Plan your visit to Spanish City with North East Escapes. Explore the restored Edwardian Dome on Whitley Bay seafront and find nearby holiday homes. |
Visit Spanish City, Whitley Bay's Magnificent Edwardian Dome
Spanish City in Whitley Bay is one of the most beautiful Edwardian entertainment buildings in the North of England, a grand domed pleasure palace opened in 1910 that has been magnificently restored and reopened as a restaurant and events venue after years of dereliction. Its gleaming white dome is the defining image of the Whitley Bay seafront, and since its 2018 reopening it has become one of the most talked-about destinations on the Tyne and Wear coast. Whether you come for the food, the sea views, an ice cream or simply to admire the architecture, Spanish City is a glorious celebration of Edwardian seaside grandeur.
Spanish City was built in 1910 for the Whitley Bay amusement company, designed by the architect Cackett and Burns Dick in a grand Baroque style that was intended to evoke the pleasure palaces of continental Europe. Its name derives from the Spanish City Pleasure Ground that surrounded it, a fairground and entertainment complex that made Whitley Bay one of the most popular seaside resorts in the North of England throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits immortalised the building in the song Tunnel of Love, giving it an enduring place in popular culture. After a long period of decline and partial demolition, a £10 million restoration returned the dome and adjacent buildings to their former glory and they reopened to the public in July 2018.
The restored Spanish City now houses several restaurants and dining experiences within the Dome building and the adjacent Empress Room, offering everything from casual afternoon teas and ice cream to fine dining with sea views. The architecture itself is a major draw, with the restored plasterwork, tiling and glazing of the interior matching the spectacular exterior dome that is visible for miles along the coast. The adjacent Whitley Bay seafront and beach provide a natural extension to any Spanish City visit, and the short walk north to St Mary's Lighthouse and its tidal island is one of the best coastal walks on the Tyne and Wear coast.
Spanish City is located at Whitley Road, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE26 1BG, on the seafront in the heart of Whitley Bay town centre. It is accessible by Metro from Newcastle (Whitley Bay station, around 25 minutes from Monument) or by car, with seafront parking available. Restaurants within Spanish City must be booked in advance and are popular at weekends. The building and ground floor areas are accessible without booking during opening hours.
North East Escapes has a selection of holiday homes in and around Whitley Bay and the Tyne and Wear coast, ideal for visitors combining Spanish City with the beaches, St Mary's Lighthouse, Tynemouth Priory and the wider attractions of the North Tyneside seafront. Staying in Whitley Bay also gives you excellent Metro connections into Newcastle Upon Tyne, making it a superb base for a city and coast break exploring the very best of Tyne and Wear.
