Gavin and Stacey star James Corden at Colmans Seafood Temple
James Corden delighted diners at Colmans Seafood Temple, in South Shields, on Saturday (January 25) to enjoy some seaside delicacies at the award-winning restaurant.
And while his Gavin and Stacey alter ego Smithy may prefer chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice (we could go on), James opted for some classic Colmans grub.
The former Late Late Show host enjoyed seared king scallops to start – and couldn’t leave without trying some Colmans fish and chips for main with some homemade mushy peas.
Restaurant owner Richard Colman Ord said it was a “brilliant” night – with James posing for plenty of pictures with staff to mark the exciting visit.
He told The Northern Echo: “He was a true gentleman, he took time out for every single guest in the restaurant to have a quick chat and a photo.
“Nothing was a bother to him, he seemed to be having a great night with us.”
The restaurant posted a string of snaps online of James’ visit to the Sea Road restaurant, with many Facebook users commenting their excitement.
One person said: “I bet he loved it! Best fish and chips, he’ll be back!”
Another person said: “Good of him to spend time having his photo taken with the staff. The fish and chips are the best though.”
Colmans continues to boast rave reviews online for its food, with a 4.6 star rating on Google Reviews and praise for its “absolutely delicious” food that “does not disappoint”.
James was in the region on Saturday to deliver the lecture ‘To America and back: James Corden tells his story’, at Harton Academy.
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The 2025 South Shields Lecture – which was sponsored by Colmans themselves alongside the University of Sunderland and Durham University – saw James following in the footsteps of
former US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, former Prime Minister John Major, television presenter Gary Lineker, and actor Patrick Stewart.
The lecture series, which was established in 2001, is organised by former South Shields MP and Foreign Secretary David Miliband.