The wonderfully ornate Dun Cow sits at the heart of Sunderland’s busy cultural quarter. This beautiful grade two listed ‘Edwardian gin palace’ was designed in 1901 for Robert Deuchars, Brewers of Edinburgh, by the somewhat eccentric architect, Benjamin F Simpson, and has a remarkable exterior that features decorative creatures including a cow, lizard, cat and frog. However, the pub’s crowning glory, externally at least, is its copper domed tower, with its two clocks facing the distinct and complementing crown of the Sunderland Empire, both towering twin landmarks of the city for over a century.

 Even more remarkable is what awaits the visitor inside. When you enter the Dun Cow you take a step back in time. Listed in the National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors, the bar of this extraordinary Edwardian gem of a building has etched panels, bevelled mirrors, fine plasterwork and grand fireplaces.

Chosen as the National Winner in the 2015 Pub Design Awards and described as having ‘one of the most stunning bar-backs in Britain – a splendid traceried Indo-Gothic web, blowing out to form platforms on which bottles can be displayed’, the Dun Cow is the perfect example of everything that is best about the traditional British public house. The original dark wood and stained-glass panelling, hand-carved Edwardian backbar and the open fires and deep red banquette seats in both the main bar and secluded snug epitomise Britain’s most loved hospitality setting.

This exceptional building, coupled with Pub Culture’s quality product range and warm hospitality, deliver the ultimate British public house experience in the heart of Sunderland.