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Pub which hosted Dickens back to pulling pints

BBC A grand four-storey building. It says 'The Bridge Hotel Vaults' in gold lettering on the front, and the ground floor has white brick with mosaic tiles. The rest of the building is made from red brick. There is an old fashioned lamp above the door.BBC
The Bridge Hotel Vaults on High Street West has not operated as a pub for more than 30 years

A pub where Charles Dickens once stayed has been given a new lease of life following a £250,000 renovation.

Built in 1792, The Bridge Hotel Vaults, on Sunderland's High Street West, has not operated as a pub for more than 30 years and the building was most recently used as office space.

It has now been taken over by Vaux Brewery and music venue Pop Recs, with the hope of helping the city's regeneration plans.

Pub manager Steve Smith said the Grade II listed building was steeped in history, with "famous clientele".

"There's been all sorts of high jinks here, it was first set up as hotel and pub in 1797 and Charles Dickens stopped here when he came to town back in 1852."

The author had been performing at the nearby Lyceum Theatre.

Steve Smith, wearing a cap with Vaux written on the front and a grey shirt, stands in front of the bar at the Bridge Hotel.
Manager Steve Smith said he was looking forward to welcoming customers back

American Civil War hero and 18th US president, Ulysses S Grant, was also believed to have spent the night when he toured the North East in 1877.

Mr Smith said: "To be a part of the story of this amazing building is really exciting and we can't wait to welcome back customers."

The original features inside the building were all but gone, having spent the past 30 years as office space, but "the original mosaic tiles" outside remained, he said.

Two beer taps, one for Budvar and the other for the Bridge Hotel Vaults house lager. The badge is white with a green and red emblem.
A speciality lager has been brewed for the opening of the pub with other orginal options on the way

Pub co-manager Dan Shannon, who is also owner of Pop Recs, said it was "amazing to help guide the pub into the future".

"Pop Recs is just over the road so we've been admiring this building for years, I think it's going to really help revitalise this end of the city centre," he added.

Vaux have brewed a speciality lager especially for the venue and there are plans to to add a restaurant in the near future.

Mr Smith adds: "We're definitely one of the oldest pubs in the city, but we think it it can be one of the best pubs in the city too."

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