Loud music, guaranteed fun and wild Sundays- the Ocean Beach you don't have to go to Ibiza for

When many people hear the words Ocean Beach, they'll think of a certain sun drenched party place owned by the brother of a certain football presenter. However, there is one much more closer to home and, while it can't always guarantee scorching temperatures, it can always deliver on plenty of fun.

If you've been to Ibiza in the last decade or so, chances are you'll have at least walked past Ocean Beach or splashed out on a day bed and drinks and spent the day there. It's the hotspot that has welcomed loads of stars over the years, including Jack Grealish, Ed Sheeran, Connor McGregor and Katie Price and is known the world over for putting on one hell of a party,.

The other thing you'll ever know if you've taken a trip to Ibiza is that it's not exactly kind on the bank balance so, if you'd prefer your kind of Ocean Beach to not involve having to get on a plane and fork out on expensive bottles of spirits, the good news is that there's one right here in the North East and it's free to get in!

READ MORE: The outdoor pool an hour from Newcastle that could be 'hotter than Spain'

Get all the latest TV and showbiz news and gossip from Chronicle Live with our free newsletter

Ok, so you might not have the same odds of bumping into a celeb, but Vera's been filmed there, so you never know Brenda and her Land Rover might not be far away! We are, of course, talking about Ocean Beach Pleasure Park in South Shields. Open for most of the year, the funfair has been a massively popular attraction with families in the region and those visiting from further afield, for years now and it's no surprise either.

Keep your frozen margaritas and platters of sushi; who needs them when you can get a slush and a carton of proper chip shop chips? And, while you'll often see dancers aboard flying objects as part of the O Beach afternoon parties in Ibiza, they definitely don't have a waltzer, twister, flying chairs or a fun house do they? Ocean Beach South Shields wins that battle hands down! And that's before we even consider the massive arcade complex where you can win tokens to spend on some money can't buy prizes!.

While the South Tyneside coastline isn't San Antonio Bay, give us a sweltering Sunday session in Shields any day, as bars like The Crabshack, The New Sundial and Platform 33 become THE places to catch a ray or two while you're supping and when it comes to sea views, there's no competition!

With the free Sunday gigs in Bents Park about to get going, the seafront should be absolutely bouncing every weekend. And if it's dance anthems you're after, just hang around near the waltzer and you'll hear plenty blasting out!

And, if the partying side of life isn't for you, any Vera fan should definitely put Ocean Beach, currently open daily from 11am, at the top of their to-do list as it has featured in the ITV drama numerous times, most notably at the start of 2022 when it was the scene of a frantic chase to catch the culprit.

Ibiza or South Shields? No brainer right? We'll meet you at Miami Surf!