When Anne-Marie O’Donnell isn’t working as a Senior Marketing Officer for a local authority, she can often be found out and about in the region trying new places to eat and drink! Here, she gives us some top tips on her favourite places to hang out in the Tees Valley…
My new favourite place for coffee is the Copper Kettle in Hartlepool, it’s a lovely coffee shop with amazing cakes and a great selection of hot drinks; think gigantic breakfast pancake stacks and interesting takes on old favourites, I couldn’t resist the pistachio and rose flavoured scone! Artisan bakery Koselig in Guisborough is amazing too, and their coffee is definitely one of the best. I’d never tried Scandinavian pastries before but I’m addicted their chokladbollar – little chocolatey-coffee oatmeal balls dusted in coconut. Dreamy.
For a meal, I really love Brockley Hall in Saltburn. The interiors are beautiful and the food has always been amazing too, especially their afternoon tea. Stopping off at a few of Saltburn’s micro bars and pubs afterwards is the perfect afternoon. My new go-to place for food and drinks with a great atmosphere (especially during bottomless brunch) is Madame Rouge in Middlesbrough. The staff are amazing, the décor is really chic and there’s good music – what more can you want?
We have so many brilliant bars in the region, and they all have a different vibe depending on what type of evening you want. If I fancy a cocktail (and I always do) then I love Nuthatch in Middlesbrough – they come up with really experimental cocktails that you won’t get anywhere else and the staff will mix up something unique for you if you ask for it. I’ve recently discovered some of Billingham’s independent micro bars and I really like the Crafty Cock for a relaxed drink after work. You can’t beat some al fresco drinks and food at the Scruffy Duck’s outside terrace in Norton too!
I tend to buy houseware and gifts from Yarm, especially Strickland And Holt, Cloud Cuckoo and Cocoon and Bauer; I love shopping at independent retailers, and it’s great to know you’ve come home with a real one-off – you wouldn’t get that shopping at a high street brand.
I’ve always loved Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough as it’s got all the history of the town and as I’m from there it holds special memories.
For time with family, I don’t think anything beats heading to the beaches at Redcar, Marske or Saltburn. We’re so lucky to have these amazing beaches on our doorstep. I have fond childhood memories of getting a lemon top before going in the amusements and playing on the beach at Redcar. It doesn’t cost much and nothing can beat those type of memories.
One of my favourite views in the area is just south of Middlesbrough in Carlton in Cleveland, there’s a gorgeous view of the Cleveland Hills at the end of the village. I like seeing the industrial landscape of the town from the top of Ormesby Bank too.
There’s some lovely walks in Stockton near Redmarshall at Honey Pot Woods and also nearby at Wolveston. I love Great Ayton for a walk around the village and the fields nearby which take in stunning views of Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook Monument in North Yorkshire.
The best thing about the Tees Valley is the fact that we have coast and country on our doorstep, the villages are beautiful. You can be walking through quaint villages and then drive 15 minutes to a busy high street with independent bars and shops and pop ten minutes in the other direction and enjoy a sunset walk on the beach. We’re the friendliest people with a great sense of humour too!