Helen's Place

23/07/2025

Thanks Our Whitley Bay this is a perfect round up of things to do in our great town 🏖️

Whitley Bay is a charming blend of seaside nostalgia and modern cool. Here are 10 great things to do in and around the town:

•St MARY’S LIGHTHOUSE
At low tide, walk out to the island to climb the Grade II-listed 1898 lighthouse for stunning coastal views. The surrounding nature reserve is perfect for rockpooling and seal spotting

•BEACH AND PROM
Enjoy the Blue Flag beach which is ideal for sandcastle building, jogging or just watching the world go by with some yummy fish & chips.

•SEASIDE ACTIVITIES
Hire a paddle board from Northerly Swell Surfside Emporium. or a kayak from CBK Adventures in Cullercoats and take to the water. Or hire a bicycle from the lads at Northerly Swell and cycle along the newly built cycle path taking in the gorgeous coastal views.

•THEATRE OR CINEMA
Enjoy some live theatre or comedy in Laurels, Whitley Bay on Whitley Road or see the latest film release at Jam Jar Cinema

•ARCADES
Family-friendly fun on the seafront at the arcades. Save up your tuppences and spend an hour or two there.

• ESCAPE ROOM
Are you ready to play an exciting and immersive live escape room game at Pirate Escape?
After entering one of the pirate themed worlds you and your pirate crew will have 60 minutes to solve challenges and puzzles, to find the treasure and escape.

• RETRO GAMING
Retro Bay Cafe
Family-run Retro Gaming Cafe with over 30 consoles/arcades.

• SOFT PLAY
Acorn & Oak or The Whitley Bay Treehouse Soft Play
Perfect for younger families. Indoor soft play facilities that keep little ones entertained while the adults relax.

•SHOP TILL YOU DROP
Enjoy independent shopping throughout the town.
Whitley Bay’s thriving independent high streets are bursting with boutiques, homeware, gifts, bookshops, cafés, and charity shops.

• FOOD & DRINK HOTSPOTS
Fish & chips
Ice Cream
Cafe’s
Sweet treats

•GET CRAFTY
Take part in an art session at Katie’s Craft House or paint your own pottery at Hotpotz Ceramic Painting Studio.

Whether you’re after fresh air, family activities, food adventures, or a slice of culture, Whitley Bay offers a top‑notch coastal getaway.

19/06/2025

Thanks for the mention Our Whitley Bay 😊. I am noticing more and more of our guests are visiting Whitley Bay for the first time.

Whitley Bay has hit the headlines again 🥳

Whitley Bay has been named in ‘one of the top 10 UK's top coastal getaways' as part of an Airbnb campaign to encourage Brits to "unfollow the crowd" this summer.

Airbnb said of Whitley Bay “Once a classic holiday haunt in its Victorian heyday, Whitley Bay is now reclaiming its position on the travel map for all the right reasons.

Its golden sands, heritage promenade, and the dramatic backdrop of St Mary’s Lighthouse make it a perfect candidate for a seaside revival that values experience over exposure.

Unlike crowded southern resorts, Whitley Bay offers a more laid-back pace, ideal for travellers looking to enjoy life among locals, stroll along the coast, grab fish and chips without a queue, and reconnect with nature.”

If you’re coming to Whitley Bay our top picks for places to stay are
Helen's Place
The Metropolitan Bed & Breakfast Whitley Bay
and Southcliff Holiday Apartments

22/05/2025

Yay! Blue Flags will again be flying over Whitley Bay beach after being awarded a prestigious Blue Flag Award again this year. An honour Whitley Bay has been awarded every year since 1994 🌊

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy have announced the winners of the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for summer 2024 as the international Blue Flag celebrates its 37th anniversary.

The coveted Blue Flag is an international award bestowed on the cleanest and best-maintained beaches in the country, while the Seaside Award recognises the highest standards of beach management in England.

Among the criteria beaches are assessed against are:

🌊 Safety and services, such as first aid, lifeguards where necessary.

🌊 Environmental information including displaying details about local eco systems.

🌊 Water quality – Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award winners must meet the 'sufficient’ standard.

🌊 Environmental management, including litter and waste.

Let’s keep the Blue Flag flying Whitley Bay!

📸 Debra Mitchell

21/05/2025

To mark Wanderlust’s ‘Year of Locals’, Gareth Clark rediscovers the North East coast of his birth, where saints, surfers, seals and Romans have all washed up on the shore

29/04/2025

Lovely place for a coffee if you are visiting the coast

Hi everyone,

Hope you’re enjoying the sunshine.

I’ve been wanting to write this post for a while but thought a busy Easter holidays would buy the business a little time. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. Takings were to my great surprise actually lower than a usual week. The situation is now that the business does not cover its outgoings and there is no money left to cover those costs.

Everyday I’m in here thinking - this place is great, great coffee, a cheerful vibe created by wonderful staff, charging some of the lowest prices in Whitley bay, that’s in a great location.

When I’m out and about I bump into old friends I made from when I started cullercoats coffee who ask me how the business is going… I’d love it if instead you come down and experience for yourself this new community space we’ve created before it’s too late!!

I know nobody owes me or myself anything but I genuinely think the seafront will be losing a great asset if things don’t turn around in the next few weeks.

Thank you for reading.

If you want to support us tell your friends how fantastic this place is , share on socials, if you know a group that meets up - direct them to us, leave a review etc

Mat x

23/02/2025

We’re opening early (7:30 AM) on Saturday 1st AND Sunday 2nd of March so Bay Tales attendees (and early risers alike) can grab coffee and breakfast before the event, and head home afterwards fully caffeinated and nourished. Oh, and did we mention the VERA cocktail we’ll be serving up? 👀 See you then! 🍹☕

-

08/01/2025

My instagram page has been hacked. Please ignore any messages for Helen’s Place

09/11/2024

If you know, you know 😉

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween 🎃 👻

23/10/2024

Sunrise at a civilised time 😊