Pop Recs

About Pop Recs

Pop Recs began in 2013 as a pop-up record shop and has grown into an independent music and arts venue on High Street West in the Sunniside quarter. Since late 2021 it has occupied a restored, Grade II listed run of buildings, with a venue of around 250 capacity and a bar at number 172 and a coffee shop and training kitchen next door at 173. The cafe was renamed Sonny's in memory of co-founder Dave Harper and his family.

The venue is run as a community interest company and hosts touring bands, local acts, album launches, DJ nights, exhibitions and community events, with gigs listed into December 2026 and beyond. It sits at the lower end of High Street West, a few minutes' walk from the Omniplex cinema and the Sunniside bars. Event listings and tickets are on the Pop Recs website; check there for cafe opening times.

Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature Pop Recs.

Sunderland's Music Scene: Bands, Venues and Where to See a Gig

The Futureheads, Field Music, Frankie & The Heartstrings and Kenickie, plus Pop Recs, The Bunker, Independent, the Fire Station and the Stadium of Light: a guide to live music in Sunderland.

Working Remotely in Sunderland: Libraries, Cafes and Coworking

Where to work remotely in Sunderland, from the City Library at Culture House and laptop-friendly cafes to hot desks at the Software Centre and serviced coworking at Doxford.

A History of Sunderland's High Street: From the East End to Fawcett Street

How Sunderland's shopping streets grew from the old East End along High Street to Fawcett Street, with the stories of Binns, Joplings, the trams, the Empire and the city centre's recent changes.

A Weekend in Sunderland: A 48-Hour Itinerary

A two-day plan for Sunderland: St Peter's and the riverside, Roker Pier and the seafront, a night on High Street West, then Penshaw, Washington Old Hall and Mowbray Park.

Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Sunderland

From a seafront roastery cafe at Roker to a Mediterranean cafe bar on Burdon Road and a tea room at Mackie's Corner, here are Sunderland's best coffee shops and cafes.

Things to Do in Sunderland: The Complete Guide

From Roker Pier and the Seaburn sands to the Empire, Culture House, Penshaw Monument and St Peter's Church, a practical guide to things to do in Sunderland.