EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY

With so many new bars and restaurants springing up in Sunderland and a whole host of fans from Premier League clubs visiting for the first time in a while, we thought we’d compile a list of places to eat, drink and be merry in our fine city. This list is aimed at visiting fans but we thought match-going Mackems might also be interested. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite and affordable drinks, or you want to sit and enjoy a luxury meal and a few fancy cocktails this list has something for everyone.

If you have time to stop in Sunderland City Centre before the match, make sure to check out Mexico 70 at 312 High St West, a popular restaurant known for its delicious fusion food, much of which is presented in taco form. Many customers also love their small plates, cocktails and draft beers. The atmosphere is known to be cozy yet lively and the staff are friendly and helpful. Definitely a must-visit restaurant.

Directly next to Mexico 70 is Koji, a Japanese style restaurant with an extensive menu and a wide selection of drinks and cocktails. There are also plenty of veggie and vegan options and there are modern tapas options for those who just want something small before the match.

Across the street from Koji is The Dun Cow, which is more than just a pub, it’s a historical landmark which originally opened in 1901. The pub is unique in its appearance as it was designed in the Edwardian times and features stone carvings of various animals and a tower with two clocks. Ultimately, it’s a beautiful bar serving a great range of beers.

Next to The Dun Cow is the relatively new Engine Room, located within The Fire Station music venue. The Engine Room is also rich with history as the original building was built in 1907 as a working fire station before closing down in 1992. It was renovated and reopened as a bar and restaurant in 2017 and has since provided good quality food for a reasonable price. The perfect place to eat before a match as the service is quick and there is always a chilled vibe, with a large outside area when the weather suits. The food is varied so there is something for everyone, whether that be a classic burger and fries or fancy seafood starters.

Located beside The Fire Station is The Peacock. Originally it was a hotel/inn from 1770 but was renamed The Londonderry in 1834. The inn was changed to a pub in 1901 and changed its name back to The Peacock in 2017. This is another grand and historical building with a fantastic range of beers, run and owned by Barry Hyde from Sunderland band, The Futureheads. The top floor is also used to house the university music degree course, while the middle floor is often used to host a 200-capacity music and wedding venue. Overall, The Peacock is a versatile and historic building worth visiting.

Also nearby is Vesta Tilley’s, a popular pub that is known for having a lively atmosphere and very affordable drinks. The décor has a good mixture of old-style pub and modern sports bar. The inspiration for its name came from Matilda Alice Powles, professionally known as Vesta Tilley, a music hall performer known for her male impressions. Tilley was the headline act for the opening of Sunderland Empire Theatre (located just across the street) in 1907.

The following establishments are close to the likes of Mexico 70 and Koji, on Low Row. This street is making a bit of a comeback and has plenty of options to check out, plus it's also conveniently located right next to the Travelodge. The Vault Yard recently re-opened (formerly known as Bobby’s Bar), whilst Greens is up the road and offers a good selection of beers and is sensibly priced. This is closely followed by Victoria’s Loft, a lounge bar with a south-facing roof terrace, and then Streetbar which is always lively on match days. They’ve got more than 20 screens showing live sport, so it’s a good place to head before or after the match to watch the rest of the day’s games. These are also next to The Rabbit.

Only a short walk down from these bars and restaurants at 26 Silksworth Row, SR1 3QJ, is The Ship Isis, named after a vessel that frequently docked at Sunderland. The Isis is known for its cosy interior, warming fire and traditional décor. Nobody Burgers have taken up residency in The Ship Isis kitchen which has improved an already perfect pub.

Not far from The Ship Isis are also The Museum Vaults, The Kings Arms and The Saltgrass, all of which are excellent traditional bars located in the Deptford area at SR4 6BU.

They may be a little way from the stadium but are great places to hang out after the game if you are making a day of it and with the new bridge, all the above bars and restaurants are a lot closer to the ground than they used to be.

Also, in the same area is Wildfire Pizza, which serves top quality Italian food, including a great range of pizzas, one of which is called A Love Supreme!

Another great aspect of all these establishments is that they happen to be close to popular hotels within Sunderland if you plan on staying overnight such as Premier Inn.

If you follow that trail of pubs across the new bridge towards the SOL, you’ll find The Sheepfolds Stables located on Easington St, SR5 1BA. The Sheepfolds has two main bar areas and several independent food and drink vendors including: Ember, Vito’s Osteria, The Calabash Tree, Propa, Deep North, I Scream for Pizza, Mother Mercy, and Spey Snug. This setting allows customers to have a choice of various foods and drinks while still maintaining a lively atmosphere.

On the east side of town at 172-176 High St West there is Pop Recs, a music venue that hosts a café called Sonny’s, that bakes its own bread, offers delicious Turkish eggs, many vegetarian options and great coffee. It has a cool and relaxed vibe, the perfect place to go the morning of a match.

Directly opposite Pop Recs is The Bridge Vaults Tavern, a cozy pub that has a great selection of ales, including Vaux beers, from the Sunderland-based brewery. The Bridge Vaults has a traditional pub feel that was made possible by a semi recent renovation. Customers love the history and authenticity of the restoration.

Behind The Bridge Vaults Tavern is a hidden gem named Midnight Pizza Crü. This eatery stands out from the crowd with its unique rectangular shaped pizza. This style of pizza is known as Detroit style and is characterized by its thick yet airy crust, and the tomato sauce is often applied over the cheese, a style known as ‘red top’.

If you go over The Wearmouth Bridge and head along the seafront, you will find The Stack, SR6 8AA, which (similar to Sheepfolds) holds independent businesses within the main building. The Stack includes street food vendors like Acropolis, Bao Down, Brack Burger, Downeys, Seoud & Steak Co, Soju & Goji and Zza Pizzeria. There are also several bars inside if that’s more to your liking.

Opposite The Stack is the classy pan-Asian style restaurant known as House of Zen, which may be on the pricier side, but the price is definitely reflected in the quality of food, drinks and service you’re provided with. It’s also worth visiting for the view of the beautiful sea and sand alone. Also on the seafront is the excellent North restaurant, which many will argue boasts the best views of the beach, with food to match.

Heading south from North, on the sea front is Grannie Annie's, a pub and pantry which serves classic homecooked dishes such as lasagne or mince & dumplings 'just like Grannie used to make it' until 8:30pm. If you get there early enough, they also serve breakfast with a great view of the sea. Just past Grannie Annie's is the Roker Hotel, which is good for dining or some quiet drinks.

Further down the coast at 1 Pier Point, Marine Walk, Roker, SR6 OPP stands Love Lily Sunderland - a bright and colourful brunch restaurant. Love Lily is known for its extravagant pancakes, USA style breakfasts and stunning lattes and milkshakes. Not far from Love Lily, towards Harbour View Car Park is another amazing coffee shop, similar to Pop Recs in vibe and quality, known as Fausto Coffee. Fausto is known for its delicious cakes, hot chocolate and of course coffee. It is also dog friendly and has great service. Towards the stadium at Harbour View, Roker, SR6 0NL is a lovely bar, and also the nearby restaurant called These Things Happen. Reviewers say this bar serves high quality fresh fish and local produce as specials which compliments the main menu perfectly. They also highlight the attentive service despite the establishment often being busy.

If you’re wanting a beer closer to the stadium then The Wheatsheaf might be the place to go. It gets packed on match day but has a good atmosphere and does a good pint. Not far from The Wheatsheaf is The Colliery Tavern, which is also always rammed on matchdays, so you’ll probably end up stood outside, but the atmosphere is good. It is conveniently located directly opposite the stadium, so it’s great for those who don’t want to have to walk far to the game after having a few drinks. The Tavern welcomes away fans and there’s always a nice mix in there.

Also located near the ground, just next to the Wearmouth Bridge, the Sunderland Fans Museum is a good experience for footy fans. The walls are decorated with memorabilia, including iconic kits, and you'll often see Sunderland's FA Cup-winning captain Bobby Kerr roaming the building on matchdays. He hasn't had to buy a pint in Sunderland for 50+ years! Although it's advertised as a 'museum', they sell beer and have a decent selection on matchdays plus an outside area. It does get busy, so get there early enough. The building itself is beautiful, it used to be a railway station, and is located right on the corner so you can't really miss it. A few doors along, you will come to the Sunderland Deaf Society which always gets busy pre-match and there's a decent atmosphere, with well-priced drinks. The staff are friendly and provide a good service.

Our final recommendation for beers around the SOL is Bar 73, which is literally a stone's throw away from the East Stand and next door to A Love Supreme. So, if you visit Bar 73 feel free to pop into our fan shop and buy something to take home as a souvenir. Bar 73 stands out from other bars near the SOL as it more often than not has live music and DJs on match days, the perfect place to get into the spirit before and after the match.

As far as standard city centre bars are concerned the first place you should visit is The Cooper Rose also known as Wetherspoons, located at 2-4 Albion Pl, SR1 3NG. Spoons is most likely a pub chain you are already aware of and therefore it is perfect for those who want to stick with something they are familiar with in an unfamiliar place. If you come out of The Cooper Rose and turn right, you’ll see TTonic, another establishment worth visiting for the nightlife. It has comfortable upstairs seating, room downstairs to dance and a lovely outdoor area.

The Ivy House is five minutes down from the Cooper Rose and, although it's a little far from the ground, it's a hidden gem of a pub and also offers really good pizza and different scran. Other must-see bars near The Cooper Rose and TTonic are The Elysium Nightclub, The Emporium and Chaplins. The Elysium Nightclub offers an immersive nightlife experience with regular events and even themed nights, while The Emporium often has a karaoke night. Chaplins on the other hand is a classic pub with new outdoor seating, all places are worth seeing.

Towards The Bridges Shopping Centre is a club and bar perfect for the younger generation called Gatsby, which is often packed, especially on a Saturday night or a matchday. The bar has recently been renovated and now has a much classier look but still maintains the same atmosphere. Behind Gatsby is another club called 7even, which plays indie music downstairs and rock music upstairs. Frequent customers say that the atmosphere has always been lively without the edginess of other bars. It’s free entry before 2am and £5 entry past that point.

Other popular pubs and nightclubs in the area are Port of Call, The Point and The Borough, which are all places well suited to a more mature football fan. As well as all the post-game places we have mentioned, a few of the pre-game places also offer an exciting nightlife, such as Mexico 70, who have DJs on after the food stops, The Sheepfolds, The Stack and most of the pubs listed above.

Finally, if you want to see the night through till the morning, Independent is the best place to go as it stays open till 4am. They either play pop, classic bangers or indie music. The venue has recently been renovated creating more spaces to sit down while still having two dance floors and an outback smoking area. Truly the best place to end the night.