Uni nightclub demolition would be 'end of an era'

Debbie Travis-Waller, in the red top, said she made lots of great memories at the venue

The planned demolition of a former university nightclub has been called the "end of an era" by former students who partied there in years gone by.

Sunderland University has lodged proposals to flatten North Shore, near its St Peter's Campus, with no plans for a replacement.

Previously known as Manor Quay and Campus, the building has hosted major acts including Arctic Monkeys, JLS, Coolio and Ne-Yo, but has not been used since 2016.

Debbie Travis-Waller - one of those who made happy memories there - said she and fellow former students were "gutted" when they found out about the demolition.

"They were like: 'It's a proper end of era'," she said.

"It was a great part of our lives for a good five or six years."

A Halloween party at Manor Quay in the late 90s

Originally from York, Mrs Travis-Walker first walked through the doors of what was then Manor Quay during Fresher's Week in 2006.

The night out ended with a traffic cone brought back to the student flat and "just sitting up, having a laugh and knowing this was where I was going to be for the next three years".

"It was a nice feeling."

Dancing the night away in 2006

During Freshers in 2011, S Club 3 played at the packed venue, which had undergone a name change from Campus to North Shore.

Mrs Travis-Walker was the Students' Union entertainments and bar manager at the time and said that night was her favourite memory of the club.

"It was absolutely rammed. Everyone was dressed up and the atmosphere was just brilliant," she said.

"It really felt like a proper student club.

"But sadly those nights were few and far between as trends changed and people were staying in town."

JLS, pictured with Mrs Travis-Walker, performed at North Shore

The building has not been used for about nine years and the university recently applied to pull it down.

After demolition, the land would be "graded to seamlessly blend with the existing levels and will be grassed over", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The venue was also known as Campus before being renamed as North Shore

Mrs Travis-Waller, who is now based in South Shields, said the venue "naturally faded out" amid changing trends and the Covid pandemic.

"It could've been a lot more, but I just don't think the university or the student union had the funds to bring it to where it needed to be.

"It's a shame it's going but that's part and parcel of life."

The fate of the building will be decided later this year

A spokesman for the university said the venue had not been required by staff or students for nine years.

"There are no plans for a replacement building on the site at the present time," he added.

A final decision on the demolition is expected later this year.

North Shore used to be a thriving student hub