(06 Mar 2015, 4:50 pm)idiot wrote Now that sounds confusing! Search8ng sounds technical!
Didn't have time before work this morning so I couldn't do it for you - but it wouldn't have revealed the answer anyway as there are no photos showing the logo I recall!
It's been a very recent application of the 'Free Wi-Fi' logo on the nearside if my memory serves me well from my fairly recent trip to South Shields. I didn't think anything of it at the time.