The Customs House
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.
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.
Featured in These Guides
Blog posts and guides that feature The Customs House.
Best Places to Work Remotely in South Shields
From The Word's library, cafe and free computer access in the Market Place to town-centre coffee shops and an Ocean Road social enterprise, here's where to take your laptop in South Shields.
Christmas Markets in South Shields
A twilight Christmas market at Hedworth Hall on 10 December, Saturday stalls in the Market Place, and North Shields Christmas Market a ferry ride away on 5 and 6 December 2026. Where to do your Christmas market shopping from South Shields.
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.
Family Activities in South Shields: Days Out with the Kids
A days-out-with-the-kids roundup for South Shields, grouped by type: the coast, the parks, the big attractions, and rainy-day indoor options for every age.
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.
The History of South Shields' High Street and Shopping Streets
How King Street, the Market Place and Ocean Road grew from Georgian fields into South Shields' shopping heart, and where the town centre is heading next.
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.
South Shields on Screen: Film and TV Locations
From Catherine Cookson's Tyneside dramas to Brenda Blethyn's Vera on the Marsden coast, a guide to the film and television made in and around South Shields.
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 Mariners Park, here is your complete fan's guide to South Shields FC.
Upcoming Events
Events that feature or are connected to The Customs House.
Scott Bennett: Blood Sugar Baby
7:30 PM · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
Go Your Own Way: The Fleetwood Mac Legacy
7:30 PM · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
Girl Pop Live
6:00 PM · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
Jamie Hutchinson: Can My Mate Come? He's Sound.
7:30 PM · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
Dennis' Little Chip Shop of Horrors
Various, 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
8:00 PM · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
John Miles: Music Was My First Love
8:00 PM · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
Janet Street-Porter: Still Off The Leash At 80!
7:00 PM · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
Past Events
Recent events connected to The Customs House.
South Tyneside Magic Festival: Family Magic Extravaganza
16 October 2026 · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
An Evening with Sunderland Legends Peter Reid and Kevin Phillips
15 October 2026 · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
Talon: The Best of Eagles
14 October 2026 · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
Jarrow Marches: A Play and Songs By Tom Kelly
10 October 2026 · The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES
More Community in South Shields
Luna Blu NE
South Shields community interest company using creative arts therapy to support mental health and emotional wellbeing, with workshops for young people, adults, families and older people.
Arbeia Roman Fort
UNESCO World Heritage Site guarding the main sea route to Hadrian's Wall. Full-scale Roman reconstructions, a museum of significant finds, and free admission from late March to September.
The Word
National Centre for the Written Word. A striking modern library with interactive digital exhibits, a fabrication lab, performance space, events programme, and a rooftop terrace. Free admission.
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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