Sunniside campaign looks to boost historic quarter

SUNDERLAND is showcasing its transforming historic quarter, in a bid to support businesses as they recover from the global pandemic.

Sunderland City Council is shining the spotlight on Sunniside, with a new brand campaign designed to bring more people, businesses and spending power into the heart of the city.

The campaign will highlight the historic quarter - taking in Sunniside Gardens' surrounding streets of John Street, Athenaeum Street, St Thomas Street, Foyle Street, Fawcett Street and Frederick Street - as a great place to work, play and celebrate.  It has been developed by Sunderland based agency Cowell & George, working in partnership with Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID) and backed by the council, to bring to life the offer in the area through a series of stylish new adverts and a video campaign.

Featuring a range of experiences on offer in Sunniside, from shopping to bowling and the cinema to workspaces, it is hoped the campaign will stimulate interest in the quarter, which has become a magnet for independent traders in recent months thanks to the rebirth of Mackie's Corner, which stands on the northern corner of Sunniside Quarter. 

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "Sunniside is a stunning historic quarter and has a growing independent scene that means it has much to offer visitors. 

"We're keen to harness the momentum-build in Sunniside to encourage more people to visit the city centre and bring with them the spending power to bolster the fantastic businesses that call the area home.  This stunning campaign really does showcase the breadth of places we have to offer in Sunniside, and I'm sure it will deliver a boost to the businesses based in this lovely part of Sunderland."

The campaign has been welcomed by Sunderland BID, who have helped shape the look and feel of the creative design and direction.

Sharon Appleby, chief executive, said: "Sunniside is an exciting part of the city centre offer and one that offers an increased variety of places to enjoy for leisure and indeed places to work too. 

"This campaign brings together the whole of the area's offer, and will help to showcase a beautiful part of the city with a contemporary new identity for the quarter, and refreshing adverts and content that show Sunniside in a new light.  We're looking forward to see this rolled out to support the brilliant businesses in the heart of the city."

Stephen Hope, Practice Principal at St. James's Place Wealth Management, based in Frederick Street, said: "We were really pleased to be asked to be involved in the campaign.

"Sunniside has a lovely community of businesses, and it's great to see what there is to offer being showcased so well."

Neil Hamed from Sunderland Bowl added: "We're proud to be part of Sunniside, and to see it showcased so well in this new campaign.  We're seeing the city spring back to life after the pandemic, and campaigns like this one help to drive more people back the area, something we're enormously grateful for."

To find out more, visit sunnisidequarter.uk or check out Sunniside Quarter on Facebook and Instagram.