A popular North East city centre café has sadly announced it will be closing its doors this week due to its building being scheduled for demolition.

The Keel Lounge on High Street West in Sunderland confirmed the news late last night (September 8) on social media, stating they will be closing up for good on September 14.

The business says this is due to the fact their building has been scheduled to be demolished as plans to develop the street were withdrawn and then revised.

Earlier this year, the city council bought a string of properties to support plans to ‘regenerate and revitalise’ the area as part of a Central Business District connecting the transforming former Vaux site with the ‘retail core’ of the city centre. 

However, days after the application was received and validated by the council’s planning department it was withdrawn by the applicant according to the latest reports in July.

New plans were then drawn up and given the green light in August which included the cafe's building.

A statement from The Keel Lounge on social media reads: "We’re very sad to be sharing that our building is part of the regeneration plan and will therefore be demolished in the coming weeks.

"Our last day will be this Saturday, September 14th.

"We’d like to thank you all so much for the support you’ve shown us and happy memories made over the years.

"It’s been a pleasure getting to know you all and hope you can pop in and see us this week as we say goodbye to Keel Lounge."

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Devastated customers have flooded the comments sharing memories of "the best café in Sunderland", saying the move is "shocking".

The former M&S building in High Street West has also been tipped for demolition in future according to the city council, however, no formal demolition application has appeared on the council’s planning portal website to date.

The M&S building is the property of Sunderland City Council, but M&S holds the lease until March 2027 and is responsible for the building until then.