Where to go for the Best Seafood in the North East

The Jolly Fisherman, Craster

This pub serves fresh seafood in a stunning location overlooking the North Sea. It is deservedly popular with locals and tourists exploring the Northumbrian coastline, offering sandwiches and soup by day and an evening a la carte menu. The award-winning John Blackmore is Head Chef here – be sure to try his delicious homemade crab soup. The ales on the bar are beautifully kept and there’s a nice wine list too. 

The Seaview Restaurant, Saltburn

The idea behind this restaurant is simple; well-prepared fish and chips with superb sea views. Tuck in to fried cod, haddock or Whitby scampi in their restaurant or go out onto the balcony to soak up the sun as you take in views of Saltburn’s long sandy beach and Victorian pier. All the fish at Seaview is sourced from sustainable and well-managed fishing grounds. You can also enjoy wines, beers, speciality teas and coffees with your meal, or take advantage of their takeaway menu and eat on the beach. 

Giacopazzi’s, Eyemouth

Just by the harbour in the seaside town of Eyemouth you’ll find Giacopazzi’s, a great fish and chip restaurant. The restaurant is bright and modern, a good place to eat with family and friends. The takeaway option is so popular that queues out the door are not unheard of, but it’s worth the wait. Giacopazzi’s is also an award-winning ice cream parlour, so why not have a sweet treat to finish off your meal.

The Staith House, North Shields

Dine on meat from the farm and fish from the quay at The Staith House, which has a brief but tempting menu and a chic, cosy interior. It’s headed up by MasterChef: The Professionals finalist John Calton, and fish features strongly on the menu, which changes daily. Try the house cured salmon, the North Sea squid burger or hand-dived king scallops. There are also gourmet gastro dishes to enjoy like butternut squash gratin and pulled pork pasty.

Pantrini’s, Whitley Bay

Pantrini’s is a proper fish and chip shop. This long-established family business serves great food at good prices, and the service is excellent. The restaurant and takeaway menus are fairly similar, so whether you want to sit in or out you can still enjoy skinless and boneless cod, scampi or luxury salmon fishcake and chips. Don’t forget to order something on the side: choose from options including peas, beans, curry sauce and gravy. 

Crab & Lobster, Asenby

Adjoining the fine Crab Manor Hotel, this is a gem of a pub/bar/restaurant, and a true one-off for a memorable dining experience. More formal than the bar, the menu is focused on fresh local fish and seafood, but also offers a wide variety of gourmet dishes. The award-winning food is generous, unpretentious and well prepared. The beer garden is something of a sun trap, so take your Crispy Fishcakes of Hartlepool Codling outside if the weather is fine. The bar here is one of the most characterful in the region, brimming with memorabilia. 

Latimer’s Cafe, Whitburn

This independent, family-run business is without question one of the best fishmongers in the area, and the café is the perfect place to sample some of the fruits of the sea. Try crab sandwiches, ‘naked’ fish with chips, and crab and whiskey soup. They also serve terrific coffee, homemade cakes and scones, and you can select your own fish to take home to cook.

Colmans, South Shields

Current proprietors Richard and Frances are the fourth generation of Colmans to fry fish at South Shields, and they were voted the best traditional chippy in Britain by Esquire magazine last year. Their celebrity fanbase includes Bill Bryson, which is surely reason enough to visit. The restaurant has white tiled walls and blackboards showing the catch of the day, and all the fish on the menu is caught in the wild from sustainable fishing grounds. 

The Mizen Head Hotel, Bamburgh

The restaurant at the Mizen Head Hotel in the picturesque village of Bamburgh serves quality food which matches the exceptional surrounding scenery. The menu is predominantly fish-led, and the team here are proud of being able to bring ingredients from ‘boat to plate’ in a matter of hours. There’s a nice wine list to complement the menu. 

The Old Boathouse, Amble

The Old Boathouse occupies an old RNLI building right on Amble’s harbour wall. It was set up by Martin Charlton and Richard Sim. There’s an open kitchen with a wood-fired oven, pine floors and big windows with sea views. The menu offers mussels, crab cakes and lobster but keep your eye on the specials boards for the catch of the day.

Your Breakfast Recommendations:

Share your best fish recommendations with us through Facebook (Living North Magazine) and Twitter (@Living_North) and we’ll add them to our suggestions.

Alison Fuller @alifuller10 – @Mizen_Head in Bamburgh does the #bestfish

Amble By The Sea @AmbleByTheSea – @Living_North From view to table - Amble's @oldboathouse1 is THE place