Pop Recs – Independent music venue, café and arts space in Sunniside, Sunderland
Pop Recs is a Community Interest Company founded in 2013 by indie band Frankie & The Heartstrings as a pop up shop to launch their second album, before growing into a genuine grassroots arts hub. It’s now settled at High Street West in the Sunniside quarter, hosting gigs, art exhibitions, DJ nights, independent cinema screenings, spoken word evenings and a weekly Stitch n Bitch group, alongside its own daytime café, Sonny’s Coffee & Kitchen.
The draw: the sheer breadth of grassroots culture packed into one Grade II listed building, from touring bands to community craft nights, plus a genuinely good café menu with house baked focaccia sarnies, Turkish eggs and daily specials. It also has a licensed bar for gig nights.
Hours:
Sonny’s Coffee & Kitchen: Monday to Saturday, 9am to 3pm, generally closed on Bank Holidays.
Music venue and event hours vary by listing, check individual events for times.
Vibe check: proudly independent and community rooted rather than a slick venue, worth arriving early for gigs to catch support acts. Note the venue itself is accessed via a step up from the street, though the café is fully accessible between 9am and 3pm.
