Enjoy swashbuckling shopping adventures at Sunderland's own pirate beach

The Bridges shopping centre has created a pirate-themed indoor beach, which will host a number of events throughout August.

The first event, on Thursday, August 11, will give shoppers the chance to listen to pirate stories with Theatre Space North East, and also take part in a ship building challenge.

On Thursday, August 18, visitors will be able to get involved in a number of pirate-related craft activities, and enjoy an afternoon of storytelling with Seven Stories – the national centre for children’s books.

The final free event on Thursday, August 25, will see Theatre Space North East, which specialises in creating dramatic productions in unconventional spaces, return to the centre for a day of pirate stories and ship building.

“We’re always looking for ways to enhance our visitors shopping experience and our indoor beach is just one way of doing this,” said Andy Bradley, centre director at the Bridges.

“These events will be fun for anybody who wants to come along and we will also be using them to support some great local causes too.”

The Bridges beach will be open Monday to Wednesday and Friday and Saturday, from 10am until 4pm, on Thursday from 10am until 7.30pm and on Sunday from 11am until 4pm.

Entry to the beach is £1.50 and 50p of every entry will be donated to the SR1 Rotary Club to help support local causes.

The beach will be open to the public until Sunday, September 4.

For more information about the Bridges Beach and the events throughout August visit www.thebridges-shopping.com