It was set to become the centre’s control office, controlling alarms and fire detection systems.

The Upper Deck stands up there as one of Sunderland’s best known pubs of the past.

It was on the first floor of what is now The Bridges shopping centre. It made the news regularly and we wondered if you remembered these snippets of information about it.

The Upper Deck, on Walworth Way, pictured in 1969. The perfect cosy pub to start - or finish - your night out. Picture: Ron Lawson.

placeholder image — The Upper Deck, on Walworth Way, pictured in 1969. The perfect cosy pub to start - or finish - your night out. Picture: Ron Lawson.

The watering hole in Walworth Way opened in 1969 and had a naval theme.

Mavis Whitfield was the manageress and she recruited the staff, including four from the Brian Mills factory in Sunderland. Here they are pictured on the opening day.

The staff of the Upper Deck are smartly turned out in this photo. It shows from left, Sandra Melling, Jean Melling, Mavis Whitfield, Ann Melling, Jean Delaney and Edna Meek. | se

In its early years, it was known as a place where people would meet especially on Saturday afternoons before spending the day shopping - or before heading to Sunderland’s nightclubs.

In 1986, the success of the Upper Deck was being discussed at the town’s Management Committee - but its demise was also up for talks. The closed-in Bridges Shopping Centre meant customers would no longer have access to the pub’s main entrance after shopping hours.

In 1987, the building was being prepared for a new future and an update was given to the Sunderland Echo.

A report on how the conversion work was progressing on the pub. | se

Our report said: “Work on Sunderland’s new Bridges Shopping Centre is well under way. The foundations for the roof columns are all in place and work on the sewer is complete. Conversion work on the Upper Deck pub in Market Square is continuing. It will become the centre’s control office, controlling alarms and fire detection systems.”

In 1998, a journalist looked back on the then closed venue and what it was well known for.

“It had an outside balcony in the days before the streets were covered over, and many a Saturday afternoon shopper was bombarded with nuts or sprayed with beer by yobbish drinkers leaning over the railings.”

Tell us about other types of nostalgia you would want to see in our retro section.

It might be memories of your favourite shop, club, nightclub or restaurant. Maybe you want to get back in touch with former workmates from a Sunderland factory, or with pals who you went to school with.

Or perhaps you would like to share memories of a sporting occasion in the past which you would like to revisit.

Tell us more by emailing [email protected]