New Beach Box beer garden sees huge influx of bookings as Sunderland pubs reopen

In response to pubs being able to reopen their outdoor areas, The Palm has doubled its outdoor areas to create Beach Box, a destination venue featuring a stage for DJs and live entertainment, more outdoor tables and bars, street food traders, games and a new children’s play area.

The Hylton Riverside venue already had an outdoor beach area, created last year, as well as street food garden with its own fire pit, but at the weekend a huge stretch tent was installed over the front car park to take its outdoor capacity to 450 with social distancing, making it one of the largest beer gardens in the city.

Like beer gardens across Wearside, it opened its doors for the first time on April 12, in line with the Government’s roadmap to lead the country out of lockdown, and bosses at the venue said they’re delighted with the response so far.

General manager Pete Skelton said: “Since bookings went live, we’ve smashed three records for bookings since we first opened five years ago. Peak times sold out in minutes.”

The venue is open noon to midnight each day and aims to cater for a wide audience, from families to groups of friends, and new additions also include a new games area for children at the back of the site.

Beach Box, which encompasses all the outdoor areas at the site, adds to the existing indoor venues Tropicuba, Wildernest, Pineapple Cove and Liberty Brown. The indoor areas are due to reopen from May 17.

Pete said: “Since Palm opened it’s always been about that escape vibe, people come here for the experience, whether it be having a family meal upstairs in Liberty Brown, a romantic meal in Wildernest or having a night out with your friends in Tropicuba.”

Beach Box is a sister site to Beach Box in Jesmond, Newcastle, where the concept has also proved hugely successful.

They’re part of The Apartment Group portfolio, a North East hospitality group owned by Sunderland businessman Duncan Fisher which runs some of the region’s most popular venues including Newton Hall and Le Petit Chateau in Northumberland, and Newcastle bars such as As You Like It.

*To make a booking at Beach Box see here.

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