Opening date for stables leisure spot announced

The leisure venue will open on 2 August

A Grade II listed building which once housed working horses will reopen as a leisure venue next month.

Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland was built in 1883 and owned by the North Eastern Railway Company, but has now been redeveloped.

The leisure destination was due to open in autumn 2023, but was pushed back to this August.

It comes as the demolition of nearby buildings was approved by the council in April as part of wider regeneration plans for the city.

Sheepfolds Stables will open at 18:00 BST on 2 August and will be made up of several bars and restaurants.

General operations manager Nigel Wood said: "We expect Sheepfolds Stables to very rapidly become the go-to place for people living in the city and further afield."

In recent months, the city council has approved a number of applications to remove buildings at the Sheepfolds Industrial Estate area.

These included factory units and a former fish and chip shop, and buildings once linked to printing giant Edward Thompson.