‘Twenty Fives night at Fusion were all the rage’

Its a name which is synonymous with Wearside nightclub life in its heyday.

A look inside Fusion, the Sunderland nightspot which had 2,000 customers a week in the 1970s. | se

placeholder image — A look inside Fusion, the Sunderland nightspot which had 2,000 customers a week in the 1970s. | se

Fusion remains a name that everyone of a certain age can remember from Sunderland’s past. The building had previously been known as the Top Rank Suite, better known as the Rink, and changed to the Fusion in 1975.

How Fusion looked in 1978 in a Sunderland Echo photo which shows one of the two larger bars. | se

It was so popular that Fusion had to have a revamp just three years later when a dynamic’ new look was introduced. Structural change as well as laying new carpets and changing the decor was all part of the revamp.

A Sunderland Echo report in 1978 explained why there needed to be a change and it was all because of its sheer popularity.

Manager John Muir said: “With the number of admissions a week topping the 2,000 mark that means a fair amount of wear and tear.

Another of the main bar areas in Fusion in Sunderland in 1978. | se

“But the club still feels that it has gone for a wholesale revamping earlier rather than later, than it needed.

“The main reason for the change is that we are not going for a turnover in the crowd, we are trying to keep up with ones we have, ” Mr Muir added.

An advert which promoted the Twenty Fives at Fusion night. | se

Fusion is no stranger to the nostalgia pages of the Sunderland Echo and is often hailed as one of the best nightclubs of Wearside’s past by some readers.

Its specially dedicated nights of dancing for the over-25s - which were known as Twenty Fives at Fusion - were all the rage after they were launched in 1978.

At the same time, Monday nights at Fusion were reserved for middle-of-the-road pop.

For those of you who remember the Top Rank Suite in Sunderland, you might recall all this happening at the club in 1972.

Thursday nights were 18-21 nights where DJ John Davy was one of the attractions and it was 20 pence to get in at the time.

You could also enjoy the Explosion Disco Night, and the Chris James Band was live on stage.

We would love to hear from anyone with memories of Fusion, or other nightclubs from Sunderland’s wonderful past, and you can share them by emailing [email protected]