SDN Sheffield 2014 – Local information
About Sheffield: “Steel City” and “City of the Great Outdoors”
plus local info on good places to eat and drink!
Steel City heritage
Sheffield is famous for its steel and metalwork, and in particular for its cutlery manufacturing
industry, which developed in the nineteenth century during the Industrial Revolution. The fantastic
city-centre Millennium Galleries (free, just a short walk from the station) have a permanent gallery
dedicated to Metalwork which includes some fantastic examples of silver and steel cutlery and
decorative objects made in the city over the centuries: http://www.museumssheffield.org.uk/museums/millennium-gallery/home.
The galleries also house a permanent collection of the Victorian writer John Ruskin, which are an
absolute gem to visit.
Right next door (accessed via the Winter Gardens) is the City’s free visual arts gallery, which houses
a fantastic collection of nineteenth-century paintings (including works by Cézanne, Burne-Jones, &
Turner), The Graves Gallery http://www.museums-sheffield.org.uk/museums/graves-gallery/home
SDN Sheffield 2014 – Local information
The Great Outdoors
Compared to most other European cities, Sheffield has more public parks and green spaces, more
tree cover, and also boasts the Peak National Park within its city boundary. If you get a chance, visit
the Botanical Gardens, just down the road from Halifax Hall. http://www.sbg.org.uk/index.asp (free,
and with a nice little cafe for coffees, cakes and lunches).
If you’re looking for a decent walk that doesn’t involve a car, go for a stroll along the Porter Brook
and Porter Valley which starts just down the road from Halifax Hall in Endcliffe Park
(http://goo.gl/maps/ouL1V). From here you can technically walk all the way out into the Peak
District National Park! Boots or wellies are advisable if it has been raining, although the first part of
the walk is on proper paths.
If you are coming by car, Sheffield is right on the doorstep of the fantastic Peak District National
Park, with real jewels including Stanage Edge http://www.stanageedge.co.uk/, the Blue John Cavern
http://www.bluejohn-cavern.co.uk/ and related cave systems in Castleton, the picture-postcard
village of Bakewell, and the famous Chatsworth House http://www.chatsworth.org/ (the seat of the
Duke of Devonshire, also used for filming scenes in Pride & Prejudice, The Duchess, and The Wolf
Man). The house re-opens from 17 March 2014, but the nearby award-winning farmshop is open all
year round.
Making the most of its open spaces, the Tour de France 2014 will be coming right through Sheffield
on Sunday 6th July 2014!
SDN Sheffield 2014 – Local information
Where to eat & drink
Sheffield is often called the craft brewing capital of Britain. If you’re interested in sampling the local
ales, look out for these breweries / beers:
Abbeydale brewery – Sheffield-based craft brewer since 1956. Look out for their most famous beers
Deception (a pale, hoppy beer with grapefruit bitter finish) and Moonshine (a straw-coloured bitter).
Website: http://www.abbeydalebrewery.co.uk/
Kelham Island brewery – A city-centre brewery, just a short walk from the University main campus
in an post-industrial part of Sheffield. Look out for Easy Rider (an amber pale ale)
Website: http://www.kelhambrewery.co.uk/
Bradfield brewery – look out in particular for the famous Farmer’s Blonde (very pale ale with citrus
and summer fruit aromas), and the more traditional Farmer’s Bitter (copper-coloured malt ale using
the English hops). If you have a car, you can visit the Brewery (shop open 10am-4pm Mon-Sat) which
is nestled in an old farm in the gorgeous village of Bradfield, just 7 miles / 20 mins drive from the city
centre.
Website: http://www.bradfieldbrewery.co.uk/
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/OZjTB
Thornbridge brewery – based in Bakewell, in the Peak District, it sells a lot of its beers in South
Yorkshire (and indeed owns some of the best local eateries / pubs). Well-known brews are the Wild
Swan (a white gold pale ale, refreshing and herby, featured recently on BBC’s Food and Drink
programme), Wild Raven (a Black IPA with bitter chocolate aromas), and Jaipur (a citrusy IPA)
Website: http://www.thornbridgebrewery.co.uk/
Local pubs – all within 5-10mins walk of Halifax Hall or The Rutland Hotel
The Ranmoor Inn
The quintessential English pub, with fantastic local
Yorkshire/Sheffield beers. In essence, a quiet
(usually!) gentleman’s pub with roaring fires and
traditional decor. Dogs welcome (but children
not). Does snacks and pork pies, but not main
meals.
Website: http://www.ranmoorinnsheffield.co.uk/
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/KKBky
The York
An elegant gastropub just up the road from the
Rutland Hotel, with wide selection of Guest Ales
(including some local ales), and a huge array of
types of gin, whisky etc. Does good pub food (fish
& chips, burgers, etc.). Sometimes reservations are
needed on a busy evening.
Website: http://www.theyorksheffield.co.uk/
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/QDCvb
SDN Sheffield 2014 – Local information
Graze Inn
One of the Thornbridge brewery pubs which also
does good-quality (locally-sourced) British food. A
bit more of a walk than some of the others, but
worth it for the hustle and bustle of the quirky
Ecclesall Road with its independent shops.
Website:
http://www.grazeinn.co.uk/welcome.html
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/ZrHmm
Restaurants
Thyme Cafe
Lovely artisan restaurant-cafe, with busy bustling
feel, just a short walk up from the Rutland Hotel
(and next door to The York). Serves Thornbridge
ales, alongside a reasonable wine menu too. N.B.
No reservations – first-come, first-served.
Website: http://www.thymecafe.co.uk/home.html
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/mF9xU
Lokanta Meze Bar
Welcoming Turkish restaurant, just a short walk up
from the Rutland Hotel.
Website: http://www.lokanta.co.uk/
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Y2d0J
El Toro tapas
Informal cafe-style Spanish eatery.
Website: http://www.el-toro-sheffield.co.uk/
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/IkwlH
Out-of-town Pubs / Eateries for which you’d need a car or taxi ride
The Cricket Inn
A typical English country pub – this one is a
Thornbridge brewery pub, which also does
fantastic British food (portions are big!),
set just on the edge of the city boundaries
right next to country fields, and looking out
over the local cricket pitch.
Website: www.cricketinn.co.uk
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Qh881
SDN Sheffield 2014 – Local information