’ Allo Vera: why Blyth spirit moved us to TV ’tec beat!
Blyth spirit moved us to make Northumberland’s biggest town our short staycation choice. Sorry, Sir Noël Coward! But we make no apology for bigging up this seaside escape’s great getaway credentials. Not just any port in a COVID-19 storm, this harbour is home to finest family friendly accommodation, writes Chris Page.
Coronavirus-safe The Commissioners Quay Inn proved impressive on more levels than historic High Light towering 18 metres nearby, peace of mind assured with ten-step secure safeguard programme, protecting guests while ensuring an enjoyable environment.
Jewel in the crown of impressive maritime development, the site stands pride of place, pole position affording second to none aquatic views. Waterfront-facing nautical but nice en-suite rooms are the next best thing to cruise cabins ... but without the kinetosis!
Winter warmers – breaks bookable online or by calling central reservations 0191 580 3610 quoting promo code WINTER20 – beckon from November to March .
The deals are ideal for those wanting to take advantage of two-course dinner, bed and breakfast from enticing £85 per night, single occupancy starting at thrifty £55, complete with assurance of no advance payment and free cancellation, also available across Inn Collection Group’s 14 sister sites covering Lake District, County Durham and Yorkshire.
Welcome awaits as warm as that extended to Princess Anne when she bestowed right royal patronage on spectacular Spirit of the Staithe sculpture, soaring 15 metres into shoreside skies, celebrating times past when coal was king.
Blyth boomed when railways ruled and fishing flourished, seafaring heritage also awash with submarines and ships, including 1914 launch of Royal Navy’s first aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. Harpoons were honed here for Greenland’s whaling industry. And any sodium chloride manufacturer worth their
salt traded through these waters. Renewable energy today powers the local economy while Scandinavia paper and pulp is imported for newspapers such as this.
Neutral footie fans nationwide recall with fondness non-league Spartans’ 1978 giant-killing cupset that saw the green and whites win their way through to unprecedented FA knockout fifth round.
Favourite sons include Dire Straits guitar guru Mark Knopfler, every bit the Local Hero as 1983 debut film soundtrack album, whose anthemic final track Going Home still stirs Newcastle United match day crowds. The star singer-songwriter was cub reporter on our Yorkshire Evening Post before finding fame, “money for nothin’ and chicks for free”.
And north-side staithes were location for 1971 northern noir Get Carter’s chase finale, starring stalwart actor Michael Caine. Not a lot of people know that!
Bolstered by Belly Buster breakfasts, expansive enough to make even Desperate Dan unbind waistband buttons, we employed detective work to explore coastline just as rich in character as North East award
winning author Ann Cleeves’ crime-cracking heroine.
Vera buffs can Amble to Braid, Northside, Harbour and Quayside top cop TV filming locations, following in “man-size” footsteps of formidable law enforcer Stanhope – named after County Durham village – made flesh on our prime time screens by brilliant Brenda Blethyn.
Calculating, cranky and
irascible in equally intriguing measure, dowdy and disheveled, sporting signature raincoat and hat, dramatis persona was introduced to readers as “large woman, big bones amply covered, bulbous nose, man-sized feet, her face blotched and pitted.” But don’t dare tell the no-nonsense DCI!
Ten series of the popular programme, formulaic detective drama at its epi
sodic Sunday night ease-into-working-week best for up to 7.8 million viewers, also showcase spectacular CSI scenes from Alnmouth and Blyth to Tynemouth and Whitley Bay.
Also sharing the spotlight are crab central Craster, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Seahouses, North and South Shields, Seaton Sluice and Delaval and – sounding somewhat like an abdominal
condition – Rumbling Kern.
Back at our briny bolthole, appetites restored by bracing beach perambulations, fine dining offered suitably saltwater specials devilled whitebait and seared salmon fillet, followed by sweet treats including crumble, cheesecake, chocolate éclair and brownie.
Short walk away revealed side street surprise for we devotees of Arts Décoratifs vibrant pantones, geometric angularity, streamlined symmetry and decadent detail. And reasonably priced refreshment!
Superior ’Spoons The Wallow, grade two listed building restored to former glory after £2 million pub chain facelift, was 1,440 capacity cinema and playhouse where genial Geordies Ant and Dec tentatively trod boards for the duo’s stage debut. Whatever happened to those Likely Lads?
Thirsty travellers toasted this superior stay with locally crafted Chasing Everest’s Fred’s Got Slacks nightcap – Idaho 7 DHH 4.5% pale ale, since you ask – and fruit-based drink for the lady, ahead of local lockdown curfew, not even 9.30pm premature last orders able to dampen our Blyth spirit.