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Uni nightclub demolition would be 'end of an era'

Pamela Bilalova
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
Supplied Debbie Travis-Waller, is smiling with three other friends. They are all holding glass bottles of drinks. Mrs Travis-Waller has a straight, dark red hair, pulled back in a ponytail and a fringe. She is wearing a red top and has her left arm round the shoulders of a woman with dark hair and a green strapless top. To her right are the two other women who have longer, blonde hair, both wearing black vest tops. There is a stage behind the group.Supplied
Debbie Travis-Waller, in the red top, said she made lots of great memories at the venue

The planned demolition of a former university nightclub has been called the "end of an era" by former students who partied there in years gone by.

Sunderland University has lodged proposals to flatten North Shore, near its St Peter's Campus, with no plans for a replacement.

Previously known as Manor Quay and Campus, the building has hosted major acts including Arctic Monkeys, JLS, Coolio and Ne-Yo, but has not been used since 2016.

Debbie Travis-Waller - one of those who made happy memories there - said she and fellow former students were "gutted" when they found out about the demolition.

"They were like: 'It's a proper end of era'," she said.

"It was a great part of our lives for a good five or six years."

University of Sunderland A huge crowd of students in Halloween costumes dancing. Spider web decorations pumpkins are hanging from the ceiling.University of Sunderland
A Halloween party at Manor Quay in the late 90s

Originally from York, Mrs Travis-Walker first walked through the doors of what was then Manor Quay during Fresher's Week in 2006.

The night out ended with a traffic cone brought back to the student flat and "just sitting up, having a laugh and knowing this was where I was going to be for the next three years".

"It was a nice feeling."

University of Sunderland Students dancing on the crammed dancefloor of Manor Quay in 2006. A DJ is playing on the stage. A glittering silver disco ball is suspended from the ceiling. University of Sunderland
Dancing the night away in 2006

During Freshers in 2011, S Club 3 played at the packed venue, which had undergone a name change from Campus to North Shore.

Mrs Travis-Walker was the Students' Union entertainments and bar manager at the time and said that night was her favourite memory of the club.

"It was absolutely rammed. Everyone was dressed up and the atmosphere was just brilliant," she said.

"It really felt like a proper student club.

"But sadly those nights were few and far between as trends changed and people were staying in town."

Supplied Debbie Travis-Walker, in a blue hoodie, is smiling at the camera alongside four members of the band JLS. They have short hair cuts and are smiling. Supplied
JLS, pictured with Mrs Travis-Walker, performed at North Shore

The building has not been used for about nine years and the university recently applied to pull it down.

After demolition, the land would be "graded to seamlessly blend with the existing levels and will be grassed over", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

University of Sunderland Students dancing on the purple-lit floor of Campus in the late 2000s. An advert reading DRINKS 69p is projected on a screen at the back of the room. A logo reading CAMPUS is at the top of the stage to the right.University of Sunderland
The venue was also known as Campus before being renamed as North Shore

Mrs Travis-Waller, who is now based in South Shields, said the venue "naturally faded out" amid changing trends and the Covid pandemic.

"It could've been a lot more, but I just don't think the university or the student union had the funds to bring it to where it needed to be.

"It's a shame it's going but that's part and parcel of life."

LDRS North Shore as it currently looks. It is a brown-brick two-storey building with metallic grey signage spelling out north shore in lower case letters. Two cars are parked at the front.LDRS
The fate of the building will be decided later this year

A spokesman for the university said the venue had not been required by staff or students for nine years.

"There are no plans for a replacement building on the site at the present time," he added.

A final decision on the demolition is expected later this year.

Supplied A crowd of students raise their hands in the air during a performance at North Shore. There is a barrier in front of them and a security guard. The venue is lit-up in blue, purple and yellow.Supplied
North Shore used to be a thriving student hub

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