Sunderland, get ready for some PROPA! good grub

TV chef and Hairy Biker, Si King, is set to bring a nostalgic yet gourmet twist to Sunderland with his latest hospitality venture.

In partnership with Richard Marsden, managing director of Building Design Northern (BDN), Si has officially announced he is launching PROPA!, a new comfort food restaurant at Sheepfolds Stables that aims to celebrate the region’s food culture. 

The restaurant, expected to open by the end of the year or early 2025, will offer a range of hearty and affordable home-made pies including steak and ale, corned beef and cheese and onion, with local favourites such as sausage casseroles, stottie sandwiches, corned beef hash, brisket puddings and panackelty, a traditional Mackem dish, also on offer.

This will be complemented by a varied breakfast menu ranging from sourdough specials, egg and bacon stottie and cheese on toast, to a Full English and North East potato ‘floddies’. Vegan and vegetarian options will also be available.

Speaking during the annual Sunderland Business Festival, as he announced the opening of the restaurant, Si said: “This will be a totally new yet complimentary offering for Sheepfolds Stables and one that we’re confident will go down very well with all who visit.

“We’re taking people back down memory lane, becoming a custodian of nostalgic food, including for those going to the football where a pie and a pint before the game was, and still is, a must.

“Our focus is very much on creating and serving wholesome, tasty comfort food using the very best ingredients, and these will be sourced from producers local to the city and region.

“Some of the dishes we’re putting on the menu go back generations and are somewhat native to Sunderland and the North East area, so we’re really excited to get started.”

Located in the historic Sheepfolds Stables, which dates back to 1884 and has been revitalised in a £4 million redevelopment, PROPA! will feature a grab-and-go service with outdoor seating, a fire pit, and overhead canopy. The restaurant plans to pair its homemade pies with local ales, including Si King’s own Hairy Bikers IPA, and has also committed to collaborating with local charities to prevent food waste. 

PROPA! will build on the already thriving food, drink, and entertainment hub at Sheepfolds, which has quickly established itself as one of Sunderland’s top destinations since its launch in August 2024.

Richard added: “We’re ideally located next to the Stadium of Light, and seeing thousands of football fans coming here before and after games, or to watch the match on the big screen, so it’s the perfect combination.

“We couldn’t have envisaged just how popular Sheepfolds Stables was going to be and that’s absolutely fantastic, and whilst it’s all extremely positive, we’ve also listened to some of the more constructive feedback too.

“PROPA! will offer a very complimentary, high quality yet affordable addition to the food and drink provision seven days a week, so we’re delighted to announce it.”

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