‘My Kind of Toon’ – Dan Slee

November 12, 2016 by Rachel Kershaw in Interviews 0

A couple of months ago I introduced you to a new feature on my blog called ‘My Kind of Toon’. The idea being that I would interview other locals who love living in Newcastle as much as I do and allow them to shout about their favourite haunts. Tony the Fridge was first to volunteer and it was great to hear about life in Geordieland from another perspective.

For my second interview I’ve roped in my colleague Dan who, like me, is an honorary Geordie. I’m rather nosey so I was keen to find out what Dan loves to do when he’s not working in the commercial team at Metro Radio, turns out he has some top tips for things to see and do in and around Newcastle…

Dan and his pals at Longsands beach, Dan is the one in the middle

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I moved from Cumbria, where I grew up, to Newcastle nearly three years ago for work. I live in Ouseburn, close to Newcastle quayside. I tend to go home every other weekend to see family but I love living in the North East.

How would you describe your Life in Geordieland? My life is Geordieland is pretty quiet! I love the hustle and bustle of the city centre but enjoy getting away and heading for the coast or Northumberland. I occasionally have a big night out but prefer going for a nice meal and having a few drinks with friends.

A feast of food from Las Iguanas

Where are your favourite places to eat? There are so many nice places to eat in Newcastle, you really are spoilt for choice. I like the Town Wall for Sunday lunch. Other favourites are Las Iguanas (it’s great to now have one on the quayside) and Piccolino’s. Di Marco’s is also good for a coffee or bite to eat at lunchtime. One of my favourite places for a drink is the Tyne Bar – it’s my local and in the summer, you can’t beat the view down the Tyne. They also host some great live music.

The Tyne Bar is one of Dan’s favourite Geordie pubs!

Where would you recommend for a fun filled day out? I enjoy a day by the quayside – you can spend an hour walking around The Baltic, grab some lunch and generally watch the world go by. The weekly Sunday market is worth looking round. If you have children, Ouseburn is only a short walk away too where you can visit Seven Stories (National Centre for Children’s Books) and the Ouseburn Farm.

Ouseburn Farm is one of Newcastle’s hidden gems!

Do you have any go to places for relaxation? A walk around Tynemouth always blows away the cobwebs and helps me to relax. The Longsands beach, in particular, is beautiful.

What about romantic places for a date night? The Silk Room is intimate and the perfect place for a date.

Is there an annual North East event you simply can’t miss? I always make sure I’m in Newcastle for the Great North Run weekend. A lot of people don’t realise that the City Games take place on the Saturday, there’s a fantastic atmosphere and it’s a great chance to see some well-known faces competing on your doorstep.

What are your top tips to someone visiting Geordieland for the first time? Make sure you explore areas outside of the city. There is some stunning countryside only minutes away. It’s always worth checking out if there are any promotional events taking place during your visit, NE1 Restaurant Week for example which gives you decent discounts at a large number of fab places to eat.

How do you keep up to date with what’s going on in the North East? This website, obviously! Other good sources are the NE1 website and the NGI website. The Chronicle also lets me know about upcoming events.

Describe Geordieland in Five Words: Friendly, diverse, vibrant, sociable and proud.

Big thanks to Dan for telling us all about his kind of toon, what’s yours?