Closed landmark North Shields pub gets new lease of life

It was a bitter blow for drinkers when a Tyneside riverside real ale pub closed its doors for the last time.

But now the listed Victorian building is to be given a new life after being bought by an expanding architectural practice.

Blake Hopkinson Architects are to turn the Porthole pub on New Quay at North Shields into their own headquarters.

The architects have been based at the nearby Fish Quay since the practice was set up eight years ago, but a surge in business has seen the 12-strong team outgrow its current office.

The pub, dating from 1897, was the work of Sunderland architects W&TR Milburn, who specialised in theatre design.

The Portholes balcony reflects that influence by resembling a theatre box.

Architect Darren Blake said: The Porthole building was owned by one of our clients and after the pub closed he was looking at other uses.

We were looking for offices and it suited both purposes.

We have expanded quite rapidly with seven major schemes this year but wanted to stay on the river.

The Porthole appealed because of its character and we have stripped away modern additions to get it back to its original features, said Darren, who was project architect for the Sage headquarters building on Newcastle Great Park.

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Closed landmark North Shields pub gets new lease of life