Where can I legally get married in Whitley Bay?

Spanish City and St Mary's Lighthouse are both approved by North Tyneside Council for civil ceremonies, so you can marry there with registrars in attendance. Local churches such as St Paul's and St John's Methodist Church also conduct religious weddings. Purely civil ceremonies without a venue package can be held at the North Tyneside Register Office in nearby North Shields.

How many guests can Spanish City hold for a wedding?

Spanish City caters for weddings from around four to 140 guests, with several licensed spaces of different sizes and a rooftop ceremony area. Larger evening receptions can be accommodated in its bigger rooms, so it suits both intimate and full-scale celebrations.

Can you get married outdoors or by the sea in Whitley Bay?

In effect, yes. Spanish City is licensed for rooftop ceremonies overlooking the North Sea, and St Mary's Lighthouse offers a ceremony on its tidal island, giving couples a sea-facing setting while keeping the legal ceremony within an approved space.

Community

Best Wedding Venues in Whitley Bay

From the restored Spanish City dome to a lighthouse on a tidal island — some of the most distinctive wedding settings on the North East coast.

WhitleyBay.live·20 August 2026

Whitley Bay has quietly become one of the North East's most sought-after places to marry. The seafront regeneration of the last decade has turned the town's landmark buildings into genuine wedding destinations, while its coastal churches continue a long tradition of local ceremonies. Whether you picture an award-winning reception beneath a 1910 dome, an intimate vow exchange on a working lighthouse, or a traditional church service a short walk from the sea, there are options to suit — and our Weddings in Whitley Bay hub brings the local suppliers together.

Licensed wedding venues

Spanish City, the Grade II listed dome on the seafront, is the town's flagship wedding venue, restored and reopened in 2018. Licensed by North Tyneside Council for civil ceremonies, it can host weddings from around four to 140 guests across several spaces, including a light-filled suite and an intimate rooftop ceremony with the North Sea as a backdrop. It was named Best Town and City Venue at the North of England Wedding Awards in both 2021 and 2023, and offers ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception under one roof.

St Mary's Lighthouse, on its small tidal island just north of the town, is a North Tyneside-approved ceremony venue for something genuinely unusual. Ceremonies are held in the visitor centre for smaller parties of around 50 guests, with the causeway, beach and nature reserve providing a dramatic coastal setting; access depends on the tide, so timings are planned around low water.

Ceremony venues

St Paul's Church, a Church of England parish church founded in 1864 near the centre of Whitley Bay, conducts weddings alongside its regular worship and community life, offering a traditional church setting a short walk from both the shops and the seafront. St John's Methodist Church on Ilfracombe Gardens is a friendly, inclusive congregation that marks weddings and has facilities available for hire.

Planning the rest of your day

A venue is just the start. Once yours is booked, the Weddings in Whitley Bay hub lists local florists alongside regional photographers, cake makers, cars, celebrants and musicians. If you run a local wedding business and would like to be listed, get in touch; listings are free.