City venue aims to be ‘most COVID-compliant’

Sunderland music venue and club Independent will officially reopen tonight following lockdown.

The Holmeside venue will welcome back customers from 10.30pm to 4am, following months of closure during the coronavirus lockdown.

Owner Ben Wall said he wants Independent to be the ‘most COVID-19 compliant’ venue in the city and has introduced a number of safety measures.

“Our aim is to be the most COVID-19 compliant venue as well as some where that people want to come and stay,” he said.

"We are quite confident that we have complied with everything that we need to when we reopen.

"But if we need to shut down we will shut down, public health is more important.”

It comes after Sunderland City Council urged Sunderland business owners and pub goers to act responsibly following a number of COVID-19 cases linked to venues across the city.

Council bosses warned business owners to make sure they have social distancing, hand washing and cleaning regimes in place as well as complying with test and trace requirements so that customers can be contacted if there is an outbreak.

Independent – which will also be open tomorrow – has confirmed it will be following Government safety guidelines.

It is reducing its capacity from 610 to 100 and the dance floor has been converted in to a large seating area, with new booths, tables and chairs spaced out. There will be table service in place.

The venue is not taking bookings but will be managing the queue outside and providing updates on queue numbers via Facebook.

Independent in Holmeside, Sunderland, reopens tonight.