Two of Crookes’s most-loved indie businesses have come together to launch a brand-new, first-of-its-kind venture on School Road. Named Proof Bar, the bookshop bar is the latest addition to Sheffield’s thriving small business scene, bringing a unique ‘drink and browse’ experience to book lovers in the area.
Novel Books and Cloud Coffee Co have been at the heart of Crookes’s community since they opened. Their new collaborative project brings the owners’ dreams of creating a relaxed bar space to life within an already-familiar culture of supportive locals.
The premises of Novel’s bookshop on School Road, which closed in January, has now been reopened as a cosy, transformed new space.
“I have been really interested in seeing how neighbourhood spaces have grown in other cities, and recognising how great the community is in Crookes,” Connor from Cloud Coffee tells Exposed. “I think it makes sense to try and create a great neighbourhood bar space in such a beautiful building!”
Proof’s drink range includes a wide range of German and other European lagers alongside a carefully selected lineup of UK craft beers from the owners’ favourite breweries. Their selection also boasts a small range of wine by the glass and takeout bottles, as well as fresh coffee.
As for food, a variety of savoury and sweet bakes are on offer from Meersbrook favourites I Said Bread and Daughters deli, as well as classic bar snacks.
If you’ve not caught it yet, the bar’s name is a double entendre on the bar-meets-bookshop concept, referring to both book proofs checked for errors before printing and alcoholic ‘proof’, a measure of a drink’s alcohol content.
Originally set up as a travelling bookshop in 2022 by owners Kate and Joe, Novel’s literary collection combines bestselling contemporary fiction and non-fiction titles with their own hand-picked favourites.
They have run countless book clubs and events alongside other indie booksellers in Sheffield, and their community-led approach means much of their collection consists of books recommended directly by customers.
“It will be Novel, but it’ll be slightly different,” explains Kate. “There is still the exposed brick, the creaky wooden floor and, of course, the books! Just expect more fridges – and booze!”
Cloud Coffee Co are no strangers to bringing an after-hours experience to a daytime hangout. They regularly team up with other local coffee roasters, wine vendors and brewers alongside DJs and creatives, hosting everything from hands-on craft workshops to music-filled coffee tasting sessions. Their famous Gilet Sundays offer 10% off coffees to customers wearing a gilet (or vest, waistcoat or sleeveless jacket) on Sundays, purely for the daftness of the bit.
“I think we are noticing a shift towards a slightly more casual drinking style, and the ability to offer that in the bookshop setting feels really cool,” says Connor. “It would be great to see people buy a book and grab a beer or a glass of wine and sit to read the first few pages of their new novel!”
Proof bar is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 midday to 10.30pm. To stay tuned with all the latest updates, check out @proofsheffield. on Instagram.
