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The Northernist

A Teesside lifestyle and food blog

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The Northernist
A Teesside lifestyle and food blog
  • 20 Fun Ideas for a Valentine’s Date in Teesside
    Lifestyle | Teesside

    20 Fun Ideas for a Valentine’s Date in Teesside

    Hours January 31, 2026January 31, 2026

    Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean the same old dinner-and-drinks routine, and especially not in Teesside. From its dramatic coastline to its hidden creative corners,…

    Read More 20 Fun Ideas for a Valentine’s Date in TeessideContinue

  • 6 Romantic Restaurants for Valentine’s Day in Teesside
    Food | Teesside

    6 Romantic Restaurants for Valentine’s Day in Teesside

    Hours January 31, 2026January 31, 2026

    Valentine’s Day is that one day of the year when sharing chips might not make the cut (unless it’s after a loved up stroll in…

    Read More 6 Romantic Restaurants for Valentine’s Day in TeessideContinue

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    A Twisted Valentine’s Day with Scream Factory*

    Hours February 22, 2019August 25, 2021

    Source: Scream Factory Valentine’s Day – probably the number one day of the year that divides the nation. On one side, we’ve got the people…

    Read More A Twisted Valentine’s Day with Scream Factory*Continue

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    3 Valentine’s Looks, 1 Palette – Jeffree Star’s Blood Sugar

    Hours February 10, 2019August 25, 2021

    Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and do you know what that means? It means that I got into a “I want to do…

    Read More 3 Valentine’s Looks, 1 Palette – Jeffree Star’s Blood SugarContinue

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    Dear Olivia – An Open Letter To Myself

    Hours February 14, 2018August 26, 2021
    Comments 6 Comments

    Dear Olivia, I’m writing to you in the hopes that you read this back in a few months time, or maybe next year, or even…

    Read More Dear Olivia – An Open Letter To MyselfContinue

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    Double Chocolate and Cherry Valentine’s Brownies

    Hours February 11, 2018August 26, 2021
    Comments 5 Comments

    I’m pretty certain that because I’ve been away from baking for so long that all I want to do right now is bake. There are…

    Read More Double Chocolate and Cherry Valentine’s BrowniesContinue

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I'm Olivia and this is The Northernist! On this blog, you'll find lots of Teesside inspo, from places to eat to amazing events. We've got a lot going on in our little corner of the North East and I'm here to celebrate it, loudly and proudly!

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Recent posts

  • What’s on for the Summer Holidays in Teesside 2026
  • Everything You Need to Know About Kynren and The Storied Lands (AD)
  • What’s on in Teesside – July 2026
  • 10 Cosy Teesside Cafes for Rainy Days and Catch Ups
  • 9 Ideas for a Rainy Day in Middlesbrough
  • Your Guide to Summer Events in the Tees Valley 2026

Connect with me on Insta @thenorthernist

Well, @fugly_bakes_ are anything BUT fugly 😍 [ad - Well, @fugly_bakes_ are anything BUT fugly 😍 [ad - gifted] This baker is creating a storm in the kitchen with fantastically delicious tray bakes with boxes to order and a cake shed on the way (Yarm’s first!). I can’t recommend you check her out enough!! We snagged a mystery box and I can tell you that everything was SENSATIONAL. We had: - Triple chocolate brownie - Funfetti blondie - Lemon drizzle cake - Biscoff blondie - Salted caramel brownie These were amazing treats for me and M to share and celebrate the newborn bubble a little (although they were almost too good to share!). My top favourite was the funfetti blondie - think super squidgy and fudgy, but more than able to hold its shape. It was so cute with all the colourful sprinkles and the flavour was sweet and moreish. I loved it! The triple choc brownie was a verrrry close second, thanks to its rich fudginess 😍 If you haven’t followed @fugly_bakes_, then get on it! You can follow all of the cake shed updates and keep an eye out for box drops like this one. #cakeshed #cakesofinsta #teessidefoodie #northeastfood #nebloggers
The people are what make the Tees Valley 💛 We’re The people are what make the Tees Valley 💛 We’re often the first people to rag on ourselves, thanks to countless years of stereotyping and bad press, but we’re actually pretty sound. We’re a people forged in fire, steel and steam, and it shows in our resilience. We’re a bunch where someone always knows someone who knows someone - “oh yeah, our Gemma? She went to school with him.” We’re a mish mash of cultures and diversity, and we make the best of what we’ve got, with the knowledge that there’s even better things on the horizon. We’ll chat to pretty much anyone and we absolutely WILL use local slang - “yerjokinarnya?!” Tees Valley folks, you’re the salt of the Earth 💛 #visitteesvalley #teesside #nebloggers
If you’re a fan of a garden centre and nursery, yo If you’re a fan of a garden centre and nursery, you’ll love @larchcottage 🌼 This spot is out in Melkinthorpe, Penrith, so it’s around an hour and a half away from Middlesbrough, but it’s the most gorgeous garden shop I’ve ever been to! This place is sprawling and when you think you’ve seen one section, you turn a corner and there’s a whole other area of plants and ornaments to see. With Romanesque walls, a pond and so much colour, it’s just absolutely breathtaking! And that’s not all! There’s also the La Casa Verde restaurant that gives amazing views over the gardens and offers a vegetarian and pescatarian menu. The pizzas are outstanding 👌🏻 There’s also a shop that sells homewares and gifts, and a gallery with exhibitions that rotate every 2 months, so it’s very easy to spend a whole afternoon here. This is a perfect place to visit over the summer, so get it on your lists! 📍 Melkinthorpe, Penrith, CA10 2DR #gardencentre #gardencentreuk #larchcottage #nebloggers
Get a slice of @saddleupndough 🍕 [ad - gifted] Pi Get a slice of @saddleupndough 🍕 [ad - gifted] Pizza is the thing that I could probs eat for the rest of my life and never be bored, and I recently got told I have a pizza bias in my content… so sue me 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s my fave thing, but especially when it’s done right, and one place that’s doing it right is Saddle Up ‘n’ Dough. They opened their new little hatch at @padelupteesside last month and it’s a total must! You can either grab your order to go or sit in and enjoy a bit of people watching. OR book a game of padel, then enjoy a pizza afterwards! I picked a classic pepperoni, which was absolutely everything a classic needed to be. It had a thick, chewy crust, gooey cheese and a floppy base, making it foldable (the only way to eat a slice of pizza!). With the garlic dip, it was perfect! Matthew chose the Saddle Up - garlic sausage, chorizo and red onion with a spiral of Saddle Up sauce (a secret family recipe!). It was a gorgeous balance of flavour with not too much meat, but still enough that everything had its chance to shine, and the sauce just tied everything together perfectly! And of course, the crusts were ideal for dipping the in the chilli jam garlic mayo 😍 This new hatch is open from Thurs-Sun from 5:30-8:30pm. You can message ahead to preorder or just walk in (but I recommend preordering). It’s defo one to get on your list! 📍 Opus Park, Lockheed Close, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3BP #pizzaislove #pizzagram #teesside #teessidefoodie #nebloggers
A walk at @rspb_saltholme is always a good idea, b A walk at @rspb_saltholme is always a good idea, but especially in summer if you want to see beautiful flowers and lots of insects 🌼 This is one of our favourite spots to visit - so much so that we became @rspb members and can Pop along as many times as we like (while also helping the birds, of course). Stick around to the end of the video to see a clip of a dragonfly that I was SO chuffed with 😍 📍 Seaton Carew Road, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, TS2 1TU #rspbsaltholme #rspbengland #teesside #naturelover #nebloggers
Stockton town centre absolutely comes alive for @s Stockton town centre absolutely comes alive for @sirf_stockton 💛 It’s not often that I snap photos and videos, and post them straight away, but wow, this afternoon has been absolutely gorgeous in the town centre. We can be our own worst enemies in this part of the North East, ragging on ourselves and the good things we get, but when you see the community come together like this for the SIRF carnival, it’s impossible to not feel a sense of local pride. I dare anyone to tell me that this isn’t amazing! Big up, Stockton. You da best 🌈 #stocktonontees #teesside
Things to do in Teesside - August 2026 ☀️ - PYO F Things to do in Teesside - August 2026 ☀️ - PYO Flowers at @rowes_at_priory_gardens - Sat 1, Sun 9, Wed 19, Sat 22 and Mon 31 - @sirf_stockton - until Sun 2 - Darlington Pride - Sat 8 - @saltburnfolkfestival - Fri 7 to Sun 9 - @boromela - Sat 15 and Sun 16 - Darlington Legends & Fairytales Day - Thurs 20 - @kozesaltburn Summer Wine Festival - Sat 22 and Sun 23 - @betweenthetidesfestival at Kirkleatham Museum - Sat 22 and Sun 23 - Darlington Dinosaur Day - Thurs 27 - @darlington_market Bank Holiday Weekender - Fri 28 to Mon 31 - @stellar_creates_events Happy Rooms at @middlesbrough_townhall - until Sun 30 - Summer of Play at @ntormesbyhall - until Sun 30 - @daisychain_ne Fest - Mon 31 - Stokesley Market - Sat 1 - Wolf & Witch Market at Dormans Club - Sun 2 - @littlebirdmade at @teesside_park - Fri 7 - @nortongreenmarket - Sat 8 - Hartlepool Market - Sat 8 - @crathornehallhotel Market - Sun 9 - Stokesley Northern Makers Market - Sat 15 - Mega Misfit Market in Darlington - Sat 15 and Sun 16 - @wynyardhall Walled Gardens Market - Sun 16 - Hartlepool Maritime Market - Sat 29 - @orangepipmarket - Sat 29 - Stewart Park Foodie Market - Sun 30 - 9 to 5 the Musical at @darlingtonhippodrome - Tues 4 to Sat 8 - Roller Discos at @stockton_globe - Wed 12 to Fri 14 - The Makings of a Murderer at Darlington Hippodrome - Sat 29 - The Tale of Peter Rabbit Outdoor Theatre at @kirkleatham_museum - Sat 29 - The World Famous Elvis Show at @paayarm - Sat 29 - Rock Pooling with @landofiron - Mon 3, Fri 14 and Mon 17 - Dino Day at Dorman Museum @middlesbroughmuseums - Tues 4 - Circus Skills at @pparkmuseum - Sat 8 - Teddy Bears Picnic at Kirkleatham Museum - Wed 12 - End of Summer Party at Hopetown Darlington - Mon 31 - Tea-For-One Painting Experience at @thethrivehive_cic - Sun 2 - Candle Painting at @thewren.cafe with @whatkatydidnxt - Sun 2 - Saltburn Art Club with Lindsey Groves - Tues 4, 11, 18 and 25 - Beach Yin Yoga with @truetomyselfyoga Marske - Sun 9 and 22 - Pick & Paint Dahlias at Rowes at Priory Gardens with @katiedyerdesign - Sun 23 MORE IN COMMENTS 👇🏻 #teesside #thingstodo #neblo
I’m nothing without my coffee and sweet treats ☕️ I’m nothing without my coffee and sweet treats ☕️ I LOVE a drinks van that’s positioned so perfectly near a little country walk. But what I love even more is a drinks van that’s run by a duo who truly know their brand and absolutely nail it! And that’s @miskicoffeeandbakes 😍 Everything about Miski is so cohesive and I love that they’ve got their fingers right on pulse, like doing strawberries and cream pots for Wimbledon. And I’m so bloomin glad I stumbled across them on Insta! We fancied a walk out post-third heatwave, so I suggested we go to Cowpen Bewley Country Park, where Miski set up on Saturdays and Sundays, so we can enjoy the cooler weather with a little something to sip. And what a fantastic decision that was! I went for the raspberry and white chocolate matcha from the summer specials menu, which used real raspberry puree and it made a huge difference, adding a bit of a tang. Combined with the sweet white chocolate and the touch of matcha earthiness, it was stunning! M chose the creme brulee iced latte from the summer specials and again, what a winner. It was topped with custard cold foam! And a sprinkling of caramelised sugar! Like what an absolute stroke of genius 🤤 We also couldn’t resist two pots of the banana pudding, with layers of sponge, banana slices and creamy pudding. They were absolute pots of joy and I think I could’ve had about three to myself. Make sure you check their Insta to see what kind of treats they’ll have when you visit! Don’t skip out on @miskicoffeeandbakes and Cowpen Bewley Country Park for your next weekend walk. They’re open again on Sunday 2nd August! 📍 Seal Sands Link Road, Wynyard, Stockton-on-Tees, TS23 3NF #coffeeandcake #icedmatchalatte #teesside #teessidefoodie #nebloggers
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