Tynemouth - the Northern seaside

With the sun coming out on Sunday, we decided to take the metro out to Tynemouth. If the seaside is near, it would be a crime not to check it out! And we were not disappointed. Arriving at the metro station, there were lots of stalls around the station - their regular Saturday market. A mix of second hand goods, antiques, and self-made crafts and jewellery. And interestingly beds. I wonder how many people buy beds in a market.

The beach really is a perfect place for exercising

And of course a seagull photo!

Pitcher & Piano and beautiful views over the Quayside

I went to Pitcher & Piano in Bristol years ago and assumed it was a typical chain restaurant. I hadn't realized that they are 'only' 19 bars across the UK. And they are going for unique looks rather than chain restaurant standards. The one in Newcastle is just opposite the Malmaison hotel and on the Quayside with great views over the Tyne, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the Baltic museum for contemporary art and the Sage Gateshead.

We went for a selection of (fried) dishes from their 'grazing' menu - ideal as sides or for sharing. Check out their website for pictures of the quirky interior design (my photos are crap as per usual...).

Afternoon tea delight

After a night at the Malmaison, we transferred to the 4* Marriott Hotel Metro Centre - just a short walk from IKEA and the intu Metrocentre - Europe's largest shopping centre. It's outside the city but has regular bus connections (~15 minutes) into town.

What a pleasant surprise to be greeted with complimentary afternoon tea! Perfect as well, as we were starving after having skipped lunch...

And another double bed twin room!

Daniel Defoe, the pamphleteer

This probably just shows my ignorance... Never knew the word pamphleteer existed!

From Wikipedia:
'A pamphleteer is a historical term for someone who creates or distributes pamphlets. Pamphlets were used to broadcast the writer's opinions on an issue, for example, in order to get people to vote for their favorite politician or to articulate a particular political ideology.'

Newcastle by night

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge (2001) which changes colour at night

The Tyne Bridge (1928)

Bar Livello

EAT!

EAT! Festival is all about food and drink and took place in Newcastle from 23 August to 8 September. And we were invited to the Nordic Feast at the Boiler Shop. Served up by Louis restaurant which set up a pop up restaurant on the first floor overlooking the food stalls in the Boiler Shop, we were offered a 'celebration of Home, Earth, Sea, Land and Garden':

Home: Elderberry from the Chef's Yard Cocktail

Earth: Beet root and goats curd

Sea: scallop with sea spinach

Land: partridge, mushrooms and a cone of chips

Garden: lavender panna cotta, wild berry ice cream and shortcake

Home of the Magpies

A visit to St James' Park was of course mandatory during our weekend in Newcastle. And after the torrential rainfall on Friday, the sun even came out on the Saturday. Paul from the Convention Bureau claimed that Newcastle is the driest city in the UK - I do have my doubts about that...

St. James' Park is home to Newcastle United football club and according to Wikipedia the oldest and largest stadium in the North East of England and the sixth largest in the UK (52,404 seats).  You can get serious vertigo from the last row in the Milburn stand. Getting up there was good preparation for the Sage Gateshead roof walk we did on the Sunday!

Posh seats, Sir Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer's Executive 'Wor box' and the home team dugout