‘Extremely important’ - Riverside café-bar owner welcomes the return of the Shields Ferry
Nexus have revealed when the Shields Ferry will return to operation, in a huge boost to South Tyneside travel and business.
The co-owner of a popular South Shields riverside café-bar has welcomed the news that the Shields Ferry service is set to be restored.
A statement released by Nexus has revealed that from Monday, April 27, people can again travel on the service which links North Shields with South Shields.
The ferry service has been suspended since January when the North Shields landing was damaged during Storm Chandra. It had been closed as a safety precaution, while essential repairs were carried out.
Not only has the suspension been a blow to commuters, but also businesses on either side of the Tyne.
A boost for hospitality venues
Kenny Coates, the co-owner of Ferry View, has welcomed the reopening of the Shields Ferry as it holds important links for hospitality venues in both North and South Tyneside.
He said: “To have it opened back up and the additional footfall it will bring passed our venue is obviously extremely important.
“Not only that but connecting South Shields to the North Shields Quayside to keep the hospitality link between the two boroughs is really important.
“And that isn’t just for us, but for venues on both sides of the water.”
A statement confirmed the news, said: “The Shields Ferry will return to service from Monday 27 April, following the completion of repairs and the review of essential monitoring equipment on the north landing.”
‘Vital transport link’
Nexus have said they are “pleased to be get crossings back up and running” as well as thanking “customers for their patience during the temporary closure”.
It’s understood monitoring equipment added to the landing will observe any noticeable movement and will identify if any future temporary suspensions of the service need to happen.
Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said: “I’m very pleased to confirm that the Shields Ferry will be returning to service next week.
“This will come into effect from Monday at 6.45am at our South Shields landing. A normal timetable will be in place.
“As always, safety is our top priority and we’re confident we’re in a place to welcome back the public. However, the landing remains an aged asset. The work we’ve carried out prolongs its use, but people can be reassured we are keeping a very close eye on the structure using this monitoring equipment.
“My thanks go to our customers and the wider community that the Ferry serves for their patience during the service suspension.
“The Shields Ferry is a vital local transport link. It’s great to restore the service in time for the bank holiday weekend and the summer. We’re looking forward to welcoming customers back on board.”
Future-proofing underway
During the closure, work at the Shields Ferry has not stopped. This has included cosmetic improvements to the South Shields landing, essential maintenance on the two vessels and further crew training.
Plans for the new landing at North Shields are progressing well, with the project moving into the next phase and on course to open in 2027.
The current North Shields landing was first opened in 2004 and while the latest repairs can extend its use for public service, the new landing located near the North Shields Fish Quay will provide the long-term solution for the service.