Ocean Road: The Complete Guide to South Shields' Famous Food Street

Ocean Road is the most famous street in South Shields. Running from the town centre down to the seafront, it is home to the densest concentration of Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants in the North East, a legendary fish and chip shop, independent cafes, and a museum. Locals call it "the curry mile", and it is the beating heart of the town's food scene.

History

Ocean Road was created in 1861, when South Shields Town Council extended King Street seaward through an unmade track called German Street. Robert Ingham, the local MP, gave up a plot of land for the extension, and the new road was named Ocean Road on completion.

The opening of the railway station brought visitors flooding into the town, and Ocean Road prospered with new shops and places of entertainment. But it was the arrival of South Asian restaurants in the second half of the twentieth century that gave the street its modern identity.

The Curry Mile

The first Indian restaurant in the region is thought to have opened on Ocean Road around 1958. In the 1960s, there were only a handful of restaurants and cafes, including the Anglo Asian, the Bengal Restaurant, and the Star of India. Many of the early restaurateurs were Bangladeshi merchant seamen who had settled in South Shields after working on ships out of the Tyne.

By the 1970s and 1980s, as jobs on the ships and in the factories declined, Bangladeshi men turned to the fast-growing Indian restaurant business. Today there are more than a dozen South Asian restaurants on and around Ocean Road, making it one of the longest stretches of curry houses in the country. The street's cultural significance was recognised during South Asian Heritage Month, and it remains a source of enormous pride for the town.

Best for: Ocean Road has been the centre of South Shields' Bangladeshi community for over sixty years. The concentration of curry houses here rivals much larger cities.

Where to Eat on Ocean Road

Indian and Bangladeshi Restaurants

• Zeera Indian Cuisine (206-210 Ocean Road) -- Good Food Award winner with an elegant dining room and strong vegetarian options. One of the more refined choices on the street.
• Cafe India (200 Ocean Road) -- Established in 2001, with generous portions, a 5-star hygiene rating, and consistently strong reviews. A reliable favourite.
• Spice Garden (202 Ocean Road) -- Winner of the Curry House of the Year award in 2016, known for its balti and biryani dishes.
• Radhuni (166-170 Ocean Road) -- Named Curry House of the Year by the Shields Gazette in 2017, with over 500 Tripadvisor reviews and a 4.5-star rating.
• Curry Centre (154 Ocean Road) -- One of the oldest on the street, established in 1978. No-frills curry at sensible prices with collection and delivery.

Fish and Chips

• Colmans Fish and Chips (176-186 Ocean Road) -- A South Shields institution for over five generations, serving since 1926. Arguably the most famous chippy in the North East. The sit-in restaurant is as much a part of the Ocean Road experience as any curry house.

Italian and Mediterranean

• Italianish (118 Ocean Road) -- The top-rated restaurant on Ocean Road according to Tripadvisor, with over 730 positive reviews. Spanish and Italian dishes including tapas, pasta, and risotto.

Cafes

• The Clifton (101 Ocean Road) -- Popular all-day breakfast spot, open Monday to Saturday 8am to 3pm and Sundays 8am to 2pm. Good for brunch before or after exploring the street.
• Sea Change Cafe (158 Ocean Road) -- Social enterprise cafe run by the North East Autism Society, with a vegetarian and vegan menu, homemade cakes, and regularly changing art exhibitions.

Best for: If you can only eat at one place, make it Colmans for lunch and a curry for dinner. That is the classic Ocean Road day.

Other Things to See

Ocean Road is not just about food. At the top of the street, South Shields Museum and Art Gallery at number 10 celebrates the heritage of South Tyneside with free permanent displays on local history, maritime heritage, and the town's multicultural story.

The street itself has some attractive Victorian and Edwardian commercial architecture, and the walk from the town centre down to the seafront takes about ten minutes, with the sea gradually revealing itself as you descend.

Getting There and Parking

• By Metro: South Shields Metro station is at the top of King Street, a two-minute walk from the top of Ocean Road.
• By car: The nearest car parks are on St Hilda Street (free) and the town centre pay-and-display car parks. Seafront car parks at the bottom of Ocean Road charge approximately £1.20 per hour. See our parking guide for full details.
• On foot from the seafront: Ocean Road connects directly to Sea Road and the seafront. Walk uphill from Sandhaven Beach and you are on Ocean Road within five minutes.

Tips for Visiting

• Booking is recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings at the more popular curry houses, especially Zeera, Cafe India, and Radhuni.
• Most restaurants are BYOB-friendly -- some charge a small corkage fee, so check when booking.
• Colmans can have long queues at peak times, particularly on sunny weekends. Consider visiting mid-afternoon to avoid the rush.
• Vegetarian and vegan options are available at most restaurants. Zeera and Sea Change Cafe are particularly strong choices.

Further Reading

• Best Restaurants in South Shields
• Best Takeaways in South Shields
• Best Fish and Chips in South Shields
• Best Cafes in South Shields
• A Weekend in South Shields

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