The year when it was all change at a Sunderland pub - and even the locals 'got quite a shock'

Imagine walking into your local and thinking you’d wandered into the wrong place.

It happened at one Sunderland pub 40 years ago and it was all because of a huge facelift to one of the town’s best known venues, the Ivy House in Worcester Street.

Back in the summer of 1985, the traditional pub had a huge overhaul in a project carried out by Vaux Breweries. The work was part of a £1million plus renovation programme for Wearside hostelries.

The Sunderland Echo reported at the time: “Regulars at the Ivy House could be forgiven for thinking they had somehow wandered into the wrong pub.

“But no one is complaining about the transformation as the facilities have improved with plush surroundings and cosy atmosphere.”

John Doherty, regional controller for catering and leisure in Vaux pubs said: “Our regulars at The Ivy House will have got quite a shock. In fact they probably needed a drink to get over it.”

“We have carried out a total refurbishment to raise the standard quite appreciably. It has been done very tastefully and it is a lovely pub,” he said.

The Sunderland Echo report at the time said: “The old Ivy House was made up primarily of a functions room, a public bar and a lounge bar, all of which had seen better days.

“Walk in now and you’ll find one large room broken up by decorative pillars. The decor and furnishings reflect the emphasis on creating a welcoming, relaxing place.”

We would love to hear from people who saw the Ivy House in its pre-1985 days and what they thought of the changes 40 years ago.

As a reminder of that period, all of this was also in the news.

Choristers sang for eight hours in a sponsored ‘hymn-in’ event to raise money for church funds. And at 25pence a hymn, they must have gathered in a healthy sum for St Matthew’s Church in Silksworth.

The event featured the parish choir, public, as well as guest singers and musicians

A national company wanted to build a 25-bedroom private hospital with operating facilities in Vigo Lane, Washington. An application from Nationwide Hospitals was submitted for planning permission.

Ford Estate fundraisers were praying for pennies from heaven to help them pay for the roof over their heads. They needed £19,000 to repair the Church of Good Shepherd’s roof. They hoped to build a chain of silver coins from the vicarage around Ford Estate.

Share your own memories of 1985 including the new look for the Ivy House by emailing [email protected]