July 2026. Whitley Bay.
Tyne and Wear ticked for another year, I thought I’d best visit the Bay bit of Whitley, as I seem to be the only person not heading to the coast this summer.
Will the water be warm enough to swim in by September ?
Oddly, more adults than children on the sand, apparently sifting through seaweed, which I presume is used in Full Circle’s sour range.
Or possibly in the ice cream gelato at the Venetian, Whitley’s essential sight.
I’m not a sweet person (“we can tell!”), but will always stop here, across from Spanish City’s craft bar, for pistachio and something chosen at random.
£5 for two scoops does seem a little on the high side, but the friendly lady gives me a free scoop of soft serve vanilla,
and a posh ice cream in the sun on a bench being attacked by seagulls is as English as it gets.
retiredmartin 
I love this coastline so much! I have Spanish City on my ticklist for next NE break. If Mark Knopf sang about it, it’s bound to be good. Glad to hear you got a free scoop.
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It’s a beautiful building, Lana.
I think I got a free scoop of the soft ice cream because I
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Sifting through seaweed?
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/02/nurdles-clean-up-plastic-spillage-beaches-north-east-england
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Yes, that’s them. You can probably see me in the background of that Guardian video, researching seaweed recipes.
Aren’t people good ?
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Some are, very much so, Martin
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Pistachio is my favourite flavour, along with Stracciatella in a close second, but was £4.70 (extra 70p as it was their premium range) at Marinellis in Broadstairs for one single scoop this week. And it was, just, a single scoop. Delicious though.
I was always told the best Pistaccio is when its a sludge dull grey like green colour, anything more vibrant green is odd additives or food colouring.
Yours looks suspiciously ‘pimped up’ with colouring !! 😁😁
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