Classy new cocktail bar reflects the new Kelham Island

The former home of Kelham Island Brewery’s offices and retail shop, on Alma Street, has been transformed into a sophisticated new cocktail bar offering a range of classic cocktails and pizzas delivered from nearby Craft and Dough.

Dirty Mirror officially opens this weekend, just in time for Tramlines weekend, after a successful soft launch last weekend.

Photo credit: Alexandria French

As well as the cocktails, the bar will also serve up a selection of beers and wines and will offer a 90-minute bottomless brunch, including prosecco and cocktails, and pizzas.

The building has been purchased by Dirty Mirror’s co-owner Danny Skidmore, and the bar will occupy the first floor, with work underway to change the two ground floor units into a hair and beauty salon, and a Vegas-style wedding experience.

Dirty Mirror co-owner Danny Skidmore: Photo credit: Alexandria French

Building surveyor Danny has bought the building from The Fat Cat owner and former Kelham Island Brewery owner, Ed Wickett, who just so happens to be Danny’s best friend from school.

Life-long Sheffield resident Danny has teamed up with another friend and cocktail slinging supremo, Mark Wright, who you might recognise from his time at the Summer House, to bring their very own cocktail concept to Kelham Island.

Dirty Mirror co-owner Mark Wright: Photo credit: Alexandria French

Danny told Exposed: “Mark will be the bar manager and is really experienced with cocktails. You might recognise him from working for the Summer House and Bank House, he’s the one covered in tattoos! He’s really good at what he does.

“We’ve tried to create a speakeasy-type vibe. We want it to look classy, and that’s why we’ve gone for this theme with the dark wood, but also keeping its industrial heritage, with the exposed brickwork. There’s also a modern, quirky feature with the mirrored wall, which obviously ties into the name.

Photo credit: Alexandria French

“Music-wise, it’ll be a chilled out house vibe, so nothing too intense.

“We want it to be a destination place. Somewhere you can sit all afternoon. We’re not going for craft ales and trying to compete with the likes of the The Fat Cat. It’s something different for this area, that hopefully compliments it.”

Photo credit: Alexandria French

The cocktail list features all the classics you would expect, but they will also have a specials board, including seasonal tipples and events-themed cocktails, and Danny tells us they will be able to cater for all tastes if there’s something not on the list that you’ve got a hankering for.

“We’ve put our all into it.” says Danny, “We want to make it work. It’s a moveable feast at the moment, and things might be tweaked as it goes, but we’re committed to making it work.

Photo credit: Alexandria French

“It’s exciting, but also nerve-racking. The feedback we’ve had from people over the weekend has all been positive so far, so that’s all good. We can’t wait to get open over Tramlines – it’s such a big weekend for the city.”

Dirty Mirror opens this Thursday 20 July. Opening hours will be Thursday 4 – 10pm, Friday 4 – 12am, Saturday 12pm – 12am, and Sunday 12 – 10pm. For more deets go give them a nudge on Insta.