‘A relaxed atmosphere, discrete area-zoned music, and superb pictures of the huge flying boats’

It was all change for a Sunderland pub when it had a complete refit as well as a change of name - and lots of tribute to an aeroplane with a difference.

The Sunderland Flying Boat pub which had a complete makeover in the summer of 1987. | se

placeholder image — The Sunderland Flying Boat pub which had a complete makeover in the summer of 1987. | se

The Royal Marine pub in Sea Road reopened in 1987 as The Sunderland Flying Boat.

And, to mark the ceremony, strenuous efforts were made by brewers Joshua Tetley and Son, to bring the only flying boat in Sunderland to the sea front at Seaburn and have the crew perform the opening.

The idea to re-name The Royal Marine came from retired Echo chief photographer and former RAF man Eddie Pears.

The Sunderland Flying Boat in another view. | se

Eddie was delighted when the brewery agreed to the name change to coincide with a prestigious £240,000 redevelopment.

Market research advised the brewery to steer the Sunderland Flying Boat towards a more mature clientele. The pub was not going to have any pool tables, flashing lights or juke boxes.

Instead there would be a relaxed atmosphere, discrete area-zoned music, and superb pictures of the huge flying boats.

An RAF Sunderland flying boat pictured in the 1950s. (Photo by Horace Bristol/Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In addition to the brewery’s own products, there would be regular guest beers and lunches would be served.

Manager Bob Shackleton and his wife, Margaret intended to create a traditional pub atmosphere with great emphasis on customer care.

The Sunderland Flying Boat got its name from the town and the port of Sunderland.

It was one of the most powerful flying boats used in World War II and became so popular that other air forces from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France and South Africa also used it.

It was heavily involved in Allied efforts to counter the threat posed by German U-boats which caused havoc to shipping movements in the Atlantic.

We want to know if you were there for the opening day at the re-launch of the pub in 1987. Tell us if the crew did get to perform the opening ceremony.

And tell us what you remember about the pub and its atmosphere back then.

Or perhaps there is another pub that you would prefer us to take a look at from Sunderland’s past.

Tell us more by emailing [email protected]