The city has welcomed a wave of new bars and restaurants recently, and is undergoing a boom in its hospitality scene, but we’ve had a rifle through our archives to bring you some favourites from over the years.
1. Elizabeth's Restaurant, Bridge Street
An institution in Sunderland, it was a sad day when long-running restaurant Elizabeth's closed its doors in 2017. It was well-known for its Sunday dinners and the site's history as a restaurant went back to at least the Second World War, when it was the place to be seen by Sunderland folk as they dressed up and enjoyed a lunch or dinner away from their graft. It's pictured here in March 1999. | Sunderland Echo
2. Luciano's, City Centre
After three decades of being a party favourite in the city centre, Luciano's closed as the buildings were demolished to make way for Culture House. The team moved on to Peterlee and Luci's in Cleadon, the latter of which has recently been taken over. | Sunderland Echo
3. Jonny Ringo's, Park Lane
Back in the '90s Jonny Ringo's was one of the best restaurants in Sunderland, thanks to its big portions and American theme. You could pop in for a burger before heading upstairs to Fino's. It later became Chase, before being demolished to make way for Port of Call. | Sunderland Echo
4. The Ropery, Deptford
Despite being an historic building with great riverside views, this site has changed hands a number of times over the years and is pictured here as The Ropery pub. Originally called Deptford Patent Ropery, and opened in 1793, it was the world’s first factory producing machine-made rope. Today it's a wedding venue called Webster's Ropery. | Sunderland Echo