A view of the Clarendon which was in High Street East and was one of Sunderland's oldest pubs Photo: Ron Lawson.placeholder image
A view of the Clarendon which was in High Street East and was one of Sunderland's oldest pubs Photo: Ron Lawson. | Ron Lawson

I asked AI for 15 Sunderland pubs to see in the New Year in 1975. Here's what it chose

By Chris Cordner

Digital specialist in nostalgia

Published 27th Dec 2025, 18:00 GMT

We’ll all be singing Auld Lang Syne before you know it - but I wondered where you would have done it in Sunderland in 1975.

I was keen to find out how Wearside celebrated New Year 50 years ago and asked ChatGPT to come up with the answers.

It did just that and came up with all of these venues for a December 31 celebration 1970s style.

See if you agree with its 15 choices.

The Brewery Tap in Sunderland. It ran from 1842 to 2000. It was previously known as the Minerva and the Neptune and was in Dunning Street. Photo: Ron Lawson.

5. The Brewery Tap

The Brewery Tap in Sunderland. It ran from 1842 to 2000. It was previously known as the Minerva and the Neptune and was in Dunning Street. Photo: Ron Lawson. | Ron Lawson Photo: Ron Lawson

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The Boilermakers in High Street West but 1975 was the last time you could spend a New Year's Eve there - changed its name to The Old Twenty Nine in 1976. Photo: Ron Lawson.

6. The Boilermakers

The Boilermakers in High Street West but 1975 was the last time you could spend a New Year's Eve there - changed its name to The Old Twenty Nine in 1976. Photo: Ron Lawson. | Ron Lawson

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The swinging '60s and The Gannet in High Street West. Tell us if you loved to pay a visit. Picture: Ron Lawson.

7. The Gannet

The swinging '60s and The Gannet in High Street West. Tell us if you loved to pay a visit. Picture: Ron Lawson. | Ron Lawson Photo: Ron Lawson

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Built in the 1870's the pub was renamed The Drift Inn when Silksworth Colliery closed in 1971. It later became The Sportsman's Arms.

8. Colliery Inn/Drift Inn

Built in the 1870's the pub was renamed The Drift Inn when Silksworth Colliery closed in 1971. It later became The Sportsman's Arms. | se Photo: Sunderland Echo

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