As the perpetually single friend, I’ve become pretty well versed in solo dating. I love a cute mate date, but when they’re off with their real partner (booo), I’m more than content with spending time in my own company - for me, my alone time is a necessity to prevent implosion. And as much as I love marinating in bed, I do also like to take myself out the way I would someone else. So here’s my top picks, accredited to my years of expertise in Toon-specific solo dating…
There’s nothing like a coastal retreat after a long day or week. We are blessed to have these two lovely beaches in such close proximity, with either being about a half an hour away from Newcastle city centre by Metro. Life, specifically university life, can be pretty fast paced, but the sand and sea invite you to take it easy, grab some food and relax while listening to the waves crashing.
Each Sunday morning, the Quayside hosts markets, with food stalls, fashion, jewellery and miscellaneous goods all up for sale. It’s a lovely setting to stroll through, pick up a bite or have a more in depth browse - with no one else’s schedule limiting your wandering time. This also makes a good starting point for further adventures all within walking distance, for example, there’s BALTIC Art Gallery over the Millenium bridge, Di Meo’s and the Ouseburn over the opposite way, both of which are similarly sound options for slow Sunday mornings.
I have always been a massive advocate of going to the cinema alone. Even if you have a date, it makes no sense to me that you want to ignore each other for up to three hours - you’re in a dark, silent room with a screen to watch. But I digress. Top tier solo date, what better way to unwind than snacking away while evaluating the latest release and its ensuing Twitter hype. Obviously you can always just pop on Netflix at home, but it’s always nice to take yourself out specifically to somewhere nice like Tyneside Cinema with ice cream and reclining chairs and get sucked into an alternate reality for a bit, no distractions.