New_Zine: Inside Sunniside [Edition III]

Credit: Jonathan Minns

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.

So what does it offer? Sunniside is thriving, full of small, independent businesses. There’s taste and changemakers embedded in the community – whether going solo or collaborating, there’s ambition rooted in what they do. Mackie’s Corner is no exception to this new rule, and family-run Kirtley & Co. have remained firm on curating a lineup of tenants that exude quality, not only stacking up against the aspirations of the wider Sunderland regeneration, but also regionally.

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 delved 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.

Credit: Emily Birkett

New_Zine: Inside Sunniside [Edition III] was published in Oct_25. The limited run was distributed across North East England and could be picked up, for free, until copies ran out. The zine ventured into the world of Mackie’s Corner, with quotes from Alex Kirtley, Director of Kirtley & Co., alongside a signature sandwich recipe from Crave, a handpicked list of ten worldwide-sourced produce items in store at Fat Unicorn that we think should weave their way into your kitchen, and a meeting with mother-daughter duo behind Ashbrooke Home: Michaela and Matilda.

In addition to being in print, we are thrilled to present online excerpts from our chat with Pablo Eggs-Go-Bao, who brought their cult-beloved breakfast south of the River Tyne, and our headline interview with local hospitality powerhouse Sophie Wearmouth of The Sofia. And if that wasn’t enough, while doing our rounds, we also compiled our latest edition of New Playlist, featuring songs our participants have been listening to on repeat to create the ultimate soundtrack for Mackie’s Corner.

Credit: Jonathan Minns

Creative Direction: Emily Birkett | Wear Rising [Issue 1] | #InsideSunniside