A town in the North East has been crowned among the top locations along the British coast for food and drink, according to a new survey.

Tynemouth, in Tyne and Wear was revealed among the hotspots for 2024 with the popular Riley’s Fish Shack getting a special mention by Which?

The consumer champion website commented on their findings: “The food available at the British seaside has improved hugely.

“There's now somewhere special to eat in every part of the coastline - from St Andrews in Scotland to Fowey in Cornwall. A total of 21 seaside towns got impressive, four star ratings for food and drink in our latest survey.”

@archerkitchen_ Restaurant Recommendation - @rileysfishshack 🐟🦞 If you love seafood and you’re in the north east then you need to visit @rileysfishshack , famous for its idyllic location on King Edward’s bay this place really does showcase what delicious seasonal seafood should taste like. Food Recommendations: Lindisfarne Oysters Chilli Fish Empanada Monk Tail Wrap Crispy Skin Halibut Bavette Steak Wrap Turbot Chop with caper butter (my favourite must try!) Roast Plaice with fennel coriander butter Wine Recommendations: Solar Organic Rose Location details: @rileysfishshack 
King Edward’s Bay, Tynemouth, NE30 4BY
0191 257 1371 Reservations are hard to come by so you need to book in advance to get a table inside, otherwise they offer seating on the beach with blankets provided. Follow @archerkitchen for more restaurant recommendations and easy recipes. #rileysfishshack #seafood #northeastfoodie #newcastlefood #archerkitchen #newcastlefoodie ♬ Seventeen Going Under - Edit - Sam Fender

It added: “Almost 5,000 Which? members gave us their views on the best and worst seaside towns. They rated everything from the beaches to the tourist attractions, but in some places the biggest attraction is still the perfect fish and chips or, increasingly, something more sophisticated.

“South East and Southern England have five of the highest-rated seaside towns for food, South West England four, Wales three, Scotland, East England, and North East England two each, and Yorkshire, North West England, and Northern Ireland one each.”

See all 21 seaside towns in the UK given four stars for food and drink here.

Why is Tynemouth one of the best seaside towns for food and drink?

Which? described Tynemouth as being “another town where food is just one of its attractions” with the beach, the seafront and the scenery all getting five stars too.

“Riley’s Fish Shack on the beach has long lured some of London’s big-name food critics to the North East to be wowed by the fish caught fresh this morning,” commented Which?

“It’s since opened an equally popular fish shop and restaurant in town.

“Amble, a little further south, is another place that’s on the up and is highly rated for food and drink.”

Tynemouth received an overall destination score of 81%.

Those in the North East who don’t mind venturing further for some seaside grub might want to check out Whitby, which was also ranked among the best locations for food and drink by the sea.

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Which? explained: “Yorkshire has long claimed the country’s best fish and chips and Whitby is one of the best places to go to test that claim.

“The Magpie Café, right on the waterfront, has been serving up its chips fried in dripping for more than 80 years.

“Another local delicacy is smoked kippers from the Fortune’s smokehouse in the centre of town.”

Whitby in North Yorkshire was given an overall destination score of 77%.