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Drinking in Sunderland City Centre - restored

Difference between Sunderland and Newcastle for me on a night, other than price is that Newcastle has a bit of everything, no matter your taste you'll find somewhere you like, whether it be chav rave music, heavy metal, 70's disco music or really anything, there is somewhere whereas Sunderland every bar is the same generic nightclub shit aside from Glitter Bar or whatever it's named now, at least last time I was out in Sunderland anyway.
 
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Boris Bear said:
The most impressive new(ish) food and drink concept I've been to is Bonnie & Wild in Edinburgh (
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) and it would be super easy to replicate, either on the crowtree site or in somewhere like Jackie Whites.
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Just had a look at that. Looks good, got a Fenwick food hall look and feel to it.
 
Kenna said:
Difference between Sunderland and Newcastle for me on a night, other than price is that Newcastle has a bit of everything, no matter your taste you'll find somewhere you like, whether it be chav rave music, heavy metal, 70's disco music or really anything, there is somewhere whereas Sunderland every bar is the same generic nightclub shit aside from Glitter Bar or whatever it's named now, at least last time I was out in Sunderland anyway.
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Loads of bars are nowt like that. Isis, Fitzies, Chaplins, Dun Cow.
 
Osklen said:
aquarium would be a difficult one I suspect - is it a profitable venture? If delivered it would be better down by the river or coast?

indoor ski slope has been tried a few times and I think Middlesbrough are the latest to look at it or were, though again seems to have gone quiet.

I disagree with a leisure centre as I just don’t think kids use them like we did. This may because that there hasn’t been that type of leisure complex built for a while mind you. But again a leisure centre will be very much a local attraction. If one was built probably better on Holmeside.

You also have to consider that some of the uses suggested may end up in the bridges as they are likely to need to also dramatically change its tenant mix, as its probably be too reliant on retail so the like of KFC/Burger King, Arcade may go into some of their spaces.
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I think a Leisure centre would work but would just need to be changed up. Five aside is massively popular and you can out a pucth aside for bubble football and the like. I know there's a few in Sunderland but that's cause they are popular, not many swimming pools in Sunderland either so another one would be canny, lots of people do a combat sports be it for fitness or participation so having a MMA/Karate/Boxing facilities could work well also. Those in a restaraunt, play area for kids, pool/snooker hall, darts, a bar, weights area and you're onto a winner.

Could even build it to host competitions such as powerlifting, bodybuilding, have an auditorium for boxing, MMA etc could put a few climbing walls etc in.

Be great for kids, people could drop them off then go shopping etc. Not sure if there's any other places big enough to do this but I think it would be a good attraction personally.
EDGE said:
Loads of bars are nowt like that. Isis, Fitzies, Chaplins, Dun Cow.
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Could do with a proper rock bar like Trillions tbh, not too big but a place that puts heavier bands on and plays metal music and what have you would find its own little niche I reckon.
 
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Chatty83 said:
I think a Leisure centre would work but would just need to be changed up. Five aside is massively popular and you can out a pucth aside for bubble football and the like. I know there's a few in Sunderland but that's cause they are popular, not many swimming pools in Sunderland either so another one would be canny, lots of people do a combat sports be it for fitness or participation so having a MMA/Karate/Boxing facilities could work well also. Those in a restaraunt, play area for kids, pool/snooker hall, darts, a bar, weights area and you're onto a winner.

Could even build it to host competitions such as powerlifting, bodybuilding, have an auditorium for boxing, MMA etc could put a few climbing walls etc in.

Be great for kids, people could drop them off then go shopping etc. Not sure if there's any other places big enough to do this but I think it would be a good attraction personally.

Could do with a proper rock bar like Trillions tbh, not too big but a place that puts heavier bands on and plays metal music and what have you would find its own little niche I reckon.
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Don't agree with the leisure centre idea at all especially on the Crowtree site. It needs stuff to attract people out of town not only locals.

You'd be better building that in an area of Sunderland that's accessible but in the centre of the community. People don't want to travel into the centre of Sunderland to go swimming they want to just go next door. It also can help develop an area and give bored kids something to do if you built it in the right area which can reduce crime etc like where Southwick Primary School used to be for example. Might help regenerate Southwick itself aswell.
 
Chatty83 said:
I think a Leisure centre would work but would just need to be changed up. Five aside is massively popular and you can out a pucth aside for bubble football and the like. I know there's a few in Sunderland but that's cause they are popular, not many swimming pools in Sunderland either so another one would be canny, lots of people do a combat sports be it for fitness or participation so having a MMA/Karate/Boxing facilities could work well also. Those in a restaraunt, play area for kids, pool/snooker hall, darts, a bar, weights area and you're onto a winner.

Could even build it to host competitions such as powerlifting, bodybuilding, have an auditorium for boxing, MMA etc could put a few climbing walls etc in.

Be great for kids, people could drop them off then go shopping etc. Not sure if there's any other places big enough to do this but I think it would be a good attraction personally.

Could do with a proper rock bar like Trillions tbh, not too big but a place that puts heavier bands on and plays metal music and what have you would find its own little niche I reckon.
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fair enough each to their own, I personally don’t see the cross over spend on other things such as F&B etc from a leisure centre and think it may affect the viability of other facilities such as raich, aquatic centre and the wall unless it is completely different ie leisure pool and more leisure focussed. Leisure centres are notorious for requiring subsidy, not something that the council will likely want to take on at the moment. Out of interest Is power lifting and the like popular as a spectator sport? Also must admit when it comes to boxing events the ones I’ve been too aren’t often the most savoury of events.
 
Osklen said:
fair enough each to their own, I personally don’t see the cross over spend on other things such as F&B etc from a leisure centre and think it may affect the viability of other facilities such as raich, aquatic centre and the wall unless it is completely different ie leisure pool and more leisure focussed. Leisure centres are notorious for requiring subsidy, not something that the council will likely want to take on at the moment. Out of interest Is power lifting and the like popular as a spectator sport? Also must admit when it comes to boxing events the ones I’ve been too aren’t often the most savoury of events.
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Yeah can be, they run lots of powerlifting, bodybuilding strongman events all over and tell come down what particular event it is that'll garner what it attracts. The big ones would attract a pretty good crowd but even some of the local ones will get 100 or so people along to make a day off it which is canny for a Sunday afternoon for example.

Pro boxing is awful to go to as a spectator sport imo but I've been to hundreds of quality amateur shows that are well attended and don't attract the cokeheads that tend to make the Pro boxing rounds. Don't get me wrong of you have the wronge event on it can still end up shit, seen rival gypsy families end up brawling all over and that but you'd try and book clubs with a good reputation to avoid that.

There's loads of untapped potential in having a multipurpose arena, tbf, prob would t be the right place for a larger on but you can get big bands, bigger shows, all types of events like above but also stuff like the dogshows and talent shows and the like.

Depending ont he size of the auditoreaum you can attract up to thousands in though crowtree would be too small for thise ones you'd think.
Goat Eyes said:
Are we seriously suggesting that we knock down a leisure centre to build another leisure centre. The mind boggles.
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Well it probably shouldn't have been knocked down especially considering they can't even knock the otherside down due to the Bridges being built onto it.

And more so because they've done nowt with it or had any ideas. It's like Vaux again ain't it, knock something down with no plans on what to do with it.
 
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Chatty83 said:
Yeah can be, they run lots of powerlifting, bodybuilding strongman events all over and tell come down what particular event it is that'll garner what it attracts. The big ones would attract a pretty good crowd but even some of the local ones will get 100 or so people along to make a day off it which is canny for a Sunday afternoon for example.

Pro boxing is awful to go to as a spectator sport imo but I've been to hundreds of quality amateur shows that are well attended and don't attract the cokeheads that tend to make the Pro boxing rounds. Don't get me wrong of you have the wronge event on it can still end up shit, seen rival gypsy families end up brawling all over and that but you'd try and book clubs with a good reputation to avoid that.

There's loads of untapped potential in having a multipurpose arena, tbf, prob would t be the right place for a larger on but you can get big bands, bigger shows, all types of events like above but also stuff like the dogshows and talent shows and the like.

Depending ont he size of the auditoreaum you can attract up to thousands in though crowtree would be too small for thise ones you'd think.

Well it probably shouldn't have been knocked down especially considering they can't even knock the otherside down due to the Bridges being built onto it.

And more so because they've done nowt with it or had any ideas. It's like Vaux again ain't it, knock something down with no plans on what to do with it.
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I agree a multi functional arena space, though one designed to host music events, not like metro arena or whatever it’s called, would be good. Difficulty is always trying to get these multi events to work from a programming perspective.

been to a few amateur events including rainton arena and I must admit they aren’t for me.
 
Chatty83 said:
Yeah can be, they run lots of powerlifting, bodybuilding strongman events all over and tell come down what particular event it is that'll garner what it attracts. The big ones would attract a pretty good crowd but even some of the local ones will get 100 or so people along to make a day off it which is canny for a Sunday afternoon for example.

Pro boxing is awful to go to as a spectator sport imo but I've been to hundreds of quality amateur shows that are well attended and don't attract the cokeheads that tend to make the Pro boxing rounds. Don't get me wrong of you have the wronge event on it can still end up shit, seen rival gypsy families end up brawling all over and that but you'd try and book clubs with a good reputation to avoid that.

There's loads of untapped potential in having a multipurpose arena, tbf, prob would t be the right place for a larger on but you can get big bands, bigger shows, all types of events like above but also stuff like the dogshows and talent shows and the like.

Depending ont he size of the auditoreaum you can attract up to thousands in though crowtree would be too small for thise ones you'd think.

Well it probably shouldn't have been knocked down especially considering they can't even knock the otherside down due to the Bridges being built onto it.

And more so because they've done nowt with it or had any ideas. It's like Vaux again ain't it, knock something down with no plans on what to do with it.
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next we’re going to go in several years ago but then changed their property team and pulled out. Think it was going to a 40,000sq ft store. Think they realised they’d over committed themselves with Washington, Team Valley, Silverlink, Morpeth, Metro Centre, Eldon Square etc…
Gronkowski said:
Didn't someone post on here that old ice rink was going to be a food court/trampoline place?
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I think there was a link to an artist impression but wasn’t sure if it was an old scheme or current thinking.
 
Chatty83 said:
There's loads of things they can build tbh, I mean surely a few of the chain restaraunts will want to have a blast. No Burger King or KFC currently, you would think either of those wouldn't mind another site especially the former that probably would have benefitted from a move before the train station was closed for redevelopment. I mean I could live without them but most cities have and need these type places. Panda shit down as well so there's probably an opening for some form of all you can eat buffet place (or a few) in the right location. That was always busy as well.

Arcade area for the kids would probably do well again if placed with other shopping facilities.

Student theatre like the alpahabetti in Newcastle could be good, a smaller cinema that plays classic films could do well also but would probably have to be priced and marketed well. Could maybes do those things in conjunction tbf.

Could also replace the leisure centre with well errm a nother leisure centre - the old one was a bit haggard by the end but lots could be done in a new one - swimming, gym, martial arts/wrestling, go carting, five aside/bubble football, etc all good and helps attract more kids, stag dos, party's etc

Could look at the likes of an aquarium, different museum/gallery, snow globe/indoor skislope,

Endless possibilities really but obviously they need people to invest in them to do so. That gets easier with better infrastructure and attractions already there.
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Looks like they are currently doing work on the Panda building I don't know who's got it though?
 
tunstallhill said:
If it was done to a really high standard then I'd agree, but usually these one off events in town are a total let down and not well attended at all.

I don't know the answer, but if the cinema wasn't down high street, I'd say cinema and bowling alley with casino and giant pub with big screens and all that nonsense would have been ideal
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Ive always thought a Printworks or Gate type complex with a mix of entertainment venues, restaurants and bars would be ideal for the Crowtree site. I don’t particularly like them myself and would rather go to other places if I’m in Manchester or Newcastle, but they attract footfall and that’s what the town is crying out for. A tall glass type building would probably look canny around there as well and give views over towards the river and sea.
 
Had to pop into town earlier this morning and it was scratter central outside of that pub that used to be Huxters/Maggie Mays.
 
coyneeee said:
People who want to stay out longer than 3am perhaps? :confused:

Only 4 places in Town which a license for longer than 3am.. Trilogy, Indie, Seven and Jungle Bar... Though if you're gonna gan in Jungle Bar after 3 bring a gumshield, makes the Blandford look like a fine establishment.
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Where is Jungle bar?
 
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