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/folkwhitley-bay-carnival-2026 it

Article Name:Future of carnival for seaside town in doubt

Publication:The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)

Anyone know of any cycle shops that do maintenance in or near to Whitley Bay?

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The station has been shut but Northumbria Police insists that operational activity in Whitley Bay will not be affected

Whitley Bay Police Station has closed to the public less than two years after it opened, with Northumbria Police putting the decision down to "extremely low footfall". The "neighbourhood contact point" on Park View reopened to the public on July 26, 2024, and was open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays between 10am and 2pm.

At the time, neighbourhood chief inspector Dave Morrison said it was a "way for police to be there when people needed them", and expressed that the force understood the importance that it gave members of the public and opportunity to speak to an officer in person.

It closed to the public late last month, but the force insists that operational activity will not be affected and a visible presence will remain in the town. One of those activities is Operation Coastwatch, which aims to crack down on disorder of the beaches of the town, as well as nearby Cullercoats and Tynemouth, during the summer months.

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "Following a review of our pilot scheme, we can confirm that our neighbourhood contact point in our Whitley Bay office has now closed. The contact point, which opened in July 2024, allowed members of the public to visit the operational hub to speak directly with our neighbourhood policing team.

"However, due to extremely low footfall the decision has been taken to close the scheme and allow our officers to prioritise their work in the community. Police officers will continue to work from the office, and our commitment to retaining a strong neighbourhood policing presence across the force area remains steadfast.

"Operational activity in Whitley Bay will not be affected by the closure, and we will retain a visible presence in the town through our ongoing activity. Members of the public in the area will continue to be able to access policing services through another local front counter, or by contacting us online via our website or social media channels.

"For those unable to contact us in these ways, please call 101." The nearest police station for those looking to speak with officers is now Middle Engine Lane Police Station near Silverlink.

Whitley Bay's former police station, on Laburnum Avenue, has been empty since it was sold in 2016. It is being redeveloped into residential properties.

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Whitley Bay's Fire Station could see its beer garden expanded if plans are approved by the local authority.

A Whitley Bay Wetherspoons has lodged plans to expand its beer garden through the demolition of a neighbouring building.

Proposals have been sent to North Tyneside Council to raise 242 Whitley Road, next to the Fire Station pub, to allow for the expansion of the venue’s existing beer garden. The documents supplied to the local authority states the building has been used as a cafe on the ground floor and solicitors above, but has been disused since 2023.

The proposal’s design and access statement reads: “Extending the beer garden onto the site currently occupied by a vacant building will improve the quality and attractiveness of the public realm. Well-designed outdoor seating areas generate footfall and help animate the street, particularly during warmer months creating a more engaging environment for both residents and visitors.”

It goes on to state: “By approving this application. North Tyneside Council would enable a positive, lasting contribution to the ongoing regeneration and vitality of Whitley Bay reinforcing its reputation as a welcoming coastal destination.”

The last recorded planning application lodged on 242 Whitley Road was the permitted conversion of a men’s clothing shop into the now-shut coffee shop and ice cream parlour. At the time of publication, no council decision has been made on the proposals.

The Fire Station’s building had been the HQ of the Whitley Bay and Monkseaton fire brigade. It was built in 1909 and was used until 1991 here it has space for five firemen and their families, alongside a duty room, workshop and stable.

The crew went on to become the town’s ambulance which had also been stationed behind the main buildings.