Hairy Biker Si King to open Sunderland restaurant

Hairy Bikers star Si King is to launch a restaurant at the Sheepsfold Stables development next to the Stadium of Light football ground in Sunderland.

The TV chef is one half of the team behind Propa!, which will offer hearty British comfort food such as pies, sausage casseroles, brisket puddings and breakfasts such as egg and bacon stottie.

Work on the site has begun and the restaurant is expected to open by the end of the year or early 2025.

Propa! Will be a joint venture between King and Richard Marsden, managing director of Building Design Northern (BDN) Ltd, the developer of Sheepfolds Stables.

King said: “This will be a totally new yet complimentary offering for Sheepfolds Stables and one that we’re confident will go down very well with all who visit. 

“We’re taking people back down memory lane, becoming a custodian of nostalgic food, including for those going to the football where a pie and a pint before the game was, and still is, a must (even with a beef tea – Bovril). 

“Some of the dishes we’re putting on the menu go back generations and are somewhat native to Sunderland and the North East area, so we’re really excited to get started.”

Sheepsfold Stables dates to 1884 and relaunched in August 2024 following a £4m development. It has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors in its first three months.

Propa! Is the latest new venture for the development, which is looking for further operators to work with.

There are plans to pair the restaurant menu with local ales for a ‘pie and a pint’ offering, including King’s own range, Hairy Bikers IPA, which is available from Sheepsfold Stables.

Marsden said: “We’re ideally located next to the Stadium of Light, and seeing thousands of football fans coming here before and after games, or to watch the match on the big screen, so it’s the perfect combination.”

King’s Hairy Bikers co-star Dave Myers died earlier this year after being diagnosed with cancer.