Pop Recs Ltd

Ever wanted to browse vinyl record collections, admire paintings, drawings, sculptures from local artists and have one of the best cups of coffee in Sunderland all at the same time? Now you can. Pop Recs Ltd is an independent record shop, which also has an art gallery, shop, steaming cups of coffee and pizza!

Opening the third incarnation of the award-winning culture hub, at the bottom end of High Street West, has been a long, difficult road for the team who’ve faced the challenges of converting a Grade II-listed building, a pandemic and the death of much-loved director Dave Harper.

Way back in June 2013, Pop Recs was opened as a pop up record shop by Frankie & the Heartstrings in the old Tourist Information Office in Fawcett Street, but over the years snowballed into so much more; becoming a community and culture hub which brought big names to the city such as James Bay, The Charlatans and Franz Ferdinand, whilst also being a welcoming space for like-minded groups to meet.

The vision was always to have a large-scale permanent home for the multi-purpose Community Interest Company. That vision has now come to life spectacularly at High Street West, thanks to the drive of Pop Recs directors, building owners Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust and funding from National Lottery.

The buildings are also a gateway cornerstone of Sunderland’s Historic High Streets Heritage Action Zone, an ongoing revival scheme comprising grant funding from Sunderland City Council and Historic England.