The Low Lights Tavern

About The Low Lights Tavern

The Low Lights Tavern sits on Brewhouse Bank, tucked beneath the bank below the old Low Light, and lays claim to being the oldest pub in North Shields, with an alehouse said to have stood on the site for centuries. It is a small, traditional free house of the old school, with low beams, open fires and a genuinely local feel.

The draw is the beer: a rotating range of guest cask ales alongside a house beer brewed by the nearby Three Kings Brewery. Food is minimal, so this is a drinkers' pub first and foremost, and a fine place to end a walk around the Quay.

Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature The Low Lights Tavern.

Beer Festivals Near North Shields

From real ale among the steam engines at Stephenson Steam Railway to CAMRA's big spring festival in Newcastle, here are the beer festivals worth planning for in and around North Shields.

Best Streets to Live in North Shields

From Georgian Northumberland Square and the riverside Fish Quay to the Victorian terraces near Northumberland Park and leafy Preston Village, here are the most appealing streets and areas to live in North Shields.

Christmas Markets in North Shields

North Shields Christmas Market returns to Northumberland Square on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, free to get in, with a food and drink village and fairground rides around the square. Here is what to expect and what is on nearby.

The Oldest Pubs in North Shields

From a 17th-century alehouse on the Fish Quay to the grand riverside inns now lost, a guide to the oldest pubs in North Shields and the stories behind them.

Date Night in North Shields: Where to Go

Cocktails, candlelit dinners and a walk along the Quay — a guide to the best spots for a date night in North Shields.

The Best Beer Gardens in North Shields

When the sun comes out, the Fish Quay is the place to be. A guide to the best beer gardens and outdoor drinking spots in North Shields.

Dog-Friendly North Shields: Walks, Pubs and Places to Go

The best dog-friendly walks, beaches, pubs and cafés in and around North Shields, from the Fish Quay to Northumberland Park.

The Best Walks in and around North Shields

From the working Fish Quay to Collingwood's Monument, a Victorian park and the coast path to Tynemouth Priory — the best walks to be had in and around North Shields.

The Best Pubs in North Shields

The oldest pub in town, a riverside local with six hand pumps, and a restored corn exchange turned music venue — a guide to the best pubs around North Shields and its Fish Quay.

North Shields on Screen: Film and TV Locations

From DCI Vera's cup of tea on the Fish Quay to the streets that shaped Sam Fender, North Shields has quietly become one of the North East's most filmed corners. A guide to the town on screen.

Sam Fender: North Shields' Own

From pulling pints at the Low Lights Tavern to headlining St James' Park and winning the Mercury Prize, Sam Fender has become North Shields' most famous son. The story of how the town shaped one of Britain's biggest songwriters.

Famous People from North Shields

For a working town on the Tyne, North Shields has produced a remarkable roll call: a chart-topping songwriter, a Hollywood director, the inventor of Plasticine and more. Our guide to the town's famous sons and daughters.

A North Shields Maritime Heritage Trail

North Shields grew up around fishing, the river and its lighthouses. Our walking trail through the town's maritime heritage, from Clifford's Fort and the High and Low Lights to the Georgian squares up the bank.

The Best Places to Eat and Drink on North Shields Fish Quay

North Shields Fish Quay has become one of the North East's best places to eat and drink. Our guide to the quayside restaurants, bars, pubs and fishmongers, from waterfront warehouses to the oldest pub in town.