The Spanish City, Whitley Bay

The Spanish City was opened in 1910 as a concert hall, restaurant, roof garden and tearoom. A ballroom was added in 1920, and later a funfair. It became known for its dome which is now a Grade 2 listed building.

Dire Straits immortalized the Spanish City in their 1980 hit single, "Tunnel of Love," which was played every morning when the park opened. By the end of the 1990s the building had fallen into disrepair and was closed in the early 2000s. In June 2011 ADP Architects won a commission to regenerate it with a plan that includes a 50-bed, four-star boutique hotel, 20 apartments, a 1950s diner and a pleasure garden. The completion date is 2014.

I used to spend a lot of time there after college in the late 70s, we shall wait and see if the plans see completion ......

music