Oysters & Ocean Views: A Visit to Riley’s Fish Shack

Set against the cliffs of King Edward’s Bay, Riley’s offers more than just great food - it’s a taste of the North East at its finest.

Riley’s Fish Shack is a renowned must-visit spot in the North East, noted as one of the best establishments in Tynemouth.

We have had a wonderful bout of weather recently, the kind that draws you out of the house and straight towards the glistening coast. In my case, I was called to the shores of Tynemouth - a coastal town that sits just east of Newcastle and on the northern side of the River Tyne.

Tynemouth is known for its golden mile-long beach and its lively main street filled with independent shops, cafes, and quality restaurants. At the weekend, you can pay a visit to the Tynemouth market that lines the metro station with stalls of goodies, ranging from vintage clothing, jewellery, and books, to coffee and street food kiosks. It’s a lovely place that offers a seaside escape if you ever tire of the pace of the city.

Above all, this vibrant coastal town has a way of marrying the beautiful landscape with its rich history and heritage. There is no better example of this than on the seafront, where the cliffside ruins of the Tynemouth Priory overlook the lapping waves of King Edward’s Bay below. Here, nestled in the shelter of the bay amongst the golden sand and happy beach dwellers, you can find Riley’s Fish Shack.

The Venue

I was lucky enough to spend a sunny Saturday on Tynemouth’s shore, tucking into the finest local produce served up by the team at Riley’s. First things first, let’s talk about the venue itself.

Blending seamlessy into the bay’s cliffside, Riley’s Fish Shack is a beautifully authentic venue that enhances its surroundings, rather than simply occupying it. As you meander down the hillside towards King Edward’s Bay, you can soon see the wooden structure and sloping canopy come into view.

There’s seating both inside and out, but on a gorgeous day like this, it’s the balcony that calls - perched above the sand with sweeping views of the bay. There’s even seating on the sand, where you can enjoy your meal in the comfort of a deckchair and under the relief of a parasol.

The view of the bay was amazing, and with the sun beaming down, the beach was buzzing with life as sunbathers and swimmers made the most out of the sand and sea. (This made for very entertaining people-watching, too). There are also blankets at hand for when the inevitable chill starts to creep in - this is the UK, after all.

It was the perfect set-up for a hearty seafront meal…

Pictured: The view from Riley’s Fish Shack onto King Edward’s Bay.

The Food

Now, onto the best bit - the food. What makes Riley’s Fish Shack so special is that their menu is not only fresh and healthy, but it is also locally sourced. Riley’s source their fish from the daily auction at North Shields Fish Quay, which means that their dishes are seasonal, sustainable, and support the local fishing community.

This makes for a wonderfully fluid menu that’s always subject to change, which will make each visit to the restaurant feel like a whole new experience. Their catch-dependent specials are displayed on a blackboard by the bar, along with their regular offerings and signature sides. During my visit, the menu was brimming with a variety of seafood, from scallops and fish empanadas to cod and hake dishes.

Pictured: The catch-dependent menu at Riley’s Fish Shack during my visit.

Lindisfarne Oysters

Despite their mixed reviews, I’ve always been keen to try oysters - and what better place to try them than at Riley’s Fish Shack? Here, they serve up both classic and mignonette-style oysters, sourced from the crisp waters of Lindisfarne off the Northumberland coast.

We went for 3 of the classic oysters, served simply with a wedge of lemon and a bottle of Tabasco. As my first taste of oysters, I was pleasantly surprised - they were incredibly silky and fresh and it felt like taking a bite out of the ocean. That said, next time, I think I’d be tempted to try them with the mignonette sauce for that extra layer of flavour!

Pictured: The classic Lindisfarne Oysters served with lemon and Tabasco.

Whole Red Mullet & Signature Side

For the main dish, we ordered the whole red mullet and the signature shack mixed side.

The red mullet was served crisp from the grill and was paired with a tomatoey caponata and fresh salsa verde. As visually impressive as it was flavourful, the dish was such a delight to eat. The fish was so light and delicate and was complemented beautifully by the rich sauce. Just be wary of those sneaky bones!

The signature side was made up of caperberry salad, shaved fennel, lime, mint and chilli slaw, aioli, hot plate potatoes, rosemary and garlic, and sourdough. The potatoes were my favourite part - they were so crispy and went perfectly with the aioli! The salad was a refreshing pairing with the red mullet, and the sourdough was so soft and warm - I could easily have eaten about three more breadsticks.

As a whole, the meal was so fresh and rich - you can tell that the ingredients are of fantastic quality and the chefs take care with every dish. And along with that incredible view of the bay, there wasn’t much room for complaint.

Pictured: The whole red mullet and the signature shack side.

Basque Cheesecake

Of course, I can never turn down a sweet treat at the end of the meal - it’s non-negotiable. So, we ordered the burnt Basque cheesecake to take with us and it was nothing short of mouth-watering. The cheesecake came with rhubarb, pistachio, and vanilla cream - it was the ideal balance of both sweet and sharp. If you ever get the chance, you need to try this dessert. It was the perfect end to a gorgeous meal!

Pictured: The burnt Basque cheesecake.

The Experience

There are so many elements to Riley’s Fish Shack that make it so renowned as a must-visit spot in the North East. Its undeniably stunning location, combined with a sustainable, local, and fresh menu, creates a dining experience that’s hard to replicate. There’s something special about tucking into locally sourced ingredients just metres away from the very waters they came from!

It may be on the pricier side, but for the setting, the ingredients, and the care behind every dish, it’s worth every penny. This isn’t your everyday dining experience.

One final tip: if they’re fully booked, don’t worry! We managed to snag a spot the night before by turning on email notifications for cancellations - well worth doing if you're hoping to visit on short notice.

Pictured: The wonderful view from Riley’s Fish Shack onto Kind Edward’s Bay, nestled underneathTynemouth Priory.

Riley’s Fish Shack in Watercolour

I thought I’d capture the wonderful setting at King Edward’s Bay in Tynemouth with an ink and watercolour piece.