Sneak peek and opening date for Slice Roker on Sunderland seafront
The parasols are up and the team at the newest addition to the Roker Riviera are gearing up to serve you pizzas and pints this summer.
A new suntrap is getting ready to open on the seafront - and you can enjoy it with pizzas and pints.
Last month, we reported on how homegrown pizza brand Slice, which has already built up a firm following in Seaham and the city centre, was opening up a new flagship branch in Roker.
Since then, it’s been all hands on deck to transform the former Pier fish and chips and give it a full Slice makeover.
The final touches are still being made, but the decor will include a mural by Ron Carroll which will honour heritage Sunderland businesses, as well as original copies of Sunderland Echos and the Football Echo on the walls, donated by Fans Museum.
Seating-wise, it features six seats for dine-in, but the star of the show is set to be the dog-friendly beach beer garden, complete with 10 tonnes of sand, which can seat up to 168 people.
People will be able tuck into pizza slices, 24in pies, meal deals, Vaux on draught, frozen cocktails and more in the new venue when it soft launches from Wednesday, July 8, with the full launch from Saturday, July 11.
The new addition has created 27 new jobs, including manager Graeme Belshaw and assistant manager, Isla Richardson.
Graeme said it’s already proving a special place to work, with dolphins putting on a display as they renovate the site.
“So many people have been chatting to us over the fence asking us how we’re getting on,” he said. “ And all the local businesses have been so welcoming, like Sue’s, Grandpa Dickie’s, all of them. Everyone seems really excited about us being here.
“It’s really special down here, I actually proposed to my wife in Seaburn.”
The team already has big plans for the site to make the most of its outdoor space, like paint and pizza parties, live music, heaters and events in the winter and plans for next year’s summer solstice.
Isla has worked in Slice in Market Square since 2023 and has moved over to the new Roker site, so knows the Slice brand well.
“I live and breathe it,” she said. “It’s so exciting to move to this site, it’s so different from the other two venues and just sells itself really with the location.
“It’s been great seeing it all come together and putting the sand down last week really made a difference.”
The community has also been helping out with locals coming down to paint the benches and tables - their efforts paid for with pizzas and pints.
Price-wise, pizza slices will be available from £4 and meal deals, of any pizza slice, soft drink and seasoned fries, will be £8.
Each day there will be four pizza options, with two staples, a margherita and pepperoni, and two specials, one meat version, one vegetarian.
On draught, you’ll be able to pick up Wise Men Say and a Vaux pilsner, with other drinks options including frozen cocktails, wine and Prosecco.
New owners recently purchased the former lighthouse keeper cottages and were looking for a food and drink vendor for the former fish and chip shop unit in one of the cottages.
They approached Slice owners Andy Smith and Mark Milroy who said it was too good an opportunity to miss.
The cottage owners have also opened a new Pier ice cream van at the site and you’ll be able to take your Pier ice creams and coffees into the new Slice beer garden.
*Slice Roker will be open seven days a week from July 8 from 12pm to 8pm.