Reviews in South Shields

Really disappointed by my visit. It was so chapstick! Booked for Saturday tea time with my family. First thing to note - it was heaving with drinkers. Great atmosphere for drinkers but it wasn’t suitable for a sit down meal. Main observation - really bad staff management. Barmaids are trying to do table service. Cooks are brining out food. Menus were brought and we had to ask for extra as only received an 3rd (no kids menu and no pizza menu were given). Not an issue at all but shows how stretched the team were. The order was taken by the barmaid who kept running out between servicing the long queue at the bar. She was lovely but trying to move fast as a queue was forming at the till. She didn’t read our order back to us and when it came - a team of chefs brought it out - it was incorrect. Another cook then appeared and we asked for ketchup for the fries which never appeared. Despite the calamity, we weren’t too concerned and happily tucked. It wasn’t the best food on earth. Not as hot as you’d expect fresh out of the oven pizza but edible. I question if my kids pizzas were fully done but they were happy. However one of the pizzas was gruesomely and inedible raw. The dough was not cooked at all and the cheese in the middle solid and cold. When I politely and discreetly explained this to the chef / waiter who was walking by - he rolled his eyes at me! I explained I wasn’t being awkward - could he just throw it back in the oven for a few minutes so it’s hot please? He rolled his eyes again then took the pizza… but bizarrely appeared a couple of minutes later with the chef to say the chef had inspected the pizza and that it is fine - the oven was 600 degrees and there is no way it was not cooked but they were prepared to cook me a fresh pizza. I reiterated the dough was raw and the cheese in the middle not cooked so whilst it may have touched the surface of the sun - not for long enough! I didn’t want a whole new pizza and be a pain could they please just cook it a bit longer for me?! I got it back, finally cooked to an acceptable standard and hot. So all in all - horrible. Noisy, loud, drinkers first. Clearly not enough staff and food is rushed and undercooked as a result

Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff and great food. Will definitely revisit when we're next in South Shields. Thank you.

Went with a friend evening of 2nd April. As always great food and service. I had the Chinese chicken curry which was delicious.

Great service great food and plenty of it

Excellent all round, food, service, surroundings and value. We wii return again soon. Best to book as it is popular - no wonder when it's this good!!

The Harbour Lights never disappoints. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals and the staff are friendly, helpful and courteous. We will be back soon.

Delicious food, quick service and lovely welcoming staff. What more can you ask? We hope to be back again very soon.

As good as ever

I had booked a table for 7 on Tuesday 7/4/26 and I have to say, as usual, the meal was delicious, the service excellent and we all left well fed and in good spirits. Our thanks to the chef, kitchen staff, waitress service and the bar staff. From entering the premises we were made to feel welcome and are already looking forward to our next visit. Thank you so much.

Atmosphere is 1st class. Very friendly staff. Quick service, good quality hot food. Would recommend to everyone.

Booked lunch on BH monday 6.4.26 for 2. As always despite being busier staff are always smiling and welcoming keen to help you out. Claire was especially great taking our orders and checking in on us regularly over our stay. We had few drinks , both of us ordered the sweetcorn fritters absolutely lush. Then mains hubby had home made cheese pie, chunkiest of wedge style chips and peas he absolutely loved it said it was the best hed ever had (hes a vegetarian) My main was 2 perfectly cooked salmon fillets with roasted new potatoes with skins on with a delightful herb style parnesan? coating and sliced green beans and side salad with a mayo pot on the side...again it was incredible absolutely delicious honestly. We were both stuffed by the end as generous portions and excellent quality food as always. The Harbour Lights remains one of our firm favourites cant wait to go again x Great staff, great atmosphere and surroundings. Amazing menu choices including vegetarian menu on top of specials boards.....and brilliant bar choices. Huge thank you to Claire and all the team including chefs xx well done on a busy sunny bank holiday with lots of bookings and customer turnover xx

Friendly pub/restaurant, lovely service and quite a vibrant atmosphere but nice and relaxing at same time. Fish and chips was delicious, a cut above. Certainly hope to go back to try other things.

We have had several meals at the harbour lights and every time we are not disappointed, excellent food, excellent service, highly recommend we will definitely be going back

A truly lovely place to visit with first class service and food. Easily the best pub food around and the best fish and chips in South Shields. Why not pop for a cheeky one at The Lookout while you are in the area, always a warm welcome and excellent service.

Went for Lunch Good Friday could not fault it absolutely delicious we both had cod chips and mushy peas the waitress Claire and Jan were very friendly as always will definitely go back thank you all so much

Food amazing as usual, staff are very friendly and welcoming

Once again an excellent meal, always great tasting food . The staff and service were spot on. Thanks again all at the Harbour Lights.