Kelham Island Museum is now re-open to the public and welcoming visitors after almost five months of closure.
On Monday 10th August visitors enjoyed discovering the museum again, exploring the sights and sounds of industrial Sheffield, walking down the cobbles of Little Mesters Lane and marvelling at the River Don Engine, the most powerful steam engine in Europe.
New measures have been put in place to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and visitors and to keep the museum a COVID secure space. The museum has also received Visit Britain’s ‘We’re Good to Go’ certification, recognising it as a COVID-19 secure attraction. These measures include:
- A new one-way route around the museum to ensure visitors don’t miss a thing.
- Visitors can now pre-book tickets online.
- Hand sanitising facilities are available at various points throughout the museum.
- New and frequent cleaning schedules throughout the day.
- Visitors over 11 must wear a face covering, if they are able.
- Supporting the NHS Test and Trace programme.
- New signage offering clear social distancing guidelines.
- Screens at the admission and shop area.
- Promoting contactless card payments.
- Refurbished toilets.
- The River Don Engine can be viewed but will not be ‘in steam’ and the Melting Shop soft play area will stay closed.
Throughout August and September, visitors can now visit the museum 6 days a week during reduced opening hours of 11am-3pm Monday to Thursday and 11am-4pm at weekends. The museum is closed Fridays. Adult admission has been reduced to £5 for adults and children (age 0-16) remain free of charge.
Fiona Elliott, Interim Director, said, “It is great that we have been able to re-open, especially in time for the school summer holidays. I know many families have been struggling to find things to do with their children and we look forward to welcoming back our visitors, of all ages.”
The onsite Island Café+Bar and Millowners Arms traditional pub are both open daily, offering a range of food and drink and a huge outdoor socially distanced beer garden with table service. Both have registered for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme so visitors on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday can get a discount of up to 50% on food and soft drinks, with a maximum of £10 per person.
Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust, the charity who operate Kelham Island Museum, also manage Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and Shepherd Wheel Workshop. These sites will remain closed for now.
Further information for visitors to Kelham Island Museum can be found at
http://www.simt.co.uk/welcome-back
