Pub customer's life saved by defib - how the Sunderland bar is helping others

In January 2025, one of the regulars at The Three Stories, Phil Wright, suffered a heart attack after attending a Sunderland vs Stoke City match.

Thanks to a staff member performing CPR, rapid police response, and early shocks delivered by a Red Sky Foundation defibrillator at the pub, Phil survived, highlighting just how important early intervention is.

Early intervention for 'out-of-hospital' cardiac arrests is vital with a less than 1 in 10 chance of survival without it. For each minute that a cardiac arrest patient does not receive CPR or defibrillation, their chance of long-term survival decreases by 10%.

As part of Sunderland Cocktail Week, which is running until Sunday, February 8, the bar in High Street West is serving the Love Heart cocktail and a mocktail version called Love Bomb.

The bar already donates £1 from each sale of the drink to Red Sky Foundation and will continue to do so for Cocktail Week.

Ross Miller, Head of Beverages at The Three Stories, said: “It feels very special to be linked with such a massive event in someone’s life which obviously came with such a happy outcome.

“We always send £1 from these cocktails to the charity and will continue to do so during the event. Love Heart is one of our best-selling cocktails, it’s sweet and indulgent and for everyone.”

Across the course of Sunderland Cocktail Week, you’ll be able to take advantage of cocktail deals, ranging from £5-£7. Mocktail versions of each of the Cocktail Week drinks are also available, at a further reduction.

To access the discounts, you need to purchase a wristband which you can use across the 10 days, which you show at the participating bar to unlock that venue’s deal, with dozens of bars across the city taking part.

As part of the week, The Three Stories is also running a £10 cocktail and pizza deal for wristband holders.

Sunderland Cocktail Week wristbands are available here.