Three years after its inception, due in part to a pandemic-interrupted build, a former bus shelter and public toilet in Whirlow Brook Park has finally been given a new lease of life as a cosy café in the park’s leafy surrounds.
Named The Shelter, in homage to its former incarnation as a bus stop shelter, the previously derelict building has undergone a huge face lift, with the addition of a new roof, indoor seating housed in three renovated shipping containers, and two outdoor seating areas, creating a hidden gem in the picturesque park.
The family-run café opened just eight-weeks ago with help from Sheffield City Council’s Better Park’s initiative and has already proved hugely popular with locals and walkers.
“The vision was to create a community space that will complement the park and provide a space for people of all ages and backgrounds to come along and enjoy a brew amongst the beautiful greenery.” says co-owner and former recruiter Chloe Rose, who runs the café along with her step dad.
“We’ve had some really great feedback so far. People have told us this is exactly what the park needed and what people wanted. Somewhere they can bring their dogs, meet up with friends and enjoy really great food.
“This park isn’t as well-known as some other Sheffield parks, which a real shame because it’s beautiful. We’re just trying to get people to travel to us because we know what we’re offering is really great, we just need people to come and see for themselves.”
Chloe with the cafe’s official mascot, her baby boy
The family-run cafe provides a menu of locally sourced produce, as well as coffee and cakes, from 9am to 4pm, seven-days-a-week. The menu has been put together by former Wildcard chef Mikey Freeman, whose family owned famous Sheffield institution, Yankees.
“It’s more than just a café, it’s more like a restaurant with a café, because the quality of the food is so good.” Says Chloe, “Mikey is a really experienced chef – he’s been doing it for 15 – 20 years and we already liked and knew of his food and he’s created the entire menu.”
The menu includes everything from traditional full English breakfasts and breakfast sandwiches, as well as brunch-y classics, hearty soups, light lunches and tapas-inspired dishes like Prawn Pil Pil.
They also plan to add thee course Sunday lunches and the venue will soon be available to hire out, including the skills of head chef, Mikey, for private events and celebrations.
After a long journey getting here, Chloe is feeling positive about the new venture. She told Exposed: “I feel a lot better than what I did a couple weeks ago. It was a big build up and I did feel a lot of pressure to get it right.
“We had to keep telling ourselves there would be a bit of trial and error, and it’s not possible to please everyone, but every week we’re doing something else right and it feels good. Wer’ve got really great staff and it’s a really exciting time.”
The dog-freindly cafe can be found in Whirlow Brook Park, opening from from 9am to 4pm, seven-days-a-week. For more info, head over to their socials here and check back with Exposed for more new openings in Sheffield.
