Igloo pod dining at Christmas Tyne

Stuart Forster reports on the experience of igloo pod dining at Christmas Tyne in Gateshead with views towards Newcastle Quayside.

Looking for Christmas dining in northeast England? Igloo pod dining is an option at Christmas Tyne, held at Baltic Square in Gateshead. Also known as Gateshead Winter Village, the pods overlook the River Tyne between Gateshead Millennium Bridge and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

Disclosure: I was invited with a guest to the 2018 Christmas Tyne, which did not review or approve this post. Some of the links below and banners are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

The square on which Gateshead Winter Village stands felt aptly named on Saturday evening. The temperature was bitingly cold.

Christmas Tyne, alternatively Gateshead Winter Village, by the purple arch of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
Christmas Tyne, alternatively known as Gateshead Winter Village, by the purple arch of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

Exploring Gateshead Winter Village

Would we be warm enough to dine in the igloo pod? Had we donned enough layers? Should we have dressed smartly for the occasion? That discussion occupied us as we strolled from Gateshead Interchange past the Sage Gateshead towards Baltic Square.

My first impression of the igloo pods, from the footpath on Shore Road, was by no means positive. They looked more like flimsy plastic tents rather than the solid-looking, snow globe-style structures that I was expecting after seeing images online.

The fenced winter village stands next to Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Delicious wafts of Asian-style street food and grilling sausages smelt tempting as we headed past the market’s stalls to check out the pods. People were sitting inside watching Christmas movies. Where would we be dining? None of the tables looked large enough to seat 10 people. We were, we concluded, in the wrong part of the village.

The other side of Christmas Tyne, or Gateshead Winter Village, closer to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.
Looking for Christmas things to do in Newcastle and Gateshead? This was the other side of Christmas Tyne, or Gateshead Winter Village, closer to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.



An elf throwing snowballs

The private dining pods were, in fact, not difficult to find. They were located behind a wooden gate on the other side of the village, closer to the entrance of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

A quick look around the other attractions within Gateshead Winter Village revealed more food stalls. There was also a tent in which a character dressed as an elf looked as if he was having a fun time throwing snowballs made from fake snow — something we decided to check out in more detail during a future visit.

More pressingly, ears stinging from the cold meant prioritising getting inside the tipi to warm by a fire pit. I was cold but nowhere near chilly enough to decline a pint of IPA. Halfway through leisurely sipping on my beer I remembered that we still had to register for our dinner (diners are requested to check in 15 minutes ahead of their allotted 90-minute slot).

We were shown into a dining pod, seating 10 people, whose guests included Hannah Lee Gray of Capital Radio’s north-east breakfast radio show and its producer Thomas Hannett, photographer and blogger Mandy Charlton plus travel blogger Danielle Noonan. Each pod has its own speaker for music. We left it to our pros from radio to choose the tunes.

Igloo pods with screen for watching Christmas movies.
Seeking ideas for things to do in Newcastle this Christmas? Over in Gateshead, Christmas Tyne has Igloo-shaped riverside dining pods plus pods with screens for watching Christmas movies.

Igloo pod dining at Christmas Tyne

We need not have worried about feeling cold inside of the pod. The snug igloo pods are heated. The door is zipped closed between the delivery of the three courses of dishes, which diners pass around the table. Windows facing the river can be pushed open to let in air and snap photos of Newcastle’s Quayside.

Infusion sticks forming a part of the table decoration lent the pod a cinnamon aroma. They stood on a wooden board next to realistic-looking faux candles that prompted me to think, briefly, of the Two Ronnies.



The three-course menu

For our starter, we were served a spicy roasted parsnip soup that met with nods of approval.

That was followed by sliced smoked and glazed bacon loin, from Northumberland, accompanied by mustard mashed potato, braised red cabbage and sprouts prepared with lardons and chestnuts — Yuletide food fit for the chilly night. The veggie option was a filo pastry pie with a butternut squash and Stilton filling.

Smoked and glazed bacon loin accompanied by mustard mashed potato, braised red cabbage and sprouts.
Smoked and glazed bacon loin accompanied by mustard mashed potato, braised red cabbage and sprouts served at Christmas Tyne, an option for Christmas dining in north-east England. 

The dessert, a tad sweet but palatable, featured warm chocolate fondant topped with a dollop of clotted brandy cream.

Warm chocolate fondant topped with clotted brandy cream.
Warm chocolate fondant topped with clotted brandy cream served during Christmas dining on Tyneside. 

The serving team were attentive and courteous throughout the meal.

I departed the igloo pod having enjoyed the food, feeling that I’d had a good time. My impression is that the three-course meals for 10 represent decent value for groups seeking traditional Christmas cuisine in an alternative setting to one of Newcastle or Gateshead’s established restaurants.

We decided to have a farewell drink in the tipi before crossing Gateshead Millennium Bridge for a night out in Newcastle.

Igloo pods by the Gateshead Millennium Bridge at Christmas Tyne (Gateshead Winter Village).
Christmas Tyne’s igloo pods by the Gateshead Millennium Bridge at Christmas Tyne (Gateshead Winter Village) host meals throughout the day, including Christmas lunch and dinner.

LOcation of Christmas Tyne dining pods

Christmas Tyne’s igloo dining pods are set up at Baltic Square in Gateshead:

Google Map showing the location of Baltic Square in Gateshead.

Car parking is available at several locations close to Baltic Square.



Accommodation in Newcastle

Thinking about spending the night in Newcastle or Gateshead after your Christmas night out? Search for hotels via Booking.com:


Booking.com

Further information

See The Dining Society website for information on how to book dinner in one of the igloo pods on the Quayside. Christmas Tyne runs from 27 November to 31 December 2020.

The descriptions in this blog post and photographs are from the 2018 Christmas Tyne event.

Stuart Forster, the author of this article, is an award-winning travel and food writer from North East England. He is available for freelance commissions.

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