The Inn Collection Group gets green light for Sunderland seafront inn

Sunderland City Council’s planning committee has approved an application from multi-award-winning hospitality and leisure specialist The Inn Collection Group, that clears the way for a ‘pub with rooms’ to go ahead on land at Seaburn.

The Seaburn development will be designed with 40 bedrooms across three floors, while a bar and eatery area will provide covers for diners all year round.

Sean Donkin, managing director of The Inn Collection Group, said: “We’re delighted to have the green light to move forward with plans for what will be a fantastic addition to the seaside in Sunderland on a prime coastal spot.

“The Inn Collection Group has a proven track record in delivering purpose-built inns operating on a model that provides value for money accommodation, quality beverages and home-made pub fare served all day, 365 days a year to local people and visitors.

“Seaburn will become a popular addition to our portfolio of pubs with rooms in the north’s best loved destinations including the Northumberland coast, Durham and the Lake District. We look forward to seeing it rise from the ground, with a view to opening our doors towards the end of 2020.”

The announcement follows a new strategic direction from The Inn Collection Group to develop a wholly freehold estate as it continues to roll out ‘buy and build’ growth plans which will see the group more than double its ten-strong portfolio of pubs with rooms by 2022.

The Alchemy-backed group, which was named Best Pub Employer of up to 500 employees in the national 2019 Publican Awards, will continue to seek out new development opportunities in the Lake District and Yorkshire as well as within its north east England heartland.

Its most recent new-build developments include The Commissioners Quay Inn, in Blyth and The Amble Inn in Amble, a £4m development which opened in January. The group is opening a new 30-bedroom pub with rooms, The Ambleside Inn in Ambleside, Cumbria, later this month.

Work is expected to begin on the Seaburn venue, which will include a play park for customers and a new eatery, before the end of the year.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “I’m delighted to see plans approved for another great development in the city.

“We have world-class beaches, and we need to ensure they are maximised with places for families to enjoy.  The new Seaburn inn will be somewhere that not only residents from the city can enjoy, but a place for visitors to stay and enjoy the sights of the city, with lovely views over to Seaburn seaside.”

The announcement follows news that more people than ever are visiting Sunderland, a six per cent year on year increase, with tourism spend also increasing by some five per cent compared with the year before.

The work is part of a £1.5bn city-wide investment programme, that will see the seaside, city centre and residential areas of Sunderland transformed through council-driven development projects.