Sunderland station

[spoony]

Had a look down earlier on now that the southern platforms are open again and work has moved the northern platforms. Must say it looks a hell of a lot better than it previously did. Not that was hard though being that the place was a disgrace. Even though its still very much a work in progress I have high hopes it may actually look somewhat decent once they are finished. Nice to see the old brickwork sandblasted and cleaned up on the eastern side of the platforms and I am looking forward to seeing what happens with the new light display (if thats the right description) on the western side.

 

[142094]

Haven't been through since they moved the work area, but will hopefully get along soon. Are they doing anything to the outside, as that looked a bit tatty the last time I was there?

 

[spoony]

Haven't been through since they moved the work area, but will hopefully get along soon. Are they doing anything to the outside, as that looked a bit tatty the last time I was there?

Unfortunately not. In my opinion they should bulldoze the entrances and start over.

 

[142094]

Seconded. If they can make Pelaw look good, then surely they could do something with Sunderland.

 

[turbo mick]

Sunderland has changed a hell of a lot over the years my home city its nice to see the hsts and 180s i dont bother going via newcastle now to get to london just use grand central

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

What is it with you lot?

Everywhere I go I seem to get greeted with a geordie, mackem or monkey hanger accent, I wouldn't mind but half the time the accent's so strong I need an interpreter & it's just as bad last time I had to go to Sheffield!

Did I have a clue what they were on about half the time? Nope!

 

[142094]

Well they all basically sound the same, just a few pronunciations that are incorrect for Mackems and Smoggies. Not their fault!

Now, if we're talking about accents, Bristol has to rank as one of the worst. Anyone heard the advert about reducing waste on the radio? The woman who talks about her apple, I want to hit her every time I hear it.

 

[spoony]

Well they all basically sound the same, just a few pronunciations that are incorrect for Mackems and Smoggies. Not their fault!

Now, if we're talking about accents, Bristol has to rank as one of the worst. Anyone heard the advert about reducing waste on the radio? The woman who talks about her apple, I want to hit her every time I hear it.

I'm originally from Houghton so I'm a weird mix of Durham Mackem in my speech

 

[142094]

Do you say marra then? I know its more of a pitman's word, but I've heard it often in Seaham but not as much in Sunderland.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Do you say marra then? I know its more of a pitman's word, but I've heard it often in Seaham but not as much in Sunderland.

I use it all the time marra - I'm North Sunderland born and bred!

 

[spoony]

Do you say marra then? I know its more of a pitman's word, but I've heard it often in Seaham but not as much in Sunderland.

All the time, really annoys some of the lads I work with up near Great Park

 

[142094]

Never really hear it in Newcastle, and even the people I know from Ashington don't really say it now.

 

[cuccir]

You'll hear it a lot on the other coast in Wukkie and Whitehaven where for some reason (migration at some point?) there's an odd pocket of Geordie accents.

 

[turbo mick]

Weve got a few of us from the north east at my depot at Reading ive been there 20yrs and the southerns still have problems understanding me

 

[Aictos]

Thinking of doing a GC trip this month, is there any decent chippies or pubs near the station?

 

[spoony]

Thinking of doing a GC trip this month, is there any decent chippies or pubs near the station?

There is a Weatherspoons and a Yates nearby which are the same as in every other town. You exit the station and turn left into Fawcett Street and then then right past Wilkinsons. The Winter Gardens and museum are worth a look and over the road from aforementioned pubs. If you had a few hours spare though, I would jump on the E1 bus towards South Shields and get off along Roker/Seaburn along the seafront which has a magnificent beach and pier. It gives me an excuse to post these pics I took a few weeks back anyhow

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh306/spoon363/Photo0037.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh306/spoon363/Photo0036.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh306/spoon363/Photo0029.jpg
Some decent pubs and chippies down there too. I would recommend the Roker Hotel or the Harbour View.

 

[Royston Vasey]

I reckon the Wetherspoons, the William Jameson, is probably the best bet near the station, there aren't that many nice traditonal pubs really. Fitzgeralds on Green Terrace is a great pub too, great craic, nice food apparently and decent barmaids! Ajax, make sure you get in a few bottles of Double Maxim... you'll never drink Newcy Brown again!

Nice pics Spoony, I was on Seaburn beach just last weekend, always take my lass down there when I'm up, I grew up half a mile away and she loves the sea having grown up in Cambridgeshire!

The sea was rough, but not as wild as I've seen it. Some great pics of Roker lighthouse on this guy's site:

 

[Techniquest]

Best bet for good food near Sunderland station would be that bakery right next to it. I always forget the name, but they do some awesome stuff in there, far superior to the Greggs opposite

Glad to see the southern-end platforms are finally coming back into use, looks much better than the northern end Any idea when they'll be in use?

 

[142094]

The one inside the station is a Milligans, which you only find up here. Nice stuff but seems that the march of Greggs goes on further and further.

 

[Aictos]

Thanks guys, your assistance has been much appreciated - only hoping it's a 180 up to Sunderland though as the pair of us should be getting the first GC of the day to Sunny Sunderland.

Won't forget these bottles though!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
How far is Fitzgeralds to the station, how long will it take to walk there bearing in mind we would ideally be on the 1230 back to London if possible.

Also, does anyone know what is available on the catering menu, what alcoholic beverages are available?

Most important of all, do they serve Guinness!

 

[4SRKT]

On my recent GC spin to Sunderland my mate and I found it really hard to find a decent pub. We went to some really rough place, where we quietly asked for two pints of McEwans (the only decent-ish thing on tap). Odd that armed with Yorkshire accents we felt waaaay to posh in this particular pub, and that talking quietly was necessary! We noticed that the barmaid was pulling lager instead of the required bitter, and neither of us felt any inclination to point this out, in case any of the psychopathic-looking regulars should wake from their beer-induced afternoon stupor and intervene. BUT.... it was astonishingly cheap. £3 for the round. We went to Weatherspoons after that, which was much better and still astonishingly cheap, and we found ourselves warming to Sunderland, but all too soon it was Valenta time again.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Thanks guys, your assistance has been much appreciated - only hoping it's a 180 up to Sunderland though as the pair of us should be getting the first GC of the day to Sunny Sunderland.

Won't forget these bottles though!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
How far is Fitzgeralds to the station, how long will it take to walk there bearing in mind we would ideally be on the 1230 back to London if possible.

Also, does anyone know what is available on the catering menu, what alcoholic beverages are available?

Most important of all, do they serve Guinness!

Fitzy's is 10 minutes walk. They serve Guinness and a range of decent real ales. You're up against it to get there, buy, receive and eat food in a 40 minute layover though, anywhere! The Wetherspoons is about 2 minutes which may give you a chance of getting your food in, won't be that busy. And they definitely serve Double Maxim

On the train, I was astonished at how many beers etc were available. This was a few months back, but they had a cider and 5 beers (ales and lagers). They had a selection of pasties, pies and sandwiches etc, but at that time no sit down meals. They may have sorted this by now, I don't know.

 

[Aictos]

Fitzy's is 10 minutes walk. They serve Guinness and a range of decent real ales. You're up against it to get there, buy, receive and eat food in a 40 minute layover though, anywhere! The Wetherspoons is about 2 minutes which may give you a chance of getting your food in, won't be that busy. And they definitely serve Double Maxim

On the train, I was astonished at how many beers etc were available. This was a few months back, but they had a cider and 5 beers (ales and lagers). They had a selection of pasties, pies and sandwiches etc, but at that time no sit down meals. They may have sorted this by now, I don't know.

Ah the Wetherspoons seems to be the better option - don't suppose they allow you to take a order of Double Maxim bottles to take away or is Fitzgeralds the only place to do so?

I've seen the menu, don't Wetherspoons do Chili Con Carne any more then?

Thanks for your help so far though,

 

[Royston Vasey]

Ah the Wetherspoons seems to be the better option - don't suppose they allow you to take a order of Double Maxim bottles to take away or is Fitzgeralds the only place to do so?

I've seen the menu, don't Wetherspoons do Chili Con Carne any more then?

Thanks for your help so far though,

Would imagine neither would, under the terms of their licence (though you could probably get away with a couple under the coat). However up there you can buy them in supermarkets and off licences, if you find a booze vendor near the station - can't remember off hand where there is one!

 

[142094]

where we quietly asked for two pints of McEwans (the only decent-ish thing on tap)

McEwans also do a lager, so that's probably what you got. Should have asked for a pint of Scotch - that's the bitter.

 

[Royston Vasey]

McEwans also do a lager, so that's probably what you got. Should have asked for a pint of Scotch - that's the bitter.

You could, but they're both vile!!

 

[142094]

Scotch isn't half bad, prefer Exhibition or Brown Ale (until they ship it off down to Taddy that is). Even better would be a real ale. Wylam Gold I could drink like water.

 

[4SRKT]

McEwans also do a lager, so that's probably what you got. Should have asked for a pint of Scotch - that's the bitter.

This is indeed what happened. Still, it felt like the sort of pub where someone asking for 'a pint of scotch' would get exactly that without anyone batting an eyelid!

 

[spoony]

This is indeed what happened. Still, it felt like the sort of pub where someone asking for 'a pint of scotch' would get exactly that without anyone batting an eyelid!

I reckon you must have strayed to The Blandford

 

[Aictos]

Well currently in the William Jameson, enjoying my bottle of Double Maxim - certainly well recommended.