The Fire Station sits in an area which historically, was the Edwardian heart and soul of the city. The aim, along with neighbouring venues and city partners, is to reinstate this area’s former glory and help bring excitement back to the city centre.
The first step in this plan was the award-winning renovation of the historic Dun Cow pub – a Grade II listed building adjacent to The Fire Station and set in the shadow of Sunderland’s landmark Empire Theatre. Second, was the initial opening of The Fire Station itself. Next up was the restoration of The Peacock, which was reopened under the management of The Futureheads’ frontman Barry Hyde and musician Dan Donnelly in 2019. Housed in another of the city’s Grade II listed buildings, The Peacock has its very own 220-capacity music venue upstairs offering a brilliant programme of music and performance to complement The Fire Station’s.
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The Peacock
The Peacock
The Empire Theatre and Dun Cow
The Empire Theatre and Dun Cow
The opening of The Fire Station’s Auditorium in 2021, means that the city now has a state-of-the-art space to accommodate exciting performances of all kinds – from acclaimed national and international names as well as providing a platform to nurture the extraordinary wealth of emerging talent right here in the region.
In addition to our neighbouring venues, several businesses have also opened to add to the growing excitement and energy in the area, including Mexico 70, No.2 Church Lane and The Little Shop to name a few.
So, whether you’re after a city centre go-to for an evening of great food, drink and entertainment or fancy a change of pace for your next special occasion, there’s bound to be something in the cultural quarter you’ll enjoy.
