Our ultimate guide to getting festive –Sheff style!
Roll out the Belgian Blue
Something of a Sheffield winter institution, you know you can start counting down the days until Crimbo when Bradfield Brewery’s famous Farmers Belgian Blue arrives in the pubs. You’ll find it at plenty of self-respecting local boozers, but you can also pick up kegs and cases online at the below website.
bradfieldbrewery.com
Take a Stroll
Get wrapped up and take advantage of our proximity to the Peaks or find one of Sheffield’s many green spaces and woodlands to traverse. Ecclesall Woods is as close as you can get to Narnia after a dusting of snow, while following the Porter Brook up to Ringinglow can result in a well-earned fireside pint in The Norfolk Arms.
All I Want Thor Christmas
The super-snug viking tipi makes its return to the Peace Gardens this year, providing a perfect spot to warm the cockles with a hot chocolate or something stronger once you’ve finished Christmas shopping.
thorstipi.com
Have a Board Game Bonanza
Picking a decent board game is a key part of the Christmas festivities, and by paying a visit to Treehouse you can do much better than dusting off the old Monopoly set. There are over 300 games to choose from, staff to help out with rules/officiate any disputes, a fully-licensed bar and a menu of homemade food to peruse.
treehousesheffield.com
Deck the Hall
Situated in the River Wye valley, the Grade I-listed stately home Haddon Hall harks all the way back the 11th century. In recent years the house has been opened during December for candlelit tours, where visitors can learn about 900+ years of history and enjoy a tour around one of oldest stately homes in the country.
£29pp // Tour dates and times at haddonhall.co.uk
Image: Tom Kahler
Come Alpine With Me
The Sleigh Bar is dead, long live the Alpine Bar! There’s a new, updated Christmas-themed bar at the top of Fargate this year, bigger than before and with fancy new loos. Open from 10am-10pm every day up until Crimbo Eve, there’s a range of refreshments on offer from coffee and hot chocolate courtesy of Forge Coffee Roasters to toffee apple cider and craft beer. Mulled wine available too, obvs.
Singing Birds
Birdhouse Tea Bar and Kitchen on Sidney Street will be opening up their fairly-lit courtyard for some evening carols, brought to you by the Abbeydale Singers. Before the songs begin you can go to town with a special 5-course menu on offer beforehand or keep it simple with a mulled wine and a mince pie.
Adult: £10 for mulled wine, mince pie and carols // Child £6 for hot chocolate, gingerbread man and carols
5-course meal and carols: £40 adult // £20 Child
Visit the Secret Garden
Enjoy the winter chills at the Hallamshire House’s Xmas Secret Garden bash. Grab a pint of seasonal ale, kick back and scoff some street food courtesy of Freak Street Café (the momo dumplings are sensational).
Live DJs will be playing through ‘til 11am with a live set from ambient music maestro Professor Chill.
myhallamshire.com
Enjoy a Festive Theatre Treat
The York Royal Theatre’s production of The Elves and the Shoemakers will be showing at the Studio 5 Dec – 4 Jan. With live music, puppety and plenty of theatre magic, this adaptation of the Brothers Grimm classic promises fun for all the family.
£12 // sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Speak Up
Hosted by Kurious Arts, a Sheffield-based arts organisation promoting creative events in the north, there will be a Christmassy spoken word night at Kommune featuring sets from some of the city’s finest artists. Fancy sharing some of your own words, there are a number of spoken word slots available – email wisetalkpoetry@gmail.com to enquire.
£5 // kurious.art
