Anyone who has been at a loose end on a Sunday and is within walking or driving distance of Newcastle will have spent a lazy afternoon at the Quayside Market.
Some will visit for gifts and curious nik-naks from independent retailers, but many will go for the food, with the square behind the Guildhall being dedicated to local street food vendors. The line-up changes every week, but work your way round and you could be eating Katsu curry from Tokyo Kitchen one minute, then loaded Mac 'n' Cheese from Redheads, or tackling an enormous gyros wrap from Acropolis.
The list of mouth-watering street food options is seemingly endless and that's likely the reason that the market has been named one of the best food markets to visit this summer by travel magazine National Geographic. Spanning from close to the Millennium Bridge all the way to the Swing Bridge, records of the market date as far back as 1736 when it was first a fair.
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And having a pop-up here often leads on to bigger and better things. Sandwich and empanada shop Cubanos now has a concession in the Grainger Market, as do the Geordie Banger Co and Acropolis.
Vegano was also a regular at the market (and still is) before opening its café at Blandford Square, while Kimchi Planet's restaurant is a bit of a hidden gem in Shieldfield - with their food impressing Hairy Bikers Si King and Dave Myers on their TV programme last year. Meat:Stack is another that started off as a burger stall at the market, and now has a restaurant in the Bigg Market as well as pop-ups at the Dog and Parrot pub and in the Grainger Market.
Of the Quayside Market, National Geographic's Delle Chan wrote: "Expect delicious food and glorious views at this bustling market overlooking the River Tyne. Vendors include Batik Kitchen, which dishes up Indonesian favourites such as beef rendang (coconut-based stew) and chicken satay; Cubanos, which specialises in Cuban classics, including medianoche (a roast pork, Swiss cheese and pickle sandwich) and empanadas (savoury turnovers); and Magpye, which offers deluxe handmade vegan pies."
If you've never been to the Quayside Market before or you haven't been for a while, it can get pretty busy. The most popular food outlets can build up long queues so it's a good idea to get down their early, then enjoy your food with a view of the Tyne from a bench on the Millennium Bridge or towards the Copthorne Hotel, west of the market.
And afterwards, why not take a stroll along to Ouseburn or visit the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art? For many in the North East, a wander through the Quayside Market is just part of a day out.
To read the full National Geographic article on seven of the best UK food markets for summer, click here or check out Issue 16 of Food by National Geographic Traveller. The Quayside Market is open from 9am - 4pm every Sunday afternoon - for more information, click here.
Where's your favourite place to eat at the Quayside Market? Let us know!
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