Marsden Grotto facts for kids
The Marsden Grotto, also known as The Grotto, is a special place on the coast at Marsden in South Shields, Tyne & Wear, England. It's a bit like a restaurant and pub, but it's partly built right into the side of a cliff! The front part is a regular building that opens onto the beach. The Grotto is one of the very few "cave bars" in Europe, making it a truly unique spot.
Inside, you'll find a big bar, a cave area with another bar and a pool room, and a place to eat called a bistro. There's also a warm terrace on the beach and a seafood restaurant upstairs. You can get to The Grotto by a lift from the car park above, or by a zig-zag staircase built into the cliffside. The lift goes up and down inside a brick tower at the front of the building.
Contents
The Grotto's Story
Jack the Blaster: The First Resident
The story of The Grotto begins in 1782 with a man named Jack Bates and his wife, Jessie. Jack was a miner from Allendale. It's said he moved into a small cave at Marsden Rock because he didn't want to pay rent anymore, or perhaps he just needed a home.
Jack was very clever and resourceful. He used explosives from a nearby quarry to make his small cave much bigger. This earned him the nickname "Jack the Blaster"! He created a home where he didn't have to pay anyone rent. He also built the zig-zag stairs down the cliff, which people still use today. Because his home was so unusual, many visitors came to see it. Jack and Jessie would offer them drinks and snacks for a small fee. Some stories even suggest he helped smugglers hide their secret goods in the caves along the coast.
Peter Allan: Developing The Grotto
Later, a local man named Peter Allan took over The Marsden Grotto. He was a pub landlord and used money he supposedly won from horse races to improve the place. Peter's father was a gamekeeper for a wealthy man named Sir Hedworth Williamson.
Peter worked hard to make the caves even bigger. He turned Jack's simple home into a large inn with 15 rooms, including a ballroom and a kitchen! In 1848, a man named John Clay bought some nearby land and claimed he owned The Grotto too. Peter Allan fought him in court but lost. He had to pay a fine and rent for 20 years. Peter became very sad and passed away in 1849.
Even after Peter's death, his family continued to run The Grotto for another 35 years. They made many more improvements and dug out more parts of the caves. In 1865, a large part of the cliff fell, almost destroying the inn. Strong walls were then built to protect the building inside the cliff.
New Owners and Changes
In the late 1800s, a company called the Harton Coal Company owned The Grotto. It was very popular during this time, but it also started to get a bit run down.
Then, in 1898, Vaux, a brewing company, took over. They cleaned up the place, which was full of empty beer barrels! In 1938, Vaux officially bought The Grotto and started a huge renovation project. They rebuilt the parts of the building that were joined to the caves, making them much better. They also added the lift that goes up to the car park, making it easier for visitors to get down to the Grotto.
In 1999, Vaux decided to focus on hotels instead of brewing beer. They couldn't find a buyer for The Marsden Grotto, so it closed down for a while.
The Grotto Today
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A restaurant company from Sunderland called Tavistock bought The Grotto when it was in poor condition. They completely refurbished it, and The Grotto reopened as a fancy seafood restaurant and bar. Later, Tavistock sold The Grotto to London Inns & Restaurants in 2003. After that, it was owned by Oxford Hotels and Inns Management Ltd..
In 2007, the local council had to close the stairs next to the pub because a step was damaged. The Fire and Rescue Service then said the pub had to close temporarily too, because the stairs were the only safe way out, especially when the tide was high. Luckily, The Grotto reopened on March 21, 2008, after the stairs were fixed. Today, it continues to be a popular and unique place for people to visit and enjoy.
