One of Sunderland's oldest pubs reopens with a new look - Hendon's The Regale Tavern is steeped in history, and looking to the future

Since The Regale Tavern opened in Hendon Road East in 1834, it’s witnessed the changing face of Wearside, from acting as a spirit store providing rum to galleons to serving up lunchtime pints for shipyard workers.

As the homes were knocked down around it, making way for industrial units, it’s stayed put and only closed, for the first time in its long, colourful history, due to the pandemic in March 2020.

Owner Tommy Ratcliffe, who’s been at the helm of the pub since 1997, used the time to transform the interior of the pub and has handed over the reins to sons Tom and Luke.

They spent six months doing major rewiring and plumbing works, rebuilding the bar and kitchen, installing new toilets and cosmetic works to modernise the pub, while also paying homage to its history. Future improvements will include external work to the Georgian structure and improving the accommodation upstairs.

After nearly two years closed, it opened to much fanfare last weekend and is open daily from 12pm until any potential Covid restrictions are announced by the Government after Christmas.

"It’s always been a proper, traditional pub and has so much history,” said Tommy who set up Sunderland-based building and plumbing specialists The Ratcliffe Group. "A lot of people remember it from the shipyards days and Bartrams would often have lunches here.

"Then Frederick and Mary Bingloe had it from the ‘50s to the ‘80s and a lot of people still remember them. I’m born and bred in Hendon and I’ve been coming to this pub since I was 17. Back then, it was in the middle of a really densely-populated area.

"When I took it over it still had snugs and a smoking room but I opened up the space and put a stage in. My brother Lukey was an entertainer and I used to put a turn on on Saturday nights and that was really popular, it became known for that.”

Speaking about the reopening weekend, Tommy’s son Luke said: “We had a great opening weekend and people were really impressed with how it looks, especially with how light and bright it is now.”

As part of Luke and Tom’s changes to the pub they’ve installed Sky Sports, are opening daily and are also trialling new drinks such as a guest real ale.

"We really want to see this pub flourishing again and felt it was important to keep it in the family,” said Luke.

Pint prices have been kept low at the pub, with a pint of John Smith’s, as well as Carling, priced £2.80, Madri priced £3 a pint and the guest craft ale, an Atlantic pale ale, priced £2.50.

Situated between three port entrances, it’s also hoped that the pub will benefit from increased trade to the Port of Sunderland, which has undergone millions of pounds worth of improvement works.

Enjoy unlimited access to all of our news and sport, see fewer ads, experience faster load times, test your brain with daily puzzles and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

The Sunderland Echo has been on Wearside since 1873, and your support means we can continue telling your stories for generations to come. Click here to subscribe.