(16 Aug 2015, 4:40 pm)aureolin wrote I ended up through there in the early hours again last night. It was actually busier around Park Lane than the Bigg Market was.
The rest of the City Centre is a dump mind. It seems that every other shop is boarded up - or is a Greggs. It's a shame like, because Park Lane itself looks really decent for bars. I keep meaning to try Port of Call, as I hadn't realised they'd demolished and rebuilt 'Chase', rather than just occupy it!
I think the crowds have moved away from the Bigg Market. Grey Street/Monument always seems to be chocker-block whenever I have to traverse Newcastle City Centre on either a Friday or Saturday night. It's all too trendy for me however.
I think my issue with Sunderland is how developers have left much of the city to rot. If I recall correctly, Fawcett Strett, John Street and High Street West used to be the main shopping areas, now everything has seemingly migrated into The Bridges, which, in my opinion, is like every other shopping mall I've been in. Buildings, I feel, help to give towns and cities character. If planners wish to retain some of that character they need look at how re-utilise existing buildings. If this is not possible (or not desirable), demolish them - don't let them become relics of another era.