Sunderland Pubs - I

Sunderland

Sunderland is a major city in the north east of England, but like many northern towns, Sunderland has lost much of its heavy industry, notably ship building (Sunderland was once the biggest ship building town in the world) and coal mining. Likewise, many of its old pubs have gone, but some gems remain.  These include The Dun Cow, The Saltgrass, The Museum Vaults, The Mountain Daisy, Fitzgerald’s, The King's Arms and the recently-refurbished Isis.

 

While Newcastle Brown Ale is recognized world-wide, for many years Sunderland was associated with Double Maxim Ale, brewed in the centre of the town by Vaux Breweries. This brewery was founded in 1837 by Cuthbert Vaux and during the following 160 years expanded as a successful family business with its roots in Sunderland.

Vaux advertising board in Sunderland, 1990

By the 1990s, the Vaux Group had expanded into hotels. Despite the brewing business being profitable and an offer to buy it having been received from management, in March 1999 the Board accepted the advice of the Corporate Financier, BT Alex. Brown, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, and decided to close breweries in Sunderland and Sheffield. The management buyout would have protected both breweries, the pub chain and the 3,200 associated jobs. Instead, an assessment based on shareholder value resulted in the unnecessary destruction of a profitable brewing dynasty going back 160 years. Vaux brewery, which was a major employee in Sunderland, was razed to the ground in 2003. The site is still unoccupied today. (Reference: Wikipedia).

In 2000 two former Vaux directors and the former head brewer together formed the Double Maxim Beer Company, buying the beer brands and recipes. They resurrected the Samson and Double Maxim beers.

 

The Vaux Dray in 1990. Once a common sight in Sunderland

Double Maxim

Maxim Ale was first brewed in 1901 to celebrate the return of the Maxim gun detachment from the Boer War. 'The Maxim' was the world's first self-powered automatic machine gun. Major Ernest Vaux (one of the original brewing family) commanded the detachment, which was part of the Northumberland Hussars. Initially, the beer was reduced in strength because landlords complained of their customers falling asleep. In 1938 Vaux Breweries increased the strength of the beer and Double Maxim was born.

 

 

 

The Museum Vaults, Silksworth Row, in 1990

 

 

The Museum Vaults in 1998. This pub was a beerhouse until 1978, when it became one of the last pubs in the town to be awarded a spirit licence.

 

 

 

The Brewery Tap, which adjoined Vaux brewery, in 1998. This pub was demolished a few years later along with the brewery.

 

The King's Arms, Deptford, in 2006

The Saltgrass in Deptford, Sunderland in 2006. This pub is a little out of the way, but well worth finding. A genuine pub with a real fire, well-kept beer and occasional live music.