Best Cocktail Bars in South Shields

South Shields is traditionally a pint-and-a-packet-of-crisps town, but the cocktail scene has grown steadily over the past few years. The town now has a Victorian gin palace, a cocktail and pizza bar, and several venues mixing creative drinks to a high standard. Here are the best cocktail bars in South Shields.

Hogarths

Hogarths at 14 Mile End Road is a grand Victorian gin palace that stocks over 120 different gins. The interior is striking — chandeliers, private booth seating, and an intimate cocktail bar alongside the main bar. Hogarths has created its own Perfect Serve cocktail menus to ensure each gin is paired with the right tonic, garnish, and glassware.

The venue transforms in the evening, with music and a livelier atmosphere later in the night. If you like gin, this is the place.

Best for: Victorian gin palace with over 120 gins, chandeliers, private booths, and bespoke Perfect Serve cocktail menus.

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Arbeia Bar

Arbeia Bar at 16 Ocean Road has been serving creative cocktails since 2020 and bills itself as having the best cocktails in Shields. The Pornstar Martini — Ciroc French Vanilla vodka with Passoa, passionfruit syrup, and pineapple, topped with a flaming passionfruit and a prosecco chaser — is a standout. The Espresso Martini is also excellent, made with freshly brewed hot espresso.

Arbeia also serves freshly made pizza, making it a strong choice for a cocktails-and-food evening. Open Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 2am.

Best for: Creative cocktails and freshly made pizza on Ocean Road — open Friday and Saturday evenings from 5pm to 2am.

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Colmans Seafood Temple

Colmans Seafood Temple on Sea Road is primarily a seafood restaurant, but the cocktail bar is worth knowing about. The setting is hard to beat — panoramic sea views from the seafront — and the cocktail list is well curated. It is a more refined option than the late-night bars in the town centre, and ideal for a pre-dinner drink or a special occasion.

Best for: Cocktail bar with panoramic sea views at the Seafood Temple — a refined option for pre-dinner drinks on the seafront.

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The Chameleon Late Lounge

The Chameleon Late Lounge at 9a Claypath Lane has a five-star Google rating and is one of the best-kept secrets in South Shields for cocktails. The venue is intimate and stylish, with a well-mixed cocktail menu and a late licence. It sits right next door to The Maltings, so you can start with a real ale and then move next door for cocktails.

Best for: Five-star rated late lounge on Claypath Lane — intimate, stylish, and right next door to The Maltings.

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The evening out

For a proper cocktail evening in South Shields, start at Hogarths on Mile End Road for gin, walk to Arbeia Bar on Ocean Road for cocktails and pizza, then finish at The Chameleon on Claypath Lane. Three very different venues, all within walking distance of each other.

For more on the pub scene, see our guide to the best pubs in South Shields and the best beer gardens.

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Looking for more? See our guides to restaurants and Indian restaurants on Ocean Road.