Marsden Grotto
One of Europe's only cave bars, built into the cliff face at Marsden Bay with a beach terrace, seafood restaurant, and ten boutique hotel rooms overlooking Marsden Rock. Open daily from noon.
About Marsden Grotto
The Grotto is a remarkable establishment carved into the cliffs at Marsden Bay in South Shields, originally excavated in 1782 by Jack 'the Blaster' Bates. Once a smugglers' haunt, it now combines a cave bar, a seafood restaurant and boutique accommodation. The restaurant serves freshly prepared seafood alongside grill dishes and fish and chips, while ten hotel rooms set within the cliff face offer sea views over Marsden Rock and the North Sea. A lift provides access to the beach terrace, and the venue is dog-friendly. It also hosts weddings, though opening can be affected by high tides.
Featured in These Guides
Blog posts and guides that feature Marsden Grotto.
Corporate Christmas Party Venues in South Shields
Seafront suites, a cliffside cave bar, civic rooms and pub function suites: where a South Shields business can book a Christmas party or a festive team meal.
Date Night in South Shields: Restaurants, Bars and Things to Do
Where to eat, drink and wander for a romantic evening in South Shields, from seafront seafood and Ocean Road tables to cocktail lounges and a sunset walk along the pier.
The Lost Buildings of South Shields
From the Tyne Dock arches to grand seaside cinemas and the Ingham Infirmary, a tour of the South Shields landmarks that have vanished, and what stands there now.
Interesting Facts About South Shields
From a Roman fort whose Latin name means 'place of the Arabs' to a pub carved into a cliff by dynamite, South Shields is full of surprises. Here are our favourite facts.
Best Wedding Venues in South Shields
From a clock-towered Edwardian town hall to a seafront hotel and a bar carved into the cliffs, wedding venues with real coastal and civic character.
Best Beer Gardens in South Shields
From a seafront terrace overlooking Sandhaven Beach to a craft beer micro bar in Harton Village, here are the best beer gardens and outdoor drinking spots in South Shields.
Marsden Bay and Marsden Grotto: The Complete Guide
From the dramatic sea stack at Marsden Rock to Europe's only cave pub, here is your complete guide to Marsden Bay, Marsden Grotto, The Leas coastal walk, and the wildlife of the South Shields coast.
Best Hotels and B&Bs in South Shields
From a seafront hotel overlooking the Tyne to a boutique cave hotel at Marsden Bay, here are the best hotels and B&Bs in South Shields.
Oldest Pubs in South Shields
From a coaching inn established around 1803 to a Grade II listed Victorian gem on Fowler Street, here are the oldest and most historic pubs in South Shields.
Best Photography Spots in South Shields
From the iconic Herd Groyne Lighthouse to the seabird colonies at Marsden Rock, here are the best photography spots in South Shields.
More Food & Drink in South Shields
The New Crown Hotel
Large traditional pub on Mowbray Road with a function room quoted at around 120 guests and buffet packages for bigger groups. Pub classics, cask ales, big-screen sport and its own car park.
The County
Family-friendly Sizzling Pubs site on Sunderland Road, built around mixed grills, sizzling skillets and value pub classics, with Sky Sports on the screens and a function area offered to local groups.
Colmans Fish and Chips
A South Shields institution serving fish and chips for over five generations. One of the best-known chippies in the North East.
Never miss what’s on
Join the weekly SouthShields.org digest — the best events, news and local tips, straight to your inbox. Free, one email a week.
What's On
An Afternoon with Ann Cleeves
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM · The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
Shipwrecks and Smugglers Family Trail at Souter Lighthouse
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM · Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, Coast Road, Whitburn, Tyne & Wear, SR6 7NH
South Shields Market
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM · Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF