The project follows this shift in landscape and values, from the intense, dangerous labour of coke production to the bright promise of consumerism. “It’s my vision of Hell, that - and yet I loved working in the coke works,” one former worker recalled. For some, the closure marked the end of a way of life. “When it actually happens, it’s a hell of a shock… this was my last haven, my last resort.” In contrast, the Metro Centre rose quickly, driven by deregulation, major investment from the Church Commissioners, and a local vision of enterprise culture that found its voice in property developer John Hall.

Coke to Coke presents this moment not just as an economic shift, but as a social and cultural turning point. Fryer’s photographs capture the contrast in atmosphere between the two sites; one rooted in endurance and solidarity, the other in aspiration and consumption. The result is a thoughtful and locally grounded reflection on what is gained and lost in the transformation of the post-industrial North.

Peter Fryer is a British documentary photographer based in the North East of England, whose work has focused on the everyday lives of working-class communities since the early 1980s. Rooted in long-form social observation, his photographs reflect a commitment to place, capturing stories of youth, labour, identity and belonging across towns and cities in the region.

Fryer’s approach is defined by trust, attention and respect for the people and places he photographs. His work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally and is held in a number of public and private collections. Consistently grounded in the documentary tradition, Fryer’s photography builds a nuanced and quietly powerful record of social change in the North of England.