Sunniside, Sunderland facts for kids
Sunniside is a cool part of Sunderland, a city in North East England. It's located on the eastern side of the city centre. Think of it as a special neighbourhood that has been given a big makeover!
Sunniside has become a lively place for art, movies, tasty food, and fun activities. It's also known as an old part of Sunderland where many businesses, like lawyers' offices and real estate agents, used to be located.
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History of Sunniside
Sunniside first grew into an important area during the Victorian Era, which was a long time ago when Queen Victoria ruled. It was the main business hub of Sunderland.
When Sunderland was famous for building ships, many companies that helped with shipping, like insurance businesses, were based in Sunniside. Even countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, and Russia had their special offices (called consulates) there to help their citizens. The old Post Office building, which is now homes, is also in this historic area.
However, in the 1980s, Sunderland's economy changed, and many businesses left Sunniside. The area started to look a bit run-down. Because of this, in the late 1990s, the local council decided that Sunniside needed a big refresh!
Making Sunniside New Again
In 2003, a company called Sunderland Arc (which helps improve areas) came up with a 15-year plan to make Sunniside better. They worked with another group, One Northeast, and the city council to invest money and start making improvements.
The first big change happened in 2007. The old Sunniside Gardens were completely redone, looking fresh and modern with a cool new sculpture. The next year, new cafes and bars opened up. Plus, a brand new arts centre called "ThePlace" was built, costing £6 million! It's a big part of the area's new look.
Awards for Renewal
The projects to make Sunniside new again have won two national awards! In 2007, the area won an award from the Landscape Institute Awards for its beautiful new gardens. Then, in 2008, Sunniside won the North East Renaissance Award from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which is a big deal for property and land experts.
Filming in Sunniside
Sunniside is also home to a film company called Tanner Films Ltd., which started in 2008. This company is working on its first movie, a crime drama called "King of the North." It even got a huge £6 million deal at the famous Cannes film festival to help make the movie!
Fun Places to Visit
Thanks to all the new projects and investments, Sunniside now has many cool places to visit:
- Sunniside Gardens: A lovely park to relax in.
- ThePlace modern art centre: A great spot to see new and exciting art.
- Northern Gallery of Contemporary Art: Another fantastic gallery for modern art.
