Viral South Shields café and venue wins bid to extend hours

Ferry View was won permission to extend its opening hours from South Tyneside Council planners.

A new South Shields riverside café has won permission to extend its opening hours. Ferry View, a container-style venue at the ferry terminal, is among the latest investments in the town's riverside and Mill Dam area.

Ferry View has become a social media sensation thanks to its unique food and drink offering. | Iconic Media Group

placeholder image — Ferry View has become a social media sensation thanks to its unique food and drink offering. | Iconic Media Group

The site, which opened last summer, offers locally roasted coffee, Dutch-inspired street food and cycle-friendly facilities, as well as a selection of hot drinks, sweet treats and a range of alcoholic drinks.

The venue also teamed up with The Electric Bike Shed to provide pedal-assist bike hire from the venue, encouraging residents and visitors to explore the North East coastline by bike.

When the development was originally approved by South Tyneside Council's planning department, a planning condition was added restricting its operating hours to 7am-7pm on any day.

A new application submitted to council officials earlier this year asked for permission to "vary" this condition to allow the site to open until 9pm daily.

Kenny has stated that March was the venue's busiest month since it opened last year and gave credit to the staff for all their hard work in making it happen. | Iconic Media Group

A planning statement submitted with the application noted the Ferry View Café had "successfully been trading since July 2025".

No live music after 7pm

It confirmed that there would be "no live music played after 7pm on any day as part of the extended opening hours" and that "any music played after 7pm will be background as existing via the small speaker system presently installed."

During a council consultation exercise on the plans there were three representations submitted, with two objections and one comment in support.

Objectors raised concerns about "increased noise and activity close to The Landings residential apartments" and impacts on a business, while the supporter said the plans would provide a much-needed service for hot drinks during lighter nights.

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After assessing the extended opening hours application, South Tyneside Council's planning department approved it on May 27, 2026.

The council's environmental health officer said "no complaints had been received regarding music or patron behaviour / noise levels since the operation opened" and that the "small extension in times will not result in harm to residential amenity".

However, it was noted that "if the need arose, the council’s environmental health team can investigate noise complaints."

As part of the planning permission, conditions have also been imposed which aim to "safeguard the amenity of local residents".

This includes "amplified and unamplified live music, and amplified recorded music (excluding low volume background recorded music) only being performed / played at the premises between the hours of 9am and 7pm on any day."

It was also noted that the decision related to a planning application and that "licensing is a separate regulatory process."

For more information, visit the council's planning portal website and search for reference number 260130.