Varsity

Green Terrace

Part of the Barracuda Group’s chain of Varsity pubs. This venue mixes modern exposed brick and metalwork with traditional pub soft furnishings. An unusual design causes you to enter the venue on an open landing between two levels. The larger room is downstairs with an impressive L-shaped bar and ample seating booths. Upstairs has a high ceiling giving a very airy feel. An audio visual system provides a random selection of music.

Heather from silksworth   4th June 10
the music is fine ....... its the drink prices that are the problem!

Re stef   2nd June 10
I like varsity because the music is different and isnt like all the same bars. To be honest if it was the same I wouldnt walk all the way round to varsity from the main street - what would be the point.

Jon   1st June 10
Although I loved the house music the dj played here months ago on a saturday night I think the music is best the way it is from a business point of view. Thers loads of different ages gettin in here. Stick with the chart and cheese. We go out on a saturday night and some of the bar's music in sunderland is very plain and boring compared to here.

Stef   31st May 10
Dont know what the fuss is about, varsity plays everything. Me and the girls love coming here. x

Gareth RE: Matt   28th May 10
Ahhh the classical 'cant take some constructive debate' approach. Then get youre back up about people having a decent debate on a PUBLIC FORUM. Im simply discussing mate, I havent once slagged off or slated anyone. Quite the contrary. Simply making a point that its a nice venue and 'could' not 'must' adhere to less cheese. Once in a while... which the dj has come on and said he is trying to do.

And Sunderland is NOT ONLY a commercial crowd. If you knew your city so well you would know there is a HUGE indie scene, a fairly big rock scene, and a smaller electronic scene who put on events but go to bigger cities for events. PLUS your usual amount of PARTY/CHEESE crowds which every city/town has.

Shame this forum cant have more informed discussion rather than people like Commercial Matt getting his back up at the slightest viewpoint.

DJ Ian Re Gareth   27th May 10
I play various commercial music to all types of people in the bar. Its working. This bar is about people enjoying themselves. I play what people like and the good thing is ... they come back! I aim to keep an exciting atmosphere. Varsity will always be a pop/chart commercial bar. Please consider the people that come in - 18 - 60yrs. It is fair to say we are doing a lot better than some other bars in Sunderland. I would like to welcome you back and request your music as I try my best to keep everyone happy.

Matt re Gareth   25th May 10
The DJ obviously wants to play to people who are actually gonna get up and dance rather than the likes of you who wud rather sit there nitpicking at everything the DJ does, you think the DJs there just for you? Sunderland is a commercial crowd, people like you are the minority, your always gonna loose, Varsity is a chain pub which in turn makes it a commercial venue, it comes down to the 'if you dont like it dont go in' phrase, go somewhere else and nitpick eh

Gareth re Ian   25th May 10
Thats fair enough mate, its a big bar which has had crap music for years so its not easy to all of a sudden stop playing the cheese. I personally think what a lot of d'js and bar owners dont realise is... that it's not for the customers to pick the music and for the DJ to just be a jukebox. So how much you let yourself be governed by people who like cheese defines you and the bar you play in. Varsity is in a bit of a catch 22 because its nice enough to attract a really good crowd now, but it still plays massively commercial music and ends up putting off a lot of people also. Cant please everyone I guess. As long as the DJ plays as some decent tunes when he can get away with it, thats all you can ask i guess with the current set up.

Mick   21st May 10
Can you not play house music midweek then?

DJ Ian Re G   20th May 10
I play all of your list my friend. Its a simple case of playing to the crowd. Varsity (im sure you will appreciate) have various ages entering the bar, this can range from 18 - 50s. Particular music I play has to be played at certain times that accommodate the ages of the people inside at the time. Music varies in Varsity but always stays commercial. I am always cautious of the crowd and never play for myself. I try to meet everybodys request because Varsity are here to provide a service ... and that is to ensure you have an enjoyable night. Your list (below) contains commercial music therefore you can approach me and request your songs as my aim is to make sure that you will be happy to return! DJ Ian

G   20th May 10
Re Steph, prob is its the lasses who say "we just want to party and sing along to songs we know" who kick off and complain as soon as they hear a song they dont know. I dj'd at a 18th party once and would never do it again, its a very basic music mentality. Typical of people who claim to love music but 'hate' anything that isnt played by Chris Moyles or Galaxy. Im not for one second saying... play uber cool music because I totally agree, because of the state of the city centre more educated music fans stay well clear.

But what you can do.... DJ Ian or whoever... is play GOOD popular music not the dross you hear on day time radio 100 times a day. Totally racking my brains here but things everyone knows but is still good music. If you done that then Varsity would get alot more of other peoples money, rather than just the girls who since along to Britney.

• Groove Armada
• MJ
• Some Justin TImberlake
• Some JayZee
• Daft Punk
• Jocelyn Brown
• Estelle
• Basement Jax
• Amerie
• Alecia Keys

DJ Ian   18th May 10
Hi everyone - DJ for Varsity - thought Id introduce myself after all this time. Experienced in 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000 - Pres, Pop, Dance, Indie, House, Funky House, Progressive House, Hip House & RnB
2007 - Present - Varsity @ Sunderland
2005 - 2007 Aruba - Middlesborough
2003 - 2005 Tenerife - Linekers, Ministry Of Sound, Jumpin Jacks, Sky Park & Bar 1 (Also working along side DJ Judge Jules at foam night @ The Castle)
2003 - 2003 Tokyo Project - Oldham
2001 - 2003 Chicago Rock - Middlesborough, Lincoln, Chester Le Street, Bury & Wakefield. (Luminar Lesiure/Eminence)
2000 - 2001 Magaluf
Hope you are all enjoying Varsity!

re Steph   15th May 10
Typical low brow Sunderland mentality. A bar starts trying to a little diverse in their music policy and people complain and demand what they "expect" to hear...Just because a bar has a live DJ on, does'nt mean that they are your personal jukebox. No the wonder this city centre is rubbish in comparison to somewhere like Newcastle when it comes to bars/venues. Because eventually all bar owners/management here cave into it and alienate their clientele. The bars that work are the ones that STICK to their music policy, whatever that may be...

Re Re Steph   14th May 10
Its not naff music and im sure a lot of people will agree. What happened to having fun when going out. It seems like people like to put people down just for going to a particular bar and having fun. Smiles, laughter and singing to music that you actually know are all of the ingrediants to a good night!

Re Steph   13th May 10
And alot of other "normal" people like a litttle more class than lasses dancing round poles to naff music. lol. Bet you bought Cheryl Coles album and love Boyzone hahahaha

Steph   12th May 10
Been going in here for yrs still say dj is best pop party dj (whatevea you call it) in sunderland. This is what normal people like me go in for. We hear something on the radio we expect to here it on the weekend. I hate this house stuff that nobody knows, sounds all the same. Me and the girls will always go here. It wud be nice if we had a pole we could dance around. x

Charlie   28th April 10
I like the stuff they play in ere. pop and stuff like that! x