FAQs

The Fire Station is a vibrant, mid-scale performance venue in the heart of Sunderland – housing a brand new the state-of-the-art Auditorium and The Engine Room bar & bistro. Whether you’re an indie rock champion, adventurous jazzer, theatre devotee, comedy enthusiast or just after a great night out, our programme is packed with entertainment from music and comedy to dance and theatre. 

It is a hub for performance in the centre of the city. With studios, rehearsal spaces and teaching rooms upstairs – home to Northern Academy of Music Education and Live Theatre, we’re inviting you to give it a go for yourself as well as nurturing the next generation of performers. 

The Fire Station is in Sunderland City Centre, within the cultural quarter. You can find out everything you need to know about how to get to us on our Plan Your Visit page.

All our events are listed on our What’s On page. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find out the latest news about our events programme.  

The Fire Station is wheelchair accessible with lift access to all levels. If you wish to book a wheelchair seat for one of our events, visit our Ticket Office or call them on 0191 5700 007 – opening hours can be found here.

Email: info@thefirestation.org.uk
Telephone: 0191 5700 007

You can find all the information you need to book tickets on our Booking Tickets page

Only tickets purchased from our ticket office, website or our approved agents are valid for admission. For some shows tickets may be available through the following websites:

• See Tickets
• Dice
• Ticketweb
• Ticketmaster

Don’t pay more than the face value (plus standard fees) for our tickets! Doing so means you have bought tickets from an unofficial channel which will not allow you entry. Tickets purchase from us are for personal use only – reselling a ticket or tickets for profit or commercial gain makes it void and the ticketholder will be refused entry. 

Performance start times and length will vary from show to show. Please check the event description for details. Timing may be subject to change – should this happen after booking, all ticket holders will be notified as soon as possible 

If the performance has started, our staff will let you in during a suitable break. To avoid missing any of the performance, please ensure you arrive on time. 

There is no parking at The Fire Station itself, but there are plenty of options nearby in Sunderland City Centre. Find out more about nearby parking on our Plan Your Visit page. 

Yes, there are a limited number of bike racks located to the front of the building.

There are several hotels within walking distance.

Card and contactless payments are available.

Yes, The Fire Station is available for hire for private events. Find out more and get in touch via our Hire page.

Following the change to the UK’s national threat level The Fire Station will be implementing enhanced security procedures:

• Bag searches may be in operation on entry to The Fire Station Auditorium.
• We will NOT be offering a cloakroom service
• No Alcohol purchased outside the venue will be permitted
• Dangerous items will not be permitted.
• Large bags (bigger than a handbag) will not be permitted.
• We respectfully ask that all visitors minimize luggage brought to the building where possible, as this will help us to keep things running smoothly. Large bags can be booked into the Premier Inn, Sunderland (3 minutes’ walk) stasher.com
• Please note that refusal to allow a bag search will result in non-entry to the venue.

In the interests of minimising disturbance of artists and other audience members, we do not permit photography (including using mobile phones or other handheld devices), video or any other means of recording or transmitting within the Auditorium. Please also ensure mobile phones are switched off during the performance. The only exception to this is if audiences are expressly encouraged to take photographs by the artist during the performance. 

Only food and beverage purchased at The Fire Station can be brought into the auditorium. There will opportunities to get refreshments from one of our bars before, during and after a performance.

We do not allow items that could be considered as dangerous into The Fire Station. This can include (but is not exclusive to) knives, sticks / batons, heavy or sharp items, glass, laser pointers, chemicals, aerosols, sports bats, or clubs. If found during security checks these items will be confiscated.  

Full details of how we store and use your personal data when you book a ticket with us can be found on our Privacy Policy (link in footer).

Not currently – however, as a new venue we are very excited to offer these in future and will post more information when we have it