Here they are, in no particular order. All but one are in the city centre. Other great bars are available.
5. An old pic of the Museum Vaults
Once a regular haunt of Echo staff before we all became teetotal gym-bunnies; or moved offices. I can’t remember which.
In the capable hands of the Wilson family for many years, I don’t think it’s changed much since my granddad played for their darts team in the 1930s. I like to think not.
I was both barman and quizmaster in there, if historians are interested. A tremendous place for aficionados of “proper pubs.” Photo: Sunderland Echo
6. Fitzgerald's: 30 consecutive years in the Good Beer Guide
Called Greensleeves before 1992, Fitzgerald's has always been an oasis in the city centre for those who eschew bars with silly names blasting out awful music. A permanent entrant in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, with a well-used dartboard.
Those who won’t enter a bar which doesn't sell alcoholic Um-Bongo, or whatever gullible people drink these days, aren’t keen. Good.
I was quizmaster there for a few years, although its popularity has since recovered. Photo: Sunderland Echo
7. Ship Isis, another proper pub
A pub since 1834, the current Ship Isis was erected in 1885. In 2019 it was taken over by the people behind Mexico 70 in High Street. It's a regular nominee in CAMRA’s Sunderland and South Tyneside Pub of the Year.
It wasn’t always this salubrious during its days as Livingstone’s and (oh dear) Banana Joe’s.
I never worked there (and am therefore cheating on this one), but I did represent the Ship Isis in the Echo Quiz League. The pub deserved a better team. Photo: Sunderland Echo
8. Greens, Low Row
The first pub I ever worked in, aged 17, employed to collect and wash glasses. Eventually I was given a brush, which counted as promotion. It was always a place where drinkers would either start or finish a pub crawl. In the days of 10.30pm closing it wasn’t easy to persuade them to leave.
Back in its era as the Hat and Feather (before my time), this was always a lively establishment. I remember it being the first itinerary stop of the terrifying Dewhirst Clothing factory girls when they broke up for Christmas.
We would stare fearfully at the clock as we waited for them to alight the 12.17 bus from Pennywell; much as Gary Cooper did in High Noon. Photo: Sunderland Echo