Fish on the Tyne Weekend

ALL weekend there'll be a lively, outdoor producers' market for all the family, featuring stalls piled high with the finest fish and seafood, as well as fishing equipment, recipe books and more. There'll be plenty to eat as well as buy, from fresh fish & chips to paella, organic fish soup to wood-fired seafood pizzas and mussels. Street artists and performers add to the party atmosphere. Also look out for the fish windsocks, giant squid and the Tyne Salmon Cube sculptures. The regular Sunday Quayside market featuring local crafts, food, art, jewellery and more, will run as usual.

Cook on the Tyne
Don't miss this marquee with demonstration kitchen, where top local chefs will be showing you how to cook fish. Learn how to rustle up everything from fine Dover sole to sushi. Plus, local fishmongers will be sharing tips on choosing, preparing and cooking fish and seafood, particularly sustainable types you might not have tried before.

Nets, Knits and Knots
In this marquee you'll find an eclectic mix of stories, talks and workshops for all ages. From fishy art workshops to sea-themed poetry and fun talks from Centre for Life, this is a quirky and fun way to learn about all things seaside for all ages. The Seven Stories storytelling chair will be in action with fishy tales and there'll be traditional skills workshops where you can learn how to knit a fisherman's jumper, mend a net and make fishing flies. Plus, some more serious elements on sustainability and the heritage of the fishing industry.

Gansey Workshop with Terri Bearhope

The gansey is a traditional fishermen's sweater, each region has their own variation, including the North East. On Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May 11am - 4pm, Terri Bearhope, Northumberland Co-ordinator for the Knitting and Crochet Guild, will present the history of the gansey and teach you everything you need to know before creating your own miniature gansey to keep. Meet at the Nets, Knits and Knot marquee at 11am, the workshop takes place at Malmaison, Newcastle Quays. Cost £10 - call 0191 230 5151 to book.

Get Hooked on Fishing
Always fancied having a go at fishing but not known where to start? Get Hooked on Fishing and the Environment Agency will be holding free fishing-taster sessions on Baltic square over the weekend 3 - 4 May. The sessions give you the chance to try your hand at fishing and see what amazing fishing you can find in the River Tyne. Whether you find coddling, crabs or even flat-fish, you'll be hooked once you've had a go! The coaches will cast your line, answer any questions you have and give you all the hints and tips you need to catch a fish! If you are lucky enough to catch one, you will be able to reel it in and measure it yourself, before releasing it backing to the River Tyne. You can win a bait fishing kit if you catch the longest fish so come along and try it out! Call 0191 203 4065 to book. Sessions begin at 11am, lasting 50 minutes per session. The last session of the day will begin at 4pm.

Super Fresh Fish Suppers
At 2pm on Saturday 3 May, a fleet of fishing boats from Amble and North Shields will sail up the Tyne to a great fanfare and blasting of foghorns. They'll be bringing the catch of the day direct to the Quayside. Head chefs from top local restaurants will collect fantastically fresh fish from the catch and dash back to their kitchens to cook it for the evening's special suppers. Book in advance with one of the restaurants below to taste what they come up with, or go along to Baltic Square market, where the rest of the catch will be sold direct to the public.

Green Fish Dinner and Debate

FOR one night only, feast on a unique eight-course tasting menu of sustainable fish and seafood, complete with specially chosen wines. Try fish you might not have tasted before, such as clams and cockles, spoots, gurnard, dabs and cuttlefish. And there's more food for thought from after-dinner speakers, marine biologist Dr Malcolm MacGarvin, who has advised Greenpeace on fisheries issues and is currently helping fishers striving to be sustainable to supply restaurants, and local fishing industry expert Colin Robson, who will discuss the state of our seas and the future for North East and national fisheries. Here's your chance to join the debate.

Sun 4 May, 7.30pm
Black Door Brasserie, The Biscuit Factory, Stoddart Street, Newcastle
Price: £39.50, fully inclusive of wines
To book: call 0191 230 5151

Babel Fish Wine Dinner

ALL too often, wine lists and menus are peppered with confusing terms that we don't really understand, such as sur lie and vieilles vignes, escabeche and salsa verde. They're a mouthful in themselves: we need help from the Babel Fish from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, who can translate any language to any other. That's what this lively and entertaining four-course wine-tasting dinner aims to do.

Head chef David Mitchell has created a menu that is deliberately full of ‘menu-speak', and this evening he'll explain the terms and even demonstrate some of the techniques involved. Meanwhile, local wine experts will translate wine labels and terminology, talking you through the different wines and revealing invaluable insider tips.

Tues 6 May, 7.30pm
Blackfriars Restaurant, Friar Street, Newcastle
Price: £39.50, fully inclusive of wines
To book: call 0191 230 5151