If you’re looking for somewhere to warm your cockles, here’s some of Sunderland’s cosiest and most-historic boozers, in no particular order.
5. The Kings Arms, Deptford
With its intricately-carved back bar and roaring fires, The Kings Arms in Deptford is teeming with Georgian charm and character. Thought to be one of Sunderland's oldest pubs, dating back to 1834, it once pulled pints for hordes of workers from the shipyards which lined the banks of the Wear and was one in a string of pubs in the once thriving industrial area. It's one of a handful of old pubs that still remain in the area and was taken over by the same team who run The Ship Isis in Silksworth Row in December. | Sunderland Echo
6. The Dun Cow, High Street West
One of Sunderland's finest old pubs is The Dun Cow in High Street West - and in 2023 it was even named as one of the best bars in Europe thanks to its impressive back bar. There has been a pub on the site since at least 1834. However, the current building was opened in 1901. It was built at the behest of Robert Deuchar Ltd, a huge Edinburgh-based brewery and pub chain of the time who also owned The Black Bull (now Vesta Tilley's), Norfolk Hotel and the Crown & Thistle further down High Street West (demolished 1966). | Sunderland Echo
7. The Saltgrass, Deptford
With its open fire and olde worlde feel, The Saltgrass is a perfect winter pub for a proper pint. It was taken over last year by the same team as Kings Arms and Ship Isis offering a warm welcome, pub quizzes and more. It dates back to 1842. | Sunderland Echo
8. The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row
A regular CAMRA winner, The Ship Isis in Silksworth Row is a cracking example of a proper pub filled with local history. It's previously won both branch Pub of the Year and Sunderland Cider Pub of the Year and is one of Sunderland’s most historic pubs, renowned for its selection of real ales - just watch out for the ghost of the infamous Mary Ann Cotton. | Sunderland Echo