Best Pubs in Sunderland

Sunderland was a brewing town for well over a century, and the Vaux brewery dominated the city centre until it closed in 1999. Its legacy survives in a run of handsome Edwardian pubs, several of them listed buildings, and in a loyal real ale scene that keeps a cluster of traditional locals busy. This guide covers the city centre and the streets around Sunniside, Green Terrace and Park Lane, all within a short walk of Sunderland station. Every pub below was trading in 2026. Opening hours vary, and some open only from mid-afternoon, so check before you set out.

The Dun Cow, High Street West

The Dun Cow is the pub most people mean when they talk about historic Sunderland pubs. It stands on the corner of High Street West, next to the Sunderland Empire and The Fire Station, and the present building dates from 1901-02, designed by the architect Benjamin F. Simpson for the brewers R. Deuchar Ltd. It replaced an older pub that had stood on the site since at least the 1830s.

The building is Grade II listed, with Dutch gables and a domed corner clock tower, and its interior is on CAMRA's inventory of historic pub interiors. The Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture Trust bought it in 2014 and restored it, including the ornate bar-back with its etched panels and bevelled mirrors, and it was a national winner in the 2015 pub design awards. Today it serves a changing range of real ales, mostly from North East microbreweries, plus real cider.

Best for: Suits anyone interested in pub architecture, and a drink before a show at the Empire.

The Peacock, High Street West

The Peacock is a large Edwardian pub at 287 High Street West with a long history. A pub called the Peacock first stood here in 1770, it was renamed the Londonderry in 1834, and the present Grade II listed building dates from 1901. It took back its original name in 2017, and a blue plaque on the outside wall records the story.

Inside, a long bar runs down one side of a V-shaped room with smaller lounges opposite. There are up to four cask ales and food whenever it is open, and the floors above hold a music and events space called Waves and a set of recording studios, so live music is a regular part of the week. Opening is concentrated from Thursday to Sunday.

Best for: Suits a pint with live music, and anyone who likes a pub with a long backstory.

The Canny Lad, Green Terrace

The Canny Lad occupies a Grade II listed building on Green Terrace, in the Bishopwearmouth conservation area. For many years it traded as Fitzgeralds, a fixture of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide for three decades, and it reopened under its new name with an Irish theme in spring 2025.

The real ale tradition continues with six handpumps. The large front bar is split into separate seating areas, the former Chart Room is now a games room with pool and darts, and a small beer garden at the back catches the sun. It shows live sport and welcomes dogs.

Best for: Suits real ale drinkers, sport fans and students from the nearby university buildings.

Chaplins, Stockton Road

Chaplins is a dedicated real ale pub on Stockton Road, about two minutes' walk from the Park Lane Interchange. It runs seven handpulls with five changing cask ales, a house beer called Happy Chappie from Darwin Brewery and usually a cider. Food is served daily, with fish on Fridays, and there is a Thursday night quiz.

It has a beer garden and gets busy on Sunderland match days, so arrive early if you want a seat.

Best for: Suits real ale fans arriving by bus or Metro, and quiz regulars.

Museum Vaults, Silksworth Row

Museum Vaults on Silksworth Row is a traditional local that dates from about 1867. It was once a Vaux pub and has been run by the same family for more than forty years. The walls and shelves are covered in local and football memorabilia, and it serves up to three hand-pulled beers.

The pub opens from mid-afternoon, earlier on home match days, and live bands play on some Sunday afternoons. It is registered as an Asset of Community Value, which says a lot about its place in local life.

Best for: Suits anyone looking for an old-fashioned local with real character.

Keel Tavern, Keel Square

Keel Tavern is a newer arrival, opened in November 2023 on Keel Square at the top of High Street West. It focuses on craft beer, with a rotating range of cask, keg and bottled beers from North East breweries and further afield, and its kitchen serves pub food such as small plates, pies and Sunday roasts.

Children are welcome until 7pm, which makes it one of the easier city-centre pubs for a family meal, and it is a short walk from the Culture House.

Best for: Suits craft beer drinkers and families wanting a pub lunch in the centre.

Ttonic, Vine Place

Ttonic is a bar rather than a traditional pub, but it has been part of the Vine Place scene since 2003, when it opened in a former DIY shop. It spreads over two floors with a beer garden, shows sport during the day and turns to cocktails and live music in the evening, staying open late at weekends.

Best for: Suits a later night out, and watching the match with a crowd.

Beyond the city centre

This guide sticks to the centre, but Sunderland's seafront at Roker and Seaburn has its own run of pubs and bars with views over the North Sea, and they are worth a separate trip on a fine day. If you are planning a full evening, our guide to the best restaurants in Sunderland covers places to eat within a few minutes of every pub above.

Know a place we have missed? Get in touch.