About The Kings Arms
The Kings Arms has recently come under the new ownership of Debbie and Martin. Their philosophy is to offer friendly welcome, charming atmosphere, quality beer, fresh locally sourced food and live entertainment.
The Kings Arms aims is to give you a pub that all generations of your family will feel comfortable using. We insist that all our customers refrain from shouting, swearing and other anti-social behaviour. All members of the team at The Kings are trained to offer you a friendly welcome and the best service a small pub can achieve. Quality products are a major factor in our vision and our willingness to learn is vital for us to improve our service to you. Your feedback is very important for us to achieve this and as such we welcome your opinion.
History of the Kings
The Kings Arms - The Pans, the oldest pub in Seaton Sluice having been built as a hotel to service the Port of Seaton Sluice. It was originally built as a hotel and retains original beams and open stone fireplaces.
It is situated with the harbour to the front and the North Sea to the rear. To the North are beautiful views of the sandy beach which runs all the way to Blyth. To the South is Whitley Bay.
Seaton Sluice is a small sea side village in an idyllic location known locally as The Pans. This is the historic name for this part of Seaton Sluice which was originally 2 villages with the Southern end being Hartley. Now signed as Old Hartley after New Hartley was built.
The Pans name Goes back to the year 1236 and the local salt making industry in Seaton Burn where evaporated sea water was heated by coal fires.
Originally the salt was carried in Wains to Blyth for transportation around the country. It wasn't until 1550 that salt was transported from Hartley Haven (the Sluice) mainly going th Hull and Yarmouth for the curing of Herrings.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth there were 8 salt pans each producing 2 tonnes of salt a week. these were situated to the right of the river, east of the main road bridge. The drying houses were situated on Rocky Island next to the Kings Arms. At the time this was known as Pans Close.
In 1564 there are written recordings making reference to John Delavals Salt Pans. From another journal of that time we learn " esteemed by sutche as buye same to be better than any other white salt".
The demise of the Pans began in 1782 when a tax was levied at seven pence a bushel of salt. There are tales told of Hartley wives snmuggling salt to Newcastle as a result.
In 1798 the demise of the Pans began when the government forbade production of salt at the Pans which were too old to allow the required change to new methods of salt production. The marketing of salt came to an end, however salt was still manufactured at the Pans until 1820 with the salt being used in the glass houses another industry of Hartley/Seaton Sluice.
There is now no trace of The Pans.