The Fire Station

About The Fire Station

The Fire Station occupies Sunderland's former Central Fire Station on High Street West, opposite the Empire. The restored engine house now holds a bar and restaurant, and a new auditorium designed by Flanagan Lawrence opened alongside it at the end of 2021. The auditorium seats around 550, or holds around 800 standing, and won a RIBA North East Award in 2024.

The venue was developed by the Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust and is operated by Sunderland Culture. Its programme covers touring bands, folk and roots artists, tribute acts, comedy, dance and spoken word, with shows listed well into 2027. Being next door to the Empire and a few minutes from Keel Square and Culture House, it is a practical base for an evening out in the city centre. Check the venue's own website for the current programme and accessibility information before travelling.

Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature The Fire Station.

Riverside Sunderland Explained: What Is Being Built on the Old Vaux Site

A plain guide to Riverside Sunderland: what has been built on the Vaux site since 2019, the homes still to come at Vaux, Farringdon Row and Sheepfolds, and what you can visit now.

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.

The History of the Sunderland Empire Theatre

From Vesta Tilley's opening night in 1907 to Tommy Steele, the Beatles, Sid James and today's touring musicals: the story of the Sunderland Empire on High Street West.

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.

Christmas in Sunderland 2026: Lights, Panto, Markets and New Year

Christmas in Sunderland for 2026: the Keel Square lights switch-on, markets, the Empire panto, Santa visits, trees, Christmas Day dining and New Year's Eve fireworks.

Sunderland Christmas Lights Switch-On 2026

Sunderland's Christmas lights switch-on is on Keel Square on Thursday 19 November 2026. What is confirmed so far, how to get there and where to eat nearby.

Corporate Christmas Party Venues in Sunderland 2026

Where to book a work Christmas party in Sunderland in 2026, from shared party nights at STACK Seaburn, the Grand Hotel and the Roker Hotel to exclusive hire.

Famous People from Sunderland: Inventors, Writers, Musicians and Footballers

From Joseph Swan and James Herriot to Dave Stewart, Kate Adie and Jordan Henderson, the people who grew up on Wearside and where to find their traces in the city today.

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.

Date Night in Sunderland

Ideas for a date night in Sunderland, from a show at the Empire or The Fire Station to dinner in Sunniside, cocktails on Keel Square and an evening by the sea at Roker.

Summer Holiday Activities for Kids in Sunderland

Holiday courses, beaches, country parks, wetlands, watersports and the Summer Reading Challenge: ways to fill the six-week break in Sunderland.

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.