The Steps

From Two Into One : A Brief History of The Steps, Washington

The Steps pub in Washington Village has an interesting back story to tell. Located on Spout Lane just north of The Village Green, it was originally called The Spout Lane and half the size it is now. The next premises but one was a pub called The Miner’s Rest. Both date from 1894

The above shows the former pub, The Miners Rest at the end of the terrace. On the extreme right is the Spout Lane Pub. Image from raggyspelk.co.uk

Spout Lane (the road) originally ran continuously north up to New Washington, now called Concord, after Washington was designated a New Town in 1964. Six years later a dual carriageway (The Sunderland Highway) was built that dissected Spout Lane permanently, making the Village end a cul-de-sac. This resulted in the demolition of the Miners Rest pub.

Above – The Spout Lane pub before it’s renaming. Image from raggyspelk.co.uk

The Spout Lane pub was renamed The Steps in 1986 and extended into next door in 1991. Its former owners included Scottish & Newcastle and Sir John Fitzgerald. It is now a non tied Greene King house. Up to five handpulls offer changing real ales. The Steps is a regular in The Good Beer Guide . The pub is in Sunderland City Council’s Washington Village Conservation Area. There are two other pubs nearby in the CA, The Cross Keys and The Washington Arms. They can be found looking out on the Village Green and are older than The Steps (dating from 1820’s). At the time of writing both sell real ale. All three have character that sits well with the conservation area.

Above is The Steps now, showing the space where the Miners Rest used to be. Note the roof height difference above the entrance peak, which can also be seen in the black and white image at the top of the page.

References : –

Memories of Washington Co Durham :- Raggyspelk.co.uk

Washington Village Conservation Area – https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/media/2694/Washington-Village-Character-Appraisal-Adopted-as-Planning-Guidance-in-January-2009/pdf/Washington_Planning_Guidance_LQF.pdf?m=637878722554470000

A historic look at the pubs of Washington and area north of the River Wear. – Book by Ron Lawson

CAMRA Whatpub :- Whatpub.com