Another new restaurant is heading to Sunderland city centre.

Signage is in place and fit out works are underway on Pepe’s Piri Piri on 1 Fawcett Street.

Signage on the new Pepe's on 1 Fawcett Street | Sunderland Echo

placeholder image — Signage on the new Pepe's on 1 Fawcett Street | Sunderland Echo

The site sits in the shadow of the landmark Mackie's Corner and was previously occupied by gaming lounge and arcade Harry's Game Shack, however, back in summer, 2024, the business announced its decision to close.

Since then, works have been undertaken to improve the shop frontages and make them more in keeping with the sympathetic restoration works which have taken place on Mackie’s Corner and Elephant Tea Rooms.

Part of a national franchise, there’s more than 200 branches of Pepe’s Piri Piri across the country.

On their website, the casual dining brand says: “We love chicken. We love it so much that we want all our customers to experience fresh grilled piri piri chicken which is freshly prepared to eat in or for you to take home.

“Our menu is freshly cooked and infuses the taste and flavours which are specially created for Pepe's.”

The shop fronts have recently been restored | Sunderland Echo

On the menu, there’s options like chicken wraps, chicken burgers, loaded fries, chicken and rice, nachos and quesadillas.

Pepe’s is one in a number of new additions to Fawcett Street.

In the past couple of months alone, the high street has welcomed 24 North East fine art gallery, The Korean Spoon, which is the city’s first dedicated Korean restaurant, and large Asian superstore Sunbucks, which took over two units in the historic Corder and Sydenham Houses.

Meanwhile, work is taking place to transform the old Haversham’s cafe