HUNDREDS of rockers gathered for a reunion to remember their favourite night spot.

More than 400 alternative music lovers rolled back the years on Saturday night to celebrate good times at Newcastle's Sutherland Arms pub.

The Blackfriars Road venue – which closed in 2003 before being destroyed in a fire three years later – was famed for its music nights which saw a range of genres from punk to ska pumping from its speakers.

The weekend reunion, 'Suth 2 – Revenge of The Suth' – which saw former customers and staff head to Queens in Basford – was organised by former DJ Lorraine Bird.

The 41-year-old, of Clayton, who works as a civil servant, said: "I started going to the Suth as a customer when I was in my twenties.

"The Saturday nights there were always really busy but the Fridays were not. I told the landlord I could do a better job DJ-ing on a Friday and so she let me do it."

After taking control of the decks, Lorraine drew hundreds to the venue. And once again she has persuaded the pub's band of rockers to turn out.

She added: "We sold all 450 tickets and I think we could have sold that number again. So many people have been messaging me asking about it."

For Lorraine, the pub will always have a special place in her heart after she met her fiance, Glyn Jones there.

Glyn DJ-ed at the pub as Dr Bone for 20 years up until in closed in 2003.

The 47-year-old painter and decorator said: "We started drinking in there as we knew it was a bit of a rocker pub where the Star Bikers would also meet.

"It was a great place to DJ at and we used to get about 400 people in there which was its capacity."

Glyn dusted off his records on Saturday for a return behind the decks.

He added: "I didn't think people would be interested in the reunion when Lorraine mentioned it but the response has been incredible."

Historians say the Sutherland Arms dated to 1881 and was rebuilt around 1938. Prior to the fire in 2006 it had stood vacant for three years.

Callie Chadwick, aged 33, worked behind the bar at the Sutherland from 1999 until 2003.

The teacher, of Hartshill, said: "I first started going in when I was a student at Keele University. It was just a really friendly place to go to and you could wear whatever you wanted.

"I had a great time working behind the bar and have many happy memories. There was never any trouble."

Flick Rackstraw was a customer at the Sutherland before it closed down.

The 34-year-old from Alsagers Bank, said: "It was a place we could go to and just spend all night dancing."

Following the popularity of Saturday's event, organiser Lorraine has hinted another reunion could be on the cards.