NE1’s Quayside Seaside Returns With Northumbrian Water As Sponsor

The Quayside Seaside is a firm fixture on the banks of the Tyne during the summer, now almost double in size and with more beach attractions than when it first arrived.  This year, the pop up beach will be 70 metres long with a new astro-turf area equipped with additional seating, giant outdoor games and an area designed to welcome a roster of street food vendors.

As part of its support, Northumbrian Water is planning a range of fun and interactive activities on the Quayside Seaside to keep beachgoers hydrated and entertained including yoga and pilates.  With Northumbrian Water’s help the Quayside Seaside will lead the way in helping NE1 ‘green’ its projects.  As a starting point, no single use plastic will be sold on the beach with the public encouraged to BYOB – bring your own bottle of water.  The Northumbrian Water team will work with local businesses to offer free water re-filling stations in the surrounding area.

NE1’s Quayside Seaside will have the usual range of beach huts, deck chairs, and children’s play equipment including a climbing frame with the new space providing scope for other temporary, pop up activities on the site.

Colour Landscape architects, a North East design practice have worked on the design for this year’s pop up beach, including the new additional space measuring 8 metres x 20 metres.  The space was previously occupied by a reconditioned shipping container restaurant, owned by Riley’s Fish Shack which has moved to a new development at North Shields Fish Quay.  The space is now  freed up to be used  for a range of different food and entertainment activities throughout the summer.

The beach will complement a range of other activities on the Quayside including River Escapes who offer pleasure cruises on the River Tyne from NE1 Newcastle City Marina during the summer.  The cruises started from NE1’s marina last year and were so successful that the company restarted the service at the beginning of April.  Another new addition to the Quayside this summer is kayaking on the Tyne, which will also be available from NE1 Newcastle City Marina during the 6 weeks school summer holidays.  Cullercoats Bike and Kayak will provide 90 minute long sessions bookable in advance at www.cullercoatsbikekayak.co.uk

Tariq Albassam, Project Manager at NE1 Ltd said:

“The Quayside Seaside has changed dramatically since its arrival 7 years ago.  The pop up beach is such a firm favourite on the banks of the Tyne and now extends to over 70 metres in length.  This year we are delighted to welcome Northumbrian Water as the main sponsor for the beach and together we are looking forward to the beach being at the heart of all the summertime events and activities planned for Newcastle and the Quayside.”

Louise Hunter, Director of Corporate Affairs at Northumbrian Water, said:

“Northumbrian Water is delighted to support what has become an iconic element of the Quayside in the summer, bringing a real feel-good vibe to the area.  Here in the North East we have the best beaches in the country, so it is fitting that we should have one of the best urban beaches in the UK too!  Newcastle’s Quayside Seaside allows people to really enjoy being by the Tyne. The river has come such a long way over the last 30 to 40 years, in terms of water quality, and that’s enabled the explosion of fun and cultural things to do on its banks. It’s our plan to really get involved and bring some things along that are not only enjoyable, but thought provoking and environmentally sound, so people get even more from their trip to the Quayside Seaside.”

Facts about the Quayside Seaside

NE1 Ltd, the Business Improvement District Company for Newcastle City Centre build the Quayside Seaside on the Newcastle Quayside each year between the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and the Tyne Bridge. 

Many of the elements including the 5 exotic palm trees, planters, sleepers, play equipment and fencing are all reused each year when the beach returns

216 cubic metres of sand are used in its construction to provide a depth of 250mm  – the sand is replaced each year for hygiene reasons, with the used sand being recycled into other uses.  The sand is held in place by 16 individual modular sections of decking as well as a large ship’s prow named the HMS Newcastle.

50 deckchairs are used on the site together with 5 beach huts and a total of approximately 200 buckets and spades are provided over the summer months

A timetable of events and activities on the Northumbrian Water Quayside Seaside will be published on www.getintonewcastle.co.uk