A Day Out To Roker On The Sunderland Connect Bus

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It is the summer holidays and days out with the kids can be expensive so I have been determined to explore more of the North East this summer, as we have some fab low-cost days out in the region. Somewhere we have not explored much of is Sunderland, so I decided to explore it a bit this summer with the kids - aged nine and eleven years old. 

As I don't know Sunderland very well I thought it was best if we explored it via public transport, especially as children aged eleven and under travel for free this summer on Go North East buses in the region - making it a super affordable day out. 

Mark Toney Ice cream Parlour Cafe Newcastle

 

Looking for ice cream or a dessert spot in Newcastle city centre? then you have to visit Mark Toney on Percy Street, opposite Haymarket bus station. I visited with my children and we couldn't believe how affordable it was. Serving everything from breakfasts to burgers, jacket potato's to roast diners and a delicious dessert menu. 

This legendary Newcastle family run cafe has been here for years and years and serves hot meals and a range of sandwiches and light bites to their famous award-winning ice creams and desserts. 

Turknaz Whitley Bay

 

Somewhere I have been meaning to visit for such a long time is Turknaz in Whitley Bay, so many of our family and friends had recommended this award-winning restaurant to us over the years and we finally got round to visiting recently. 

 Located on North Parade right by the seafront in Whitley Bay you will find Turknaz restaurant. It is just a short walk from Whitley Bay town centre and there is a couple of car parks located just a few minutes walk away. We visited on a Saturday evening and had prebooked a table online the day before and I am glad we did as it was busy when we visited. 

Peter Pan Panto At The Tyne Theatre Review

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Fly away to Neverland this Christmas with Peter Pan at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House in Newcastle. Staring Tyne Theatre panto favourites Lewis Denny and Charlie Richmond along with Eastenders Matt Lapinsky, X Factors Sam Lavery and CBBC's Cleo Demetirou. Last years villan (Gaston last year) actor Micky Cochrane returns this year as baddie Captain Hook and Phoebe Garr is a cheeky Geordie Tinkerbell. 

From the moment the lights went down we were in for a treat with an opening Greatest Showman song routine. There was so many great pop songs throughout the show that audience members young and old will recognise and the vocals from the panto stars were spot on. 

Cinderella Panto At Whitley Bay Playhouse 2023 Review

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Regular readers will know that we adore the Pantomimes at Whitley Bay Playhouse and have been going to see them every year since 2016! Going to the panto here is like meeting up with old friends and you know you are going to be in for a giggle and leave feeling all festive and happy. We also love the Playhouse venue as it is so comfy and is local to us as we live in North Tyneside. 

Cinderella 

This year's pantomime is Cinderella and is the fastest selling Playhouse Panto with many dates already sold out! That shows just how popular this gem of a show really is. Playhouse legend Steve Walls is back again for his 13th year at Whitley Bay and is playing Buttons - this year. It also sees the return of  Daniel Mawston as Dame Patsy who is joined by Luke Martin as Dame Idena. Father and son double act Simmons and Simmons who stared in last years Aladdin return again as Null and Void, and once again bring plenty of slapstick humour. 

A Festive Meal At Trenchers Spanish City Whitley Bay

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Are you looking for a nice festive meal out with family, friends or work colleagues that is not a traditional Christmas lunch? If so I have found the perfect place for you, Trenchers at Spanish City in Whitley Bay. They have a festive menu priced at £23.00 for two courses or £28.00 for three courses. I was kindly invited along to try it out with my dad last week, read on to find out what we thought.

I love Trenchers at Spanish City, I have visited previously with the children for fish and chips which you can read about here. Spanish City is a beautiful venue right by the sea, it looked even more beautiful decorated for Christmas with an impressive tree (it was huge) taking centre stage. 

New Year Plans 2023

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We have never really celebrated New Year as we always have the children and they go to bed well before the clock strikes midnight. However now they are getting older we have been thinking about celebrating for once as I think it would be nice to celebrate it for a change. I would love to go away for New Year. My husband suggested going to Scotland for new year as they celebrate it better then we do with Hogmanay. 

While I adore Edinburgh we always go there and it is so busy for New Year so I have been looking at Glasgow instead. Glasgow is somewhere that we have never been before but have always wanted to visit and it is only a couple of hours away from Newcastle.