If we’re honest, although we’ve made the best of it, sitting on a pub bench with a meal and a pint in a hailstorm is not the one, so the further easing of Covid restrictions, confirmed for 17 May, have come at just the right time.
We also can’t wait to welcome back some of our favourite restaurants, bars, venues and cultural spots that haven’t had the chance to get involved with the grand re-opening thus far, so with that in mind, we’ve put together a round-up of some of the Steel City’s finest that will be making their first appearance of 2021 next week. Be nice to them, will ya? It’s been a while.
Restaurants for indoor dining
Image: Marc Barker
That’s right, no more soggy chips, as all restaurants will be free to open their doors and welcome diners inside (with appropriate Covid measures in place, obvs) from 17 May. That means the return of fine dining experiences at Joro (19 May), No Name (2 June), and Luke’s Place (19 May), as well as the return of the ever-popular Cutlery Works food hall (17 May).
If it’s vegan cuisine you’re after, next week will also see the return of a couple of faves; V|OR|V (19 May) and Church (17 May). Elsewhere, Ecclesall Road’s Juke and Loe is all set for opening (20 May) and Birdhouse Tea re-opens after a tidy refurb next Wednesday (19 May).
There’s loads to go at here, and loads more that we haven’t mentioned, including all the venues that also have outside space preparing to get their inside in order. Special mention for True Loves, down by the quayside, who have been open for outside dining but haven’t had the chance to show off their shiny, new interiors.
Bars without outside spaces
Image: Marc Barker
Boozers without outside spaces have had to watch with envy over the last few weeks as their outdoorsy contemporaries flung open their beer gardens. Alas, patio heaters are old news next week, and we can get back inside some of the cosier boozers as the Dog and Partridge, The Red Deer, The Crow, The Raven, Porter Cottage and The Old Workshop return for drinking in.
London Road’s vegan pizza, dog friendly bar Pour is also back in action and the Public team return from their hiatus over at Picture house Social to sort some banging cocktails in the old bogs. Basically, you’ll find us at the bar next week, even if it’s roasting out.
Cinemas
As well as indoor hospitality, cinemas are back from 17 May and Sheffield’s Showroom Cinema has revealed its plans to re-open on Monday with an exciting range of films from around the world, including five Oscar winners.
The largest independent cinema in South Yorkshire returns with a stellar line-up including the winner of three Academy Awards Nomadland, winner for Best Sound Sound of Metal, The Father, which features Anthony Hopkins, who received the Best Actor award at the grand age of 83 and two enchanting family films Wolfwalkers, a charming tale of magic and Irish folklore and Earwig & the Witch, the latest film from Studio Ghibli, both screening during the May half term.
For more information or to buy tickets for Showroom Cinema’s opening programme visit: www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/cinema
Museums
Sheffield’s museums are back with a bang on Thursday 20 May, enticing visitors back with new exhibitions and displays, as well as free entry at all sites, including Kelham Island Museum and Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet.
The introduction of free entry at all sites follows the formation of Sheffield Museums, a new charitable trust established last month which brought together Museums Sheffield and Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust.
Read more here.
Theatres
Image courtesy of Craig Fleming
The long-awaited return of live theatre is also back next week and Sheffield’s much-loved venues The Crucible and Lyceum have all sorts going on for their return.
Following the successful staging of the snooker World Championships earlier this month, The Crucible re-opens with hotly-anticipated performances from The Together Season Festival, a programme of work from local artists, curated by a panel of artists, audience members and theatre representatives.
The Festival of thirteen works takes place from Monday 24 May – Saturday 5 June and will be closed by Sheffield’s former poet-laureate Otis Mensah.
Other new shows on the horizon include the brilliant Victoria Wood’s Talent at The Crucible. Whilst in the Lyceum they welcome Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tell Me on a Sunday! Groan-ups, Heathers and Looking Good Dead are also back on sale with new dates. All shows go on sale to members on Wed 5 May and are on general sale and are available here: https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/
