Best Pizza in Sunderland

Sunderland's pizza scene has grown in the last few years, and in 2026 the choice includes dedicated New York-style shops, a pizza restaurant and bar in Deptford, slice counters in the city centre and Italian restaurants that make their own. This guide focuses on independent businesses that are trading this year, most of which took part in Sunderland Restaurant Week in September 2026.

Several of these are small operations with short opening weeks, and a couple post their hours only on social media. Check before you set off, particularly early in the week.

I Scream For Pizza

I Scream For Pizza is in Unit 5 at the Sheepfolds Stables on Easington Street, a short walk from Wearmouth Bridge and the Stadium of Light. It makes New York-style pizza in 14-inch and 20-inch sizes, with slices and subs for a quicker meal. The business also has a branch on Newcastle Quayside.

As the name suggests, there is ice cream too: white and chocolate soft-serve sundaes made with milk from a local organic dairy. There is courtyard seating at the Stables. The shop is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, opens from midday on Wednesday and Thursday and from 11am Friday to Sunday, with later closing on Friday and Saturday. The menu is on the I Scream For Pizza website.

Best for: Suits groups sharing a 20-inch pie, families after pizza and a sundae, and match-day crowds.

Wild Fire

Wild Fire is a pizza restaurant and bar at Hanover Place in Deptford, west of the city centre on the south bank of the Wear. It describes its pizzas as made with locally sourced organic ingredients, and it runs seasonal menus, with an autumn menu this year.

It opens from Wednesday to Sunday: from 3pm on Wednesday and Thursday, 1pm on Friday and midday at the weekend, closing at 10pm except on Sunday, when it closes at 6pm. Booking is advised, although walk-ins are welcome when there is room, and pizzas can also be ordered online for collection through the Wild Fire website. Because it is a little away from the main streets, it is a place to head for on purpose rather than one you will pass.

Best for: Suits a relaxed sit-down pizza and a drink, or a collection order for a night in.

Wild Fire City

Wild Fire City is on High Street West in the city centre and is built around a quicker visit. Its own description lists pizza by the slice, arancini, bakery items, soft drinks, coffee and alcoholic drinks. That makes it a practical lunch stop for people working or shopping in town, and an easy place to eat before a show at the Empire. It does not have a website, so hours and specials are posted on its Instagram account.

Best for: Suits a city-centre lunch, a slice on the go, or a coffee and something to eat between errands.

Slice

Slice sells New York-style pizza from Market Square, a few minutes' walk from Sunderland station and The Bridges. Large, thin slices are the focus, so it works for a quick lunch as much as for a whole pizza to share. The business also trades as Slice Roker on Marine Walk by the seafront, which is handy during a walk along the promenade. Both took part in Sunderland Restaurant Week in September 2026. Opening times and specials are posted on its Facebook page.

Best for: Suits shoppers and commuters near the station, and a seaside slice at Roker.

Italian restaurants with pizza on the menu

If you would rather sit down to pizza with a starter and a glass of wine, two of the Italian restaurants in our best Italian restaurants in Sunderland guide make their own.

Angelo's on West Sunniside is a family-run restaurant and cocktail bar whose menu includes stone-baked pizza alongside fresh pasta and Italian mains. It opens for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday.

Antico on Roker Terrace, above Roker beach, serves pizza alongside fresh pasta, meat and fish. It opens every evening and from the afternoon at weekends.

Best for: Suits a date night or family meal where some want pizza and others want pasta.

Picking the right one

For a big shared pizza, I Scream For Pizza and Wild Fire are the obvious choices, one close to the stadium and one tucked away in Deptford. For a slice on the move, Wild Fire City and Slice cover the city centre, and Slice Roker covers the seafront. Angelo's and Antico suit a longer meal.

On a match day, Sheepfolds gets busy, so it is worth arriving early; our Stadium of Light match day guide covers the rest of the day. For pizza delivered to the door, see our best takeaways in Sunderland guide.

Know a place we have missed? Get in touch.