We're bringing Mexican flavours to an historic Sunderland sports club

Taco look at the newest signing at an historic sports club.

Ashbrooke Sports Club has undergone a wave of change recently, with revamped bars and an enhanced offering for club members and non-members, including the new Ashbrooke Sessions which made the most of the outdoor space with a street food and music offering over the summer.

Now, the club has teamed up with the chef from Mexico 70 for a new food concept called Atletico 70.

It’s a casual offering of Mexican food, which can be ordered into the bar, onto the field or to go if you’re passing the club in West Lawn.

Will Ibbitson, manager at Ashbrooke, said: “I know the guys from Mexico 70 and the vast experience they’ve got and we desperately needed someone to do food here.

“We experimented with food over the summer in our Ashbrooke Sessions with street food vendors. It was a big hit - probably the best summer we’ve ever had - and we wanted to keep that momentum going.

“We had so many people coming along over the summer, some who returned for the first time in years and others who had never been and wondered why they hadn’t before.

“I think Atletico 70 is a really good fit for us. The guys know the potential here, and obviously we do too.”

With chef David Tanner in the kitchen, the Atletico 70 concept itself was devised by Ben Richardson, marketing manager at Independent, who has worked alongside Mexico 70 over the years.

Instead of being a sister site to Mexico 70, it’s more of an offshoot with its own menu.

“We first came along to look at the kitchen last year and initially thought about doing pizzas, but it never really came to fruition”said Ben.

“Then we saw what Will was doing with the sessions over the summer and how busy it was with the food vendors and thought about how something similar to Mexico 70 and casual tacos could work here.

“It’s some of the flavours and ideas of Mexico 70, but in its own format,” said Ben.

Food can be ordered into the bar using the QR code or by ordering at the Atletico 70 hatch in the kitchen area or pre-ordered at atletico70.com

You choose a main of either two tacos, rice bowl or burrito, priced £10, and then choose a topping from options such as pulled adobo pork, beef birria, chipotle chicken, mushroom birria and chipotle seitan.

There’s also a range of loaded fries and sides available with combo deals priced £15. It’s all served take away-style, rather than formal table style.

Moving forward, the team will also be looking to do one-off nights and pop ups.

“Ashbrooke is a great place and we’re really pleased to be adding to the offering here,” said Ben.

Dating back to 1887, Ashbrooke Sports Club has a rich history in the city hosting countless sports games, including international cricket matches, and was even an SAFC ground in the late 1800s.

Today, the registered charity still plays an important role in hosting football, rugby, squash, bowls, table tennis and cricket clubs, as well as being used by local schools, fitness clubs, holiday sports clubs and more.

But it’s also entering a new chapter with its wider hospitality offering, its bars undergoing their biggest makeovers for years - including the toilets which were much in need of renovations.

Around £500,000 is being invested in the venue over the years, which has seen the creation of a new look Lounge area and new astro turf laid, as well as ongoing improvements in the Sports Bar, and former offices at the back of the building and a new kitchen.

It’s been a long road for the team at the club, which faced closure in early 2024 due to declining use and membership, as well as a fire just before Christmas that year, which caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to rooms at the back of the building but was, thankfully, put out by fire crews before it reached the main house.

The club, which is run by a new board of trustees who took over in 2023, still has a membership of around 500, but the team is really hoping to get the word out there that they are open to all and anyone can pop in and enjoy the bar.

*Atletico 70 is currently available Thursdays and Fridays from 5pm and Saturdays from 12pm.