Sunderland venue marks ‘incredible’ year

A Sunderland-based hospitality venue is celebrating a successful first year in business.

Sheepfolds Stables, a transformed 19th century Grade II-listed building near the Stadium of Light, has quickly become one of the region’s top destinations for food, drink and entertainment. 

Since opening in August 2024, the site has sold more than 68,000 pints of its exclusive Pit Pony lager, hosted 350 live gigs and welcomed 11,000 guests to more than 180 private and corporate events.

The venue is home to a mix of independent operators, including some launching or scaling their businesses from the site. 

Highlights include Propa! by TV personality and hairy biker Si King, which has sold nearly 29,000 pies, and I Scream for Pizza, which has served over 23,000 slices. 

Cocktail bar Mother Mercy has also poured more than 20,000 drinks, while Deep North has sold upwards of 40,000 doughnuts.

Rick Marsden, managing director of Building Design Northern (BDN) which developed Sheepfolds Stables, said: “We could never have envisaged the response that we’ve had and the support that people have shown over the last twelve months. 

“It has been incredible and for that, I would like to thank everyone who has made Sheepfolds Stables what it has become today – our staff, our customers, our operators, our partners, our suppliers and the local business community. 

“Your support has been unwavering.

“Everyone has really taken Sheepfolds Stables to their hearts, and this was very evident on our launch weekend, when the bars, the plaza areas and the restaurants were full and the queue to get in tailed back to the stadium. 

“It was immense and amazing to see, and we’ve never looked back since.

“Sheepfolds Stables brings something totally unique to a city that is rapidly on the up, and we are very much looking forward, with many more things planned, especially once the new Keel Crossing opens and the Riverside Sunderland development continues to take shape.”

Sheepfold Stables is part of Sunderland City Council’s wider Riverside Sunderland regeneration and has created around 100 jobs, helping boost the local economy and wider business community.

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