New Angles: The Sofia

It’s almost impossible to write an introduction for the powerhouse that is Sophie Wearmouth, because her list of achievements is endless. With her partner, Joe Collins, the two head up a fair chunk of the independent hospitality scene in Sunderland. If you don’t know their names, you will have dined in at least one of their businesses without a doubt. From the coffee-serving Little Shop to the pizza-slinging Wild Fire and the burger-flipping Nobody, Sophie recently went solo, setting up her own standalone eatery, The Sofia at Sunniside’s Mackie’s Corner.

As part of Inside Sunniside [Edition III], we interviewed Sophie about misconceptions of Sunderland, the importance of having a strong network in business, especially as a woman, navigating the challenges of going solo, and the origins of her love for hospitality.

Introduction

Let’s go back to the beginning – take us through your childhood and early career, through the lens of hospitality? My love of hospitality came first, before my love of food. Growing up, my mam and dad weren’t big ‘foodies’ - a sand dancer from South Shields, a chippy tea from Colmans was a real treat – and it still is today! My parents both worked incredibly hard to support my two brothers and me, and I owe my work ethic to them. If you know me, you’ll know I rarely stop. 

I got my first job in hospitality at 18, and I have worked in a variety of restaurants from large operations like The Ramore in Northern Ireland to fine dining at Salt Water Fish Company in Fenwick. At university, I was studying law, but it became apparent during my time at Northumbria that I did not want to pursue a career in that industry, and I had no idea what I wanted to do. One of my best friends started working at Holmeside Coffee, where I met Joe, and the rest is history! 

Credit: Cal Cowie [Little Shop]

Credit: The Sofia

Credit: Emily Birkett

Work

What have you learnt from running multiple businesses with Joe? Albeit from each other, or from growing brands from scratch? I have learnt so much since opening The Sofia. I thought running Little Shop would prepare me for having my own business, but I was wrong. Opening something on your own without an official business partner is hard! There’s no denying it. I have learnt to ask for help when I need it – a trait which is very new to me. I have been burnt out, meaning lots of tears have been shed over the past year. The lads at Wild Fire have been such a huge help; I can’t thank Joe and Josh [Wild] enough for supporting me, as well as the chefs who help me prep or offer tips on dishes. It really takes a village!

What do you love about your now-chosen industry? I have always loved providing good service to people. We love going out for food ourselves, and the service can really affect your experience. I also love how fast-paced it can be, even though that means some really stressful moments, particularly when I’m working solo in the kitchen on a Saturday. But it's all part of the fun.

What made you choose Mackie’s Corner in Sunniside as the home for your business? Alex and Toni [Kirtley & Co.] are the landlords for Wild Fire. Joe and Josh spoke really highly of them and suggested I message about a potential space. The timing was perfect for the unit we have today. I was thrilled because I truly wanted to be part of a community. I hate the idea of being in a head-to-head competition and dragging other businesses down. There is enough room at the table for everyone, and I think it’s important to support others.

What made you take the leap and go entirely solo with The Sofia? We got asked all the time to open a sit-in coffee shop whilst I was working at Little Shop. I knew there weren’t many brunch options available at the time of opening, and I saw a gap. I was probably a bit naive, but I honestly thought, ‘Of course, I’ll be able to do it by myself.’ I think representation as a woman business owner is also important. I’m incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to take the plunge, and I make sure to support as many women as I can in the industry.

Walk us through your key considerations when devising the concept of The Sofia? I was overwhelmed at the beginning with menu curation and didn't know where to start. I approached Sonal, who owns Freska and Nouri, about helping me with a menu. She absolutely smashed it. It’s changed and evolved since first opening, but genuinely, I would not be here without her help. She's a star!

Another incredible woman who helped me with the brand, design and concept was Michelle Pegg. She’s the co-owner of Curate and has done some really impressive work with companies such as The Ivy Collection. She helped me with the name, put together multiple brand concepts and is just so incredibly kind. I had a scrambled idea of what I wanted, and somehow she made sense of it all and hit the nail on the head. 

What did you hope The Sofia could be for the area? I wanted The Sofia to be a place where everyone is welcome, for a coffee, wine, or brunch. I wanted it to feel more like a restaurant than a coffee shop, where service is super important. The food scene in Sunderland is continually improving, and the support we’ve seen from the people in recent years has been incredible. The demand is definitely there, and I’m excited to see how it progresses. 

What is one misconception about Sunderland that, being a native, you can counteract? Sunderland always gets such a bad wrap! You mention that you live in Sunderland, and there is always a snide remark. However, it is getting so much better. There is more of a reason to stay within the city rather than travelling to Newcastle. We have great pubs, restaurants, and the nightlife is improving. The development so far has been huge, and I’m sure it’s only going to get better!

Credit: The Sofia

Credit: Kate Borrill [Little Shop]

Credit: Little Shop

Home 

How has working in hospitality influenced where you dine out? We [Sophie and Joe] are quite particular about where we spend our time; we don’t have much time together or are often unable to go out for food, so we choose carefully. I’ve mentioned them already, but we have been going to Colmans Seafood Temple loads recently! They are open on our days off, and the food is incredible! Richard and the team do a fantastic job. 

As the owner of The Sofia, what are some of your tips for hosting? As you can imagine, I love hosting! Whether it be at The Sofia, home or being a personal chef for my best friends when we go away. It’s definitely my love language. I often find that prep-heavy tasks are perfect, so you’re not away from your guests for too long – something you can hold hot, like a pasta sauce. Feeding them with a couple of glasses of wine whilst they wait also doesn’t go amiss!

After a long day, what do you love to cook at home? A long day means I’ve worked at The Sofia, then Wild Fire, so usually it’s beans on toast with some cheese on at 10 o’clock. But if we have time on a Monday and Tuesday, we’ve been indulging in a Roman pasta dish recently called Amatriciana. Which is an Italian pasta sauce made with tomatoes, guanciale, pecorino cheese, and chilli – we’ve made it quite a few times recently!

Personal

You started Little Shop Run Club, and at The Sofia have been collaborating with Parc Life Runners and Training Club. What does running mean to you? The development of running clubs in the city had been so important! They’ve sprung up everywhere, and I’m here for it. This year, we joined the Sunderland Strollers in January for their beginner-to-10 K sessions. When it ends, you’ll be in the best position to run the Sunderland City Runs 10K, which we completed! I can't recommend it enough for those who want to get back into running or are total beginners. 

I adored our Little Shop Run Club – we ran a 5K every Sunday. Life got in the way, unfortunately, but I love seeing the other running clubs, and if I had time, I would be there with bells on. 

Running has become super important to my mental health. I can get overwhelmed and in a bad mood, but a quick 5K can turn my day around. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to make more time for the things I enjoy. So I’ve managed to complete my first 10K, the Great North Run, and in April I’m doing the Manchester Marathon.

How do you spend your free time? I have very little of it, so I will also choose to spend it with friends, family and Joe. I’m very lucky that I have a super close group of friends, and we always make an effort to see each other! I feel grateful to have so many supportive girls around me.

And what are you listening to at the moment? Like most people at the moment, Oliva Dean has me in an absolute chokehold, but I’ve been an OG supporter since 2020. I adore her music, and listening to it makes me feel like I’m in a '90s romcom. The version of ‘Rein Me In’ she released with Sam Fender has been one of my go-to songs of 2025! I’m also a huge Sam Fender fan, even though I’m a Mackem! Absolutely love seeing someone from the North-East be so successful, and I hope that he keeps smashing it!

This journal entry was a part of New Zine: Inside Sunniside [Edition III], published in Oct_25.

Headed up by commercial property landlords, Kirtley & Co., Mackie’s Corner isn’t just your regular development. Located on the cusp of the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Sunniside and the main thoroughfare of the city centre, the Grade II-listed building stands tall and steeped in history. It welcomes locals and entices tourists to what the east, and often overlooked, side of Sunderland has to offer. New Journo were commissioned by Sunniside to curate and edit the latest edition of #InsideSunniside, a local zine series celebrating the area, creating a sense of place and highlighting it as a distinct destination. Through our lens, we delve into the world of the people and business owners, on the ground in Mackie’s Corner, who contribute to the area’s fabric daily – from match days and lunch breaks to evenings and weekends. Sunderland is on the up, and Mackie’s Corner is setting the standard.