As summer winds down, Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ scene is gearing up for a packed September, bursting with cabaret, comedy, club nights and community. Whether you’re after a cosy café social, a sweaty dancefloor or a drag-fuelled extravaganza, there’s something to light up your month.
The calendar is threaded with regular fixtures that keep Sheffield’s queer scene buzzing. Dempseys remains a midweek institution, with Quiz Night (every Tue) bringing trivia, disco bingo and cheap drinks, while Iva Bollockoff hosts Karaoke (every Wed). For more karaoke, head to Maggie Mays for Emma Maezin’s Dragoke (every Thu) – a raucous blend of drag and singalong joy. For those seeking something gentler, Sheffield Mind hosts its weekly LGBTQ+ café, Rainbow Minds (every Wed) at the Wellbeing Centre, offering a safe, friendly space with activities, chats and the occasional pizza party.
Looking for a night out? Over at Gut Level, you can get your party kicks at Hard Ballet (Fri 5 Sep), where peoplelikeusdj serves semi-soft queer techno energy late into the night.
Creative souls get a midweek boost at the Craft Social (Wed 10 Sep) at Gut Level, run with Peak Queer Adventures – bring your art, mending and makes, or just drop in for inspiration and a natter. Gamers also have their space with Rainbow Gamers (Sun 28 Sep) at Treehouse Board Game Café, a relaxed monthly social packed with board games and plenty of laughs.
Over at the Bagshawe Arms, Slags and Drags bring their twist to a Back to School Special (Sat 6 Sep), full of games, prizes and a disco finale, while Dempseys doubles down with its own tongue-in-cheek School Disco (Wed 10 Sep). Gut Level continues with Cruise – LeatherDyke Bar Night (Thu 11 Sep), a dyke-centred pervy social with a soundtrack to match. They also host Shy One & Ashley Holmes (Sat 13 Sep), showcasing two NTS regulars and their expansive, genre-bending sounds. Meanwhile, the Malin Bridge Inn keeps spirits high with Sassy Saturday (13 & 20 Sep), led by DJ Brooke, who also takes the reins at Radio Romantic (Sat 20 Sep), an evening of 80s and 90s hits, ska, reggae and clubland classics.
Perhaps the most glittering night of the month arrives with Queers for Beers: The Ball (Fri 19 Sep) at Peddler Warehouse. Expect aerial acts, drag, ballroom culture, burlesque, stalls, games, exhibitions and DJs carrying the chaos into the early hours. A full-blown kiki of sweat, sparkle and Sheffield’s own ballroom flair – it promises to be unforgettable.
For drag lovers, Emma Maezin’s Drag Karaoke (Fri 12/Sat 20 Sep) pops up again at The Ball Inn, while the same Friday sees Globalls Bingo (Fri 12 Sep) land at Woodhouse Westend WMC – hosted by drag queens with a mix of neon, confetti showers, camp twists on bingo and some delightfully questionable prizes. A more intimate drag cabaret heads to Sidney & Matilda with This is Not a Side Show: eff-able (Thu 11 Sep), hosted by Tito Bone with Cryptid Queers and a host of performers celebrating the launch of the eff-able queer crip poetry anthology through cabaret, spoken word and sensuality.
Big names also grace the city’s stages. Miriam Margolyes (Mon 8 Sep) brings her wit, wisdom and no-holds-barred storytelling to Sheffield City Hall. Two days later, Myra Dubois (Wed 10 Sep) debuts her new show Cosmic Empath at The Foundry, continuing her reign of acid-tongued comedy and cosmic compassion. Later in the month, Stephen Bailey (Sun 21 Sep) returns to The Foundry with a new show packed with camp charm, gossip and his trademark brassy humour. Even Sheffield’s pub quizzes get a camp spin when Church hosts a special edition of the Pub Quiz (Sun 7 Sep) at Gut Level.
Alongside the glitter and chaos, September also makes space for community, care and reflection. Weston Park Museum is home to the Over 50s LGBTQ+ Group (Thu 11 Sep), a dementia- and neurodivergent-friendly meet-up offering peer support and connection. For those cautious about crowded gatherings, Breathe Easy (Mon 15 Sep) holds an event at Gut Level, providing a safer, covid-conscious way to access cultural and social activities. And rounding off the month in style, Diversity Fest (Sat 27 Sep) returns to Sharrow Community Forum. This free community arts festival celebrates inclusivity through music, dance, spoken word and art, bringing together people of all genders, sexualities, ethnicities, ages and abilities in a true statement of unity.
September proves once again that Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ scene is one of the most vibrant in the country – a patchwork of wild club nights, heartfelt community spaces, legendary performers and grassroots creativity. Whether you’re belting out karaoke, busting a move at Peddler Warehouse, soaking up queer cabaret or just sharing a cuppa at Rainbow Minds, there’s space for you here.
That’s your lot for this month – make sure to check out the latest event announcements at www.facebook.com/sheffieldlgbtevents.
Until next time, love and rainbows,
Heather x
