- Play Hard
- 21st Mar 2025
- 0
- 0 minute
33 hidden gems in the North East, as voted by HLN’ers
Congratulations Fiona King – you’re the winner of our competition in collaboration with NGI and Destination North East England to win a Cocktails & Cake experience with Mother Mercy.
In celebration of English Tourism Week, we asked our readers to submit photos of their hidden gems across the region to inspire visitors to ‘live like a local’ and find our wonderful independent businesses. And of course, HLN’ers delivered…
Here are 33 of the best to check out…
THE WINNER
Rigg & Furrow
Acklington Park Farm, Morpeth, NE65 9AA
“This hidden brewery tap is based on a family farm in Northumberland, with a paddock beer garden with views over the Northumbrian countryside. We love heading to Alnmouth beach and stopping here on the way home.” – Fiona King
THE CLOSE RUNNERS-UP
The Grotto
Coast Road, South Shields, NE34 7BS
“As a South Shields girl, whenever I have friends come to stay, I take them on a walk along the cliff tops from The Sand Dancer pub to The Grotto, where we enjoy a hot chocolate on the beach or in the cave restaurant. It’s so unusual, and the beach looks beautiful at all times of the year.” – Laura Burdon
WC Gin Closet
4 High Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1
“I can spend hours in here chatting away as the gin is so affordable and the atmosphere is so cosy whilst still managing to feel like a luxury experience. The place is tiny (hence the name) as it is in the site of the old lady’s bathroom – the main WC cocktail bar is larger because it is the old men’s bathroom. It’s easy to miss this place as it just looks like a random white door to an apartment, but it is definitely worth the visit.” – Grace Cameron
Hulne Park
Ratten Row, Alnwick, NE66
“I’d like to share my hidden gem – Hulne Park in Alnwick. It’s a favourite of mine because it is so very picturesque. It extends over 3000 acres within a walled enclosure consisting of estate forestry, farm countryside and sawmills. There is a Priory, a tower built in 1781 and Alnwick Abbey – you can walk for hours there, and it is also great for cyclists, but no dogs are allowed. I recommend it.” – Laura Turnbull
Zees
132 Heaton Park Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5NR
“My hidden gem is Zees on Heaton Park Road. The honey pistachio toast is absolutely incredible, as are all of their baked goods. The cookies are also insanely good.” Adam Simpson
THE (VERY) HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Comments