Harden's survey result
Summary
“You can ask for rugs and a fire pit if you’re freezing” at Adam & Lucy Riley’s “truly special” star: two shipping containers dispensing a menu of “expertly prepared fresh fish, changing daily depending on what’s landed along the coast”, to be eaten with wooden cutlery while gazing over sandy King Eddie’s Bay. A decade on from launch, the cooking remains “bang-on, with intense flavour and ambition but never overdone”. “On a good day (they do happen!) you could be on the Mediterranean”, while “on a dark wet night, the food is good enough to justify the journey down the steps”. “Only gripe is the flimsy plastic cups for wine – it’s often windy here!”. Top Tip – “breakfast is special, everything cooked to order and the views spectacular” as the sun rises over the water.
Summary
“Superb fish served in cardboard box with wooden cutlery” together with “a view to die for” – “what more can you ask for” query fans (many) of this famous, funky converted shipping container on Tynemouth Beach, whose “expertly cooked food and great value” seldom fail to impress. Occasionally the service can glitch.
Summary
“If you are lucky with the weather it’s the best place to eat on earth”, according to fans of this funky converted shipping container on Tynemouth Beach. “Surroundings are basic”, but “the view is superb and the food is top notch”: “fabulous fresh fish” brought in from North Shields round the corner. “Dinner overlooking the sea… log fires… amazing food and service… what could be better?”
Summary
“Just unique. Love it, love it, love it!". “On a glorious sunny day this converted shipping container on Tynemouth Beach is the best eating option anywhere on the NE coast”, say fans, and it has become the north east’s most commented-on destination in our annual national diners’ poll. “Sitting with your toes in the sand in a deckchair on the beach with a parasol, with a picture postcard day of blue sky, sun and warm breeze, while eating small mountains of delicious seafood that’s just been cooked in ‘the shack’ is bliss.” And “this is not your standard fish on the beach: they play with flavours and make sure the fish is super fresh”. As an experience, it’s “weather dependent unfortunately (freezing North Sea winds can spoil the ambience) but they do all they can to mitigate this with what is within their control – the food is outstanding”. “One of the highlights of the year.”
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Riley’s Fish Shack?
King Edward’s Bay, Tynemouth, NE30 4BY
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £0.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £1.50 |
| Service | 10.00% |
King Edward’s Bay, Tynemouth, NE30 4BY
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 9 am‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 9 am‑10 pm |
