retiredmartin

July 2024. Sunderland.

I know that many of you rely on this site for your holiday tips, so here’s your monthly hotel recommendation when next visiting Super Sunderland.

I’d picked the Boar’s Head because it’s “boutique”, perhaps in the meaning of the word used by “Woke” Ron Atkinson when asked about the role of women in football,

but mainly because it was a great base to complete my Tyne and Wear ticking for another season, towards the end of the eastern stretch of the High Street where the boats come in.

Plenty of safe(ish) parking along possibly the quietest stretch of High Street in the country, a road I’ve used when visiting the Stadium of Light before.

Top views along the Wear from the on-site Italian restaurant,

though the descent to the river deterred Mrs RM.

Steep climbs are part of the appeal, outside and in, and I’m warned about the steep stairs 3 times, which at least made sure we came home sober(ish).

The room was great (really), the Laurel and Hardy memorabilia intriguing, the only disappointment the recent closure (again) of the ancient Clarendon,

once home to this quaint microbrewery.

“Folk all go to Cheers across the road” said my chatty host at check-in. Somehow, I forgot to go in, despite the Holsten Pils sign over the door.

Anyway, let’s visit an actual new Sunderland GBG entry, shall we ?