(10 Jun 2014, 11:29 am)Dan First time I've used the new road. Not sure how long it has been open when heading towards Hylton Rd as I tend to get the Metro and avoid the traffic these days.

(16 Jun 2014, 10:23 am)cbma06 Frankie & Benny’s to open at £35million leisure development

A RESTAURANT has signed up for a slice of a £35million leisure development.


Italian American chain Frankie and Benny’s has signed up as a tenant at Murton’s Dalton Park.

It will move into a unit under the soon-to-be-built seven-screen Cineworld cinema.

There is also space for two more restaurants.

They will join supermarket Morrisons and fast-food chicken firm KFC on phase two of the site, as well as a pub.

A company is in talks to run the pub, but the park’s developers have not revealed who.

Bowmer and Kirkland Construction will start work on the site later this year.

It is expected to take a year to complete and bring in 400 jobs.

Meanwhile, Knight Frank, which manages the shopping outlet, has been working on bringing in new brands to the mall.

Pro-Cook and Suit Direct have recently opened and Beauty Outlet is due to launch on Saturday.

Elsewhere in Dalton Park, Tog 24 has expanded and Hallmark is set to move to a bigger unit.

In light of the plans for phase two of the park, Starbucks and Adidas have renewed their leases and Sports Direct and Thornton’s have had shop front revamps.

Jerry Hatch, general manager of Outlets for Knight Frank at the centre, said: “Our confirmed operators to date are leaders in their sectors and set the standard for phase two developments.

“We’re on track to significantly enhance the retail offer and service visitors both locally and regionally.

“We’re also delighted that up to 400 jobs will be created as a result.”




http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/frankie-benny-s-to-open-at-35million-leisure-development-1-6674647

(16 Jun 2014, 10:44 am)Dan Muffin Break are also opening a restaurant in The Bridges, so I discovered on my job hunt.

(16 Jun 2014, 10:23 am)cbma06 Frankie & Benny’s to open at £35million leisure development

A RESTAURANT has signed up for a slice of a £35million leisure development.


Italian American chain Frankie and Benny’s has signed up as a tenant at Murton’s Dalton Park.

It will move into a unit under the soon-to-be-built seven-screen Cineworld cinema.

There is also space for two more restaurants.

They will join supermarket Morrisons and fast-food chicken firm KFC on phase two of the site, as well as a pub.

A company is in talks to run the pub, but the park’s developers have not revealed who.

Bowmer and Kirkland Construction will start work on the site later this year.

It is expected to take a year to complete and bring in 400 jobs.

Meanwhile, Knight Frank, which manages the shopping outlet, has been working on bringing in new brands to the mall.

Pro-Cook and Suit Direct have recently opened and Beauty Outlet is due to launch on Saturday.

Elsewhere in Dalton Park, Tog 24 has expanded and Hallmark is set to move to a bigger unit.

In light of the plans for phase two of the park, Starbucks and Adidas have renewed their leases and Sports Direct and Thornton’s have had shop front revamps.

Jerry Hatch, general manager of Outlets for Knight Frank at the centre, said: “Our confirmed operators to date are leaders in their sectors and set the standard for phase two developments.

“We’re on track to significantly enhance the retail offer and service visitors both locally and regionally.

“We’re also delighted that up to 400 jobs will be created as a result.”




http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/frankie-benny-s-to-open-at-35million-leisure-development-1-6674647

(24 Jun 2014, 9:18 am)Michael New owners for Sunderland’s The Bridges shopping centre in £152million deal.

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/business/new-owners-for-sunderland-s-the-bridges-shopping-centre-in-152million-deal-1-6690800


Wonder if we will finally get the extension to where the old leisure centre used to be!

let's hope they can attract good stores to, wouldn't mind a G-star, Levi's or House of Fraser in the bridges, saves me going to the Metrocentre.

(24 Jun 2014, 7:49 pm)AIG20 Sunderland certainly isn't as bad as South Shields Town Centre.

(05 Jul 2014, 1:30 pm)AIG20 I wonder how the buses, especially stagecoach buses, will cope with this!!! The only to solutions are to divert via the Queen Alexandra Bridge and Pallion New Road; or to withdraw the evening services while this happens - which is unlikely.

(05 Jul 2014, 1:44 pm)Andreos Constantopolous Do you think it is worth having a shuttle bus or two?
Traffic will be heavy - so to assist with timings and to avoid too many delays on cross-river services, services could be terminated either side of the bridge at Wheatsheaf and Fawcett/John St.
The shuttle buses could link both sides of the river, connecting with the short running services.

(05 Jul 2014, 1:44 pm)Andreos Constantopolous Do you think it is worth having a shuttle bus or two?
Traffic will be heavy - so to assist with timings and to avoid too many delays on cross-river services, services could be terminated either side of the bridge at Wheatsheaf and Fawcett/John St.
The shuttle buses could link both sides of the river, connecting with the short running services.

(05 Jul 2014, 2:44 pm)Dan I'm not sure about this one.

It'd keep the passengers who aren't travelling to town happy, but I imagine they'd be a bit peeved if they had to get off their bus which they caught into town (if travelling across the river), wait for a shuttle bus (what would the frequency be for this shuttle bus - in total there's about 50-60 buses per hour at Monkwearmouth?), get on the shuttle bus and wait in traffic, get off again and then wait for the bus they were on before to continue their journey.