Hairy Biker Si King on Sunderland's promotion and restaurant Propa

Si opened Propa at Sunderland's Sheepfold Stables in December 2024 and admitted that the experience 'hasn't been a learning curve, it's been vertical!'

In an interview with The Northern Echo, the motorbike-riding TV star opened up on the business, being a 'committed socialist' and the return of Sunderland to the Premier League.

We flog pies!

Propa sells traditional 'matchday' food with a gourmet twist, the chef was keen to tell people when the venture was announced back in autumn 2024.

"Places like this exist because the community comes," he said on Wednesday (June 18).

"We've been really well supported and that's key to the success of anything.

"We flog pies on a windswept hill in Sunderland, do you know what I mean? It's great!"

I'm a committed socialist.

Si said that the business runs on the mantra that everything has to be sourced locally. So the ingredients to all the meals (apart from the pulse which comes from Kent) are sourced from within a 50-mile radius of the venue.

"We flog pies" (Image: Sarah Caldecott) "We're creating a little micro economy - we have lads coming down from the allotments saying 'we've got 10 kilos of leeks for you' - so it's lovely.

"All the Propa team are fantastic.

"We invest in each other. We run it as a co-operative, so there's profit sharing.

"If you invest in the people you invest in the success of the business. If you hadn't noticed, I'm a bit of a committed socialist and I put my money where my mouth is. 

"I'm not ashamed to say it."

Si at the site of Propa in Sunderland. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

The club [Sunderland] are showing ambition

Set a stone's throw from the Stadium of Light, Sheepfolds has quickly become a staple for pre-match grub and Si was optimistic that the club's 'ambition' and promotion to the Premier League would only benefit the businesses there.

"Derby days are back and we're going to be serving folk from Chelsea - so we're going to be putting the prices up on that day!" he joked.

"It's great man, it's culturally important.

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(Image: Sarah Caldecott) "The lads give me some proper stick because we all know I'm a Maggie.

"And here we have a business in the shadow of the Stadium of Light, so it's good fun."

Propa is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm, and open until 7pm on Friday and Saturday.