Riley's Fish Shack serves the catch of the day on King Edward's Bay

There are few more memorable places to eat on the North East coast than Riley's Fish Shack, perched above the sand at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth. Run by husband and wife Adam and Lucy Riley, it was, in their words, born from their love of fresh, honest, healthy seafood.

The story began modestly. Riley's started out as a roving street food bicycle stall at the inaugural Tynemouth food festival in May 2012, then traded at private events and North East food events through the summers of 2013 and 2014 before settling at the bay.

The shack has since become part of the coastal landscape. Harden's described it as two full side-access shipping containers fitted out steampunk-style, overlooking the water, and on a bright day there are few better spots on Tyneside for lunch.

Freshness is everything here. The team buys fish at the daily shout auction at North Shields Fish Quay, fed by local day boats, and the menu is seasonal and subject to change, with catch-dependent specials announced every day. Regulars might find monkfish, turbot, halibut, squid, langoustines, lobster, oysters or mackerel coming off the chargrill or out of the wood oven.

Much of the locally landed fish is bycatch from the scampi industry rather than targeted species, and the business says it aims to minimise its environmental impact, right down to its packaging.

The praise has been considerable. When Observer critic Jay Rayner visited, he declared it "the eating experience of the year", and according to Harden's he concluded that it was "bloody fantastic". Reviews like that turned a small beach kitchen into a destination for diners from far beyond Tynemouth.

Riley's is about more than lunch and dinner on the beach. Weekly workshops launched in February 2023, the team runs corporate team-building sessions tailored to timeframe, guest numbers and budget, and gift vouchers make a lovely present for seafood fans.

Whether you are a Tynemouth local or visiting for the day, it is a reminder of just how good the region's seafood can be when it is cooked simply and with care.

Bookings, workshops and vouchers are all available through the Riley's Fish Shack website.