The film provides a detailed visual record of the area's unique architecture, showing buildings that had long defined the working riverfront. Rather than presenting a straightforward documentary, Quayside lingers on the textures of the built environment, highlighting the impact of time and industry on the cityscape. The film also conveys a sense of uncertainty, reflecting the tension between heritage and development as Newcastle's urban landscape was reshaped.

Beyond its artistic qualities, Quayside played a role in raising awareness of the need to preserve Newcastle's architectural heritage. By documenting the Quayside before major redevelopment, Amber Films contributed to discussions around conservation, helping to shape attitudes towards the importance of protecting historic urban spaces. The film remains a valuable record of a now-transformed part of the city, offering insight into a moment when Newcastle’s past and future stood side by side.

Focused on Newcastle’s Quayside in the late 1970s, an area which was under threat of redevelopment, the film Quayside was made alongside a photographic project undertaken by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen and Graham Smith. Following this project, a campaign, led in part by Amber's Murray Martin, was successful in securing listed status of almost all the Quayside’s buildings.