The Dun Cow celebrates 125 years with week-long Sunderland programme
The Dun Cow in Sunderland celebrates its 125th anniversary with a week of heritage tours, live music, archive displays and storytelling.
One of Sunderland’s best-known pubs is marking a major milestone this October, with The Dun Cow celebrating 125 years with a full week of events.
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Running from Monday 12 to Sunday 18 October, the anniversary programme looks back at the history of the Grade II-listed building from 1901 to the present day, bringing together heritage, live music, pub quizzes, archive material and stories from generations of customers.
Behind the clock at The Dun Cow
At the heart of the celebrations are the first-ever Behind the Clock guided tours, taking visitors through the building from its cellar to the famous clock. Tickets cost £12 and include a pie and a pint.
Tours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday have already sold out, with additional dates added for Monday and Sunday. Tickets for the remaining tours can be booked through The Fire Station.
The Drawing Room will also become The Dun Cow History Archive throughout the week, displaying previously unseen photographs, press cuttings, posters and memorabilia. Entry is free with the purchase of a drink.
Live music, buskers and Sunderland history
Music forms part of the birthday programme too. Tuesday 13 October sees a special Birthday Buskers Night from 7pm, marking five years of musician Beccy Young hosting the pub’s regular buskers night. Performers are invited to take part, with two free pints available for players for the anniversary edition.
On Wednesday 14 October, Tony Gillan hosts a Sunderland Heritage Pub Quiz, with doors at 7pm and rounds covering the Sunderland Empire, local history, The Dun Cow and SAFC legends. Entry is free, although teams are encouraged to reserve a table at the bar.
Free acoustic music follows from 8pm on Friday 16 October with Beccy Young and Saturday 17 October with Will Swindle. A local tap takeover featuring Vaux, Maxim and North Pier will run alongside the performances.
The week concludes from 4.30pm on Sunday 18 October with 125 Years of Stories from The Dun Cow, an afternoon dedicated to memories of the people and moments that have made the pub part of Sunderland’s story.
“It’s a privilege to be a custodian of a pub that has such a long history and means so much to so many people.
“The Dun Cow was built in 1901, which makes it older than our neighbours the Sunderland Empire, the Queen Alexandra Bridge… Even Roker Pier wasn’t open to the public when we welcomed our first ever customer in 1901!
“It’s endured two World Wars, witnessed Sunderland lift the FA Cup and has been woven into the lives of so many people in Sunderland, past and present.”
Josh Fletcher, Bar Manager at The Dun Cow
Josh added: “We’re all really excited to raise a glass to our pub. The tours have already been incredibly popular, and I’m personally really looking forward to our storytelling afternoon, where we will invite customers to pull up a chair, enjoy listening to an afternoon of storytelling and history, and share their own memories and moments from the pub.”
The Dun Cow 125 celebrations at a glance
- Mon 12 – Sun 18 October: Behind the Clock guided pub tours – £12
- Mon 12 – Sun 18 October: The Dun Cow History Archive – free with purchase of a drink
- Tue 13 October, 7pm: Birthday Buskers Night – free
- Wed 14 October, doors 7pm: Sunderland Heritage Pub Quiz – free, booking required
- Fri 16 & Sat 17 October, 8pm: Free live acoustic music and local tap takeover
- Sun 18 October, 4.30pm: 125 Years of Stories from The Dun Cow – free
