Boarded Up Sunderland or is it Booming? 

Great video - but sad to see the extent of decline!

Nice video there mate. I worked in Sunderland for 12 years but haven’t been back for ages so it’s good to see what things look like now. It looks pretty similar in terms of where the bits that are doing well are. The big changes are Debenhams and Wilko closing because a lot of people come for the big shops and also spend in the small shops. It’s when the big ones go that the small ones will start to suffer which is a shame because they can’t do anything about it. Keep the videos coming mate, you’re doing a great job in recording the history of the city.

I was brought up in Sunderland from the age of 5 to 16. Born in Scotland my father's job moved to Sunderland. Now 60 I still absolutely love the place- mainly the warm and friendly people - some of whom I am still in contact after all the years. In the 70's I remember going into town with my mum/mam to the bus station (now gone) and going to the shops on a Saturday First out of the bus station was Presto's I think back in the day. The place was heaving with people. Only reason I went was so that I could go to Joseph's - for a kid it was brilliant. Hated Binns, Jopling's etc. as that was me Mam's territory. Now wish they were still there. But the Internet has taken over and you just need to press a button to shop now. I hope like the vinyl records people start to miss the joy of going to town for breakfast/lunch, haircut - off to the football, they go shopping, meat up for dinner etc etc. I have been back to Sunderland over the years and it has such great buildings that if looked after would be great to bring back to life for a different purpose. The other thing that has killed city and town centrets' are the arseholes in the councils who think to ban cars, path over roads is the way to go. Look what you have done! Any ways I love Sunderland and look forward to seeing the City rise again - soon.

Never understood how people can still vote Labour for the area and are happy to see this beautiful city rot. I will be moving out of sunderland soon after 37years, its just not the Sunderland i once loved

Nice video Terry, i was born & raised in Sunderland, moved to Salem, Oregon in '99. Can't believe how much the city center has changed since I last visited home in 2011. I always watch out for your vids mate, keep up the great work

anyone been to sunderland recently? heard they are working on flying buildings now! lovley place!

To get a valid comparison to the past one needs to look back further than a decade or two! My memories are from the 1960s and 1970s before I left Sunderland for Africa in 1975. In those times there was no Bridges shopping centre and the biggest build project had been the 3 tower blocks, Solar House etc. There was absolutely no pedestrianisation which is usually a killer of business in most cases. The streets were on a normal weekday and a Saturday bustling with people shopping, meeting friends and so on, spending money and far beyond the few people seen wandering about in the video. Only the Bridges seems to have a fair amount of commercial activity but of course we cannot know how many are merely window shopping! It is clear by the prevalence of "lower-level" shops such as nail bars, betting shops, charity shops, second-hand shops and the like that rentals have been allowed to fall over the years to the point where such businesses can afford to rent. Holmeside is the most egregious example of this, and is in a shocking condition today and who would want to trade in this decrepit location? Clearly the local council is responsible for the physical degradation seen and whilst we understand the triggers for the demise of Sunderland being the loss of shipyards and mining and support industries, that happened many decades ago and by now should have been overcome to a reasonable extent by better planning and maintenance of the town's commercial centre.

Half the places you flag as closed are actually still open just not when you went past. Independent is a huge nightclub which you should know . Harry's gane shack even showed you that the entrance is around the corner. Many empty lots have sold or let by signs up. Less than a tenth of the units in the city center are unoccupied which is better than the national average

Bitter sweet video for me Terry. Left Sunderland in 2001 and seeing shops all closed is sad . However the main structure of the streets have barely changed. Keep it up marra . Potential to bloom and boom again. 💥

Another great video again Terry, if in truth a little depressing, all my life I've lived within a few miles of Sunderland most of my younger days were spent there especially Friday and Saturday nights. I remember how busy the town centre used to be,Binns,Blackett,Joblings etc,now all gone and rundown,even though there seems to be a lot of developments and investments, I can never see it returning to its former glory ,but there again as the saying goes out of the ashes........

I honestly didn't realise terry that there was that many shop closed and us losing today mate feel even more depressed but on a positive note there's loads of work been carried out all over the town so I still believe there's still good times ahead for us in the town centre and surrounding areas.thanx for the vid mate so enjoyable to watch 👍

Sunderland looks like a very nice city. All cities have a certain number of closed shops,but it's always a little sad when you see them. I hope things go well for Sunderland and the entire Northeast Region. It may be neither booming or closing up,but generally holding steady. I hope it booms soon. What do you think,Terry?

Surprised and impressed with the Georgian streets! Looks like Liverpool! May pay a visit sometime!

I went to Sunderland about 6 months ago to visit Barclays (nearest one to Easington) - now I aint been to Sunderland during the day for over 10 years with living abroad, and all I could tell everyone afterwards was that *it resembled Mogadishu* with a bit of *war torn Beirut* thrown in. Sad days indeed. *Betting shops *Banks *Nails bars *Greggs/fast food All shops that are really not needed, with the banks ripping people off!

I was born in Sunderland general hospital. lived there until I was 24 and moved to Washington. It is now a poor relation to Newcastle, go and walk the same around Newcastle streets and there is a big difference, people everywhere and shops cafes full of business, and Sunderland have to compete with the Metro Centre as well so its a no win situation.

Very enjoyable Terry thank you.

My wife Joycand in were in Joplins the week end it closed down. Expat Seaham Lad, Canada. Sad,sad,sad.

One of the closed shops on Maritime Terrace was a Greggs. We still have 5 within a couple of minutes walk away though.

Love Sunderland .. and I miss My Pen pal Helen Taylor.. lost contact with her around 2007 anyone know her and her where about she is

a great video but also sad video mate ...

The town centre is in the worst state it's ever been Wilko is closing next, it is a shame and worrying all we will have is flats and charity shops before long. compare this to 40 years ago and you will be shocked.

It costs a minimum of £3 to park in The Bridges shopping centre for even 5 minutes to £10.50 to park all day and its management are scratching their empty heads wondering why people are going to the likes of Dalton Park and The Metro Centre 😢. The Council run St. Mary's is even worse though at £1.60 per hour.

Some parts may be 'thriving' but there was a shocking lack of people for a Saturday! I remember Jackie whites market in the 80s. You couldn't move for all the shoppers!😪

The Market has been closed for years......well for last few years a couple of businesses were open. The cobblers on holmside, the second one you mentioned is still open.

Absolutely destroyed nothing left, no incentive to go shopping now 😳

Just been watching Anth the Mackem cover Sunderland 0 Cardiff 1 then decided to watch this, now I’m even more depressed, thanks Terry ☹️

I left in 97... Great to see me old mate's sewing machine shop is still there, Tullys, a local landmark for decades 👍🏻

Class vid mate

Number 13 was pop recs. They moved to High Street West and business is booming.

what a shame about the decline in things. online shopping has a lot to answer for .

Barista is now lucky cat boba. It is always packed when I go in. Shelter is still open

Love this mate...you and me need a word, wanna walk round the town? do it again with me,I'll show where I stayed with my grandparents in the 60's and the Sunderland I remember from all those years ago, me back is knackered now so I dont walk as fast as I used to, but will do summat if yer interested...Ritch

M&S is closing 25th May 2024. (My mam's favourite shop) Moving to Washington Retail park. Argos was taken over by Sainsbury's a few years ago.

Independent is still open. It is a night time venue. I went to a gig there a couple of weeks ago

So sad that so many shops closed.

Unfortunately AndyMan upcycling in Jackie Whites has now closed but he has a stall at the makers and bakers market held at the ‘debenhams’ end of the bridges on the first saturday of every month. He is a lovely lad.

Is The Gregg’s like it used to be in the NorthEast with all home made pies and cakes or is it like non North East ones with mostly pre-packed stuff. I remember back in 1990 getting fantastic corned beef &potato pie from the one in Stanley opposite the club whilst watching the 6 Nations Rugby final. I don’t use Gregg’s anymore as we have a lovely family run bakery. They supply 2 inch thick very meaty steak pies for the Boyes(ex-Binns restaurant on the top floor). I live in Bridligton.

All towns and small Cities like Sunderland are like this. The ones that are thriving are those that are diversifying away from Retail into Residential, Commercial and Leisure

There used to be great charity shops, an incentive to take the metro in and shop. But even the better charity shops have closed/moved - e.g. Oxfam.

Remove all the parking restrictions, let the public back in to the town…

The shop next to primark that was shut down used to be Anne Summers.

Sad to see, Expat Geordie, Canada.

Mate I remember some great cloths running down street before Bridges then again the outside Market area was also great before Sunderland council decided to close it down I'm 53.

Ww always vent to Jackie Whites Market , last time was in 2018:, expat Geordie , Canada.

very interesting how much times has changed over recent years its a crying shame that so many businesses has closed either through rental plus rates which Sunderland Council must be held accountable or mainly as i am led to believe online shopping. i think that free car parking would generate more income for the city centre itself , personally i think its become quite embarrassing the amount of empty premises doing absolutely nothing ,i can see why there are some places being turned into student accommodation or places to rent but please no right on the main pathways i.e Park Lane. I know we're not the only City/Town with this problem but all the same it was a intriguing video to watch as you don't know how much heritage etc has gone in our city centre, very much appreciated, thanx.

Pale shadow of its former self,I left 30 odd years back and the town centre used to be busy 😢

Just a heads up Terry jopling house isn’t closed down it’s student accommodation and Harry’s game shack was getting renovated at the time of uploading. And they normally use a different entrance

Harrys game shack isnt closed, that part is shutted but it is still open

Sunderland is a mirror of many towns and cities throughout the UK - these towns and cities are the canaries in the coal mine and illustrate the actual economic state of the country - this is all to do with the money people have in their pockets to spend, or rather the lack of it, along with changing shopping habits moving to online - we have had successive governments with no real social or economic policy that benefits ordinary people instead we get a load of smoke and mirrors driven by various media platforms and 'newspapers' we get a whole load of cancel culture and fevour around free speech and are directed to turn on one another, or those with a different skin colour to our own in favour of avoiding looking at the mess that is being created in our country by those who are meant to be running the country - we are literally a bunch of easily led and easily manipulated mugs and the posh boys running the country are laughing all the way to their bank accounts whilst many are having to choose between keeping themselves warm or feeding their kids, many can't even do that, the country has become a disgrace, with corrupt politicians linning their own pockets and that of their business 'pals' - this is why Sunderland and many other cities and towns look they way they do, it's down to choices made by the people in government meant to be running the country and for no other reason, thicko will blame it on immigrants and asylum seekers however last time I looked they don't make enconomic and social policy.

Ya went in the museum and didna say hi ta Wallace? UNTHINKABLE. That aud lion has been there so long.

Same everywhere terry. Houghton Seaham Chester le street etc etc. All just fast food and charity shops

Some stores shutters are closed doesnt mean they are closed down

Been in the decline for years mate pubs lost too

Theres 1 corner in the bridges that has a shut down krispy kreme, tesco express, game and even a phones 4 u

Shops should be changed to accommodation in town centres going forward. Will bring life back and no need for as much retail now.😮

The Town( city centre) has declined so much i dont recognuse it any more.Its a combination of years of Labour mis management and misrule including woeful underrepresenratuom by successuve labour mps,total neglect from westmonster govts and the fierce competituon from metricentre .newcastle and even Durham city. I blame the electurate for repeatedly voting the same old amateurs in over the years since we becane a city in 1992 many out of their depth and in it only for themselves.

To me it looks like its going downhill. I left the north east 26 years ago. Havent been to sunderland in many years but i was shocked to see your video and how i see it ...that it just looks so neglected and depressing. Altho some pockets of activity ....its way too run down and boarded up.

what hev they done to my Town Ma......😪🤨

The more I watch the worse it gets, never go to Sunderland city… can’t believe how SAD it really is. If that’s a Saturday what’s the rest of the week like?

DECAY and DERELICTION, MIGHT LOOK BETTER WHEN THE SUN'S OOT

To be fair, I remember Joblings, Joseph's Toy Store, and the outdoor market. However, I watch a lot of videos relating to areas, Towns that have suffered. I haven't been in Sunerland in 3 years, but there is still activity. I am an 80s kid, reference Josephs Toy Store. But. I've seen a lot worse from a bloke doing the same as you, mate. Yes I agree what your saying is basically our Town is not doing so much as others. The whole Country is Fucked. The ship Yards and Vauxbury employed hundreds, if not thousands, of people. However, this has gone and changed for the worse. We're not thexworst in the Country... Ive seen ghost were not there yet ?

Sad, sad, sad, expat Geordie, Canada.

Why go up town when u have free parking at b and m and those other sites, i used to go when there was free parking after 3 then the council stopped 8t... i even used to park at sheepfolds and walk across the bridge like many people, then the council got wise and started chatging, now nobody parks there ,,

Harry's game shack is still open lol

They only got the new buildings City Hall etc. because the Labour council agreed to take asylum seekers, 800 Ugandans and others staying in hotels. We haven't even got a cinema anymore, just fast food, bars, charity shops and bookies.

Wilko is becoming a student flat. Ypu should have a look again

To me Jackie White's Market shouldn't exist Sunderland council shouldn't of shut down other market place there was some great stalls there that no long exist

how man. vapes. betting shops an greggs.

amazing are you on glue terry

Terry do you use as much French in these vids like the footie ones .😂😂😂

You went past ibbitisons and didn't get a savaloy

The thing is...these “closed down” videos are pretty pointless. We all know high streets, towns etc are dying on their arse, BUT...we deserve it, we’ve all turned our backs and joined the online shopping cult. We can’t cry that businesses are collapsing...WE HAVE caused that.

Nope wrong!!!! We allowed labour to run the city for years because people don’t understand they made all the chooses for the last 20 years or more the profit on housing failed asylum seekers for profit and housed hundreds of paedofiles up here usually opposite primary schools so if you looking to point fingers point them in the direction or your elected labour council ….. yeah the people that run the city usually found bragging in Sunderland echo about the business that are opening most likely using taxpayers money in big grants to their like minded LABOUR UP HERE HAVE LINED THEIR POCKETS ARE MADE EVERYONE SUFFER BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GET SUPER RICH LETS BE HONEST THEY DONT LOOK LIKE THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVER WANTED FOR NOTHING …………….I’m voting for REFORM M UK!!!! Like anyone else who still cares.

THE TOON WON 8-0 CANNY EH 🤣🤣🤣