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The Customs House

Name: The Customs House
Address: Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES, South Shields, GB
Telephone: 0191 454 1234

South Tyneside's premier arts venue in a listed building overlooking the River Tyne. Home to a 440-seat theatre, cinema, art gallery, restaurant, and bar.

Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES 0191 454 1234 Visit website @thecustomshouse @customshousesouthshields Facebook YouTube

About The Customs House

The Customs House is South Tyneside's leading arts and entertainment venue, housed in a Grade II listed former customs post at Mill Dam on the south bank of the River Tyne. Originally opened in the 1860s, the building was restored and extended by the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation and reopened as an arts centre in November 1994, giving South Shields its first theatre and cinema in twelve years. It comprises a theatre of around 440 seats, a studio cinema, gallery spaces, a restaurant and bar, and function rooms. Its programme spans live theatre, comedy, music, dance, pantomime, film and visual arts, plus projects for children and young people.

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Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature The Customs House.

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.

South Shields 365: The £100m Plan Reshaping the Town Centre and Riverside

A quick explainer of South Shields 365, the long-running £100m Muse and South Tyneside Council masterplan behind The Word, the refreshed Market Place, the transport interchange and what riverside residents can expect next.

Have Your Say on the £7m Glassworks Riverside Venue at Mill Dam

Plans for a £7m cultural and leisure venue on the old Glassworks site at Mill Dam, with a taproom, event spaces and a seafood offering, are being shaped with residents. Here's what's proposed and how to have your say.

Contractor Named for £7m Customs House Refurbishment

GMI Construction Group has been appointed to deliver the £7m transformation of the Grade II listed Customs House at Mill Dam, with construction due to begin later in 2026.

Local Museums and Archives Near South Shields

Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields Museum, The Word, the Customs House, and Bede's World -- a guide to the museums, galleries, and archives in and near South Shields.

Historic Trades and Crafts of South Shields

Glass making, shipbuilding, alkali works, salt panning, and the marine trades -- the industries that built South Shields at the mouth of the Tyne.

South Shields Docks: A Maritime Heritage Guide

Mill Dam, the coal staithes, the Shields Ferry, the Volunteer Life Brigade, and shipbuilding on the Tyne -- the maritime heritage of South Shields at the mouth of the river.

Heritage Walking Trail: A Self-Guided Tour of South Shields

From the Roman fort at Arbeia to the Herd Groyne Lighthouse, a self-guided walking trail through nearly 2,000 years of history -- Romans, lifeboats, seafarers, and the mouth of the Tyne.

The Shields Ferry: Crossing the Tyne

A practical guide to the Shields Ferry between South Shields and North Shields, covering timetables, fares, what to see at each end, and the history of this centuries-old river crossing.

A Weekend in South Shields

A two-day itinerary for visitors to South Shields, from the beaches and seafront to Arbeia Roman Fort, Ocean Road, and the Marsden coastal walk.

Things to Do in South Shields

From the Roman ruins at Arbeia to the beaches of Sandhaven and the theatres at The Customs House, here is your complete guide to things to do in South Shields.

Best Walks from South Shields

Four coastal and park walks from South Shields, from the clifftop path along The Leas to Marsden Bay, to a seafront stroll from Littlehaven to Tynemouth. With distances, terrain notes, and tips for every route.

History of South Shields

From the Roman garrison at Arbeia to the Yemeni seafarers of the twentieth century, the history of South Shields is a story of trade, migration, and resilience at the mouth of the Tyne.

The Customs House: Your Complete Guide

Theatre, cinema, gallery, restaurant, and bar, everything you need to know about visiting The Customs House at Mill Dam in South Shields.

Catherine Cookson Trail in South Shields

Dame Catherine Cookson was born in South Shields and set her novels in the streets around Tyne Dock. Here is your guide to the places that shaped her life and her writing.

Summer Holiday Activities in South Shields

From golden beaches and a free funfair to Roman ruins and rainy-day soft play, here is your guide to keeping the family entertained in South Shields this summer.

Wedding Venues in South Shields

From a Grade II listed Edwardian town hall to a seafront hotel overlooking the Tyne, here are the best wedding venues in South Shields.

Open Mic Nights in South Shields

From fortnightly Tunesday sessions at the Chichester Arms to live music jams at The Steamboat, here is your guide to open mic nights in South Shields.

Famous People from South Shields

From Dame Catherine Cookson to Sir Ridley Scott, Eric Idle, and Jade Thirlwall, South Shields has produced a remarkable number of famous people for a town of its size.

Best Quiz Nights in South Shields

From a Tuesday night quiz at the Sand Dancer to a Sunday session at The Marine, here are the best pub quiz nights 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.

Rainy Day Activities in South Shields

Swimming, soft play, bowling, a world-class library, and a cave bar, here is what to do in South Shields when the weather turns.

South Shields FC: A Fan's Guide

From the history of the Mariners to matchday at the 1st Cloud Arena, here is your complete fan's guide to South Shields FC.

Upcoming Events

Events that feature or are connected to The Customs House.

Sept4

Arts & Culture