In the heart of Sheffield’s Creative Industries Quarter, surrounded by the Hallam campus and some of the city’s best independents, a former substation has been given a new lease of life as Watt Bar, lighting up Sheffield with coffee, cocktails and Creole comfort food.
There’s something reassuring about walking into a new venue and finding it bustling with life.
On an early Thursday evening, Watt Bar is full of people perched with pints, the cocktails are flowing, and the bright yellow, industrial-leaning interior feels vibrant and inviting.
It already feels like part of the furniture, settling into this stretch of the city centre seamlessly – and maybe that’s because it’s been such a long road to get here.
“Andy [Grice – Watt Bar’s owner] applied for the building back in 2018, got it in 2019, started some work on it, and then Covid hit and stopped it completely,” explains bar manager Adam Webster. “It’s been a long time, but we’ve finally got it up and running this year.”
Long before Andy and the team became involved, the building was a substation powering Sheffield’s tram lines, and its current occupants have leaned fully into that heritage.
“The name itself comes from a play on wattage and we’re going for an electrical theme,” explains Adam. “You can see it running through all the details of the bar.”
The bold colour palette, subtle schematics and moth-to-light logo all play on that theme.
Just as important as the look is how it functions. By day, Watt Bar has paid close attention to its coffee offering, with a house blend created in collaboration with Cafeology, designed to hold its own among strong local competition.
“We’ve got our own blend, 50/50 Brazilian and Kenyan. It’s not too sweet, not too strong, and it goes great in an espresso martini.”
By night, it shifts gears. The cocktail menu mixes classics with a handful of signatures – The Power Cut, The Circuit and The Midnight Switch – all tying back to the venue’s identity.
Then there’s the food, which feels like a genuine point of difference. Partnering with Goobers, the kitchen leans into Creole flavours, with a breakfast and brunch menu, subs, burgers and small plates.
“It’s Southern fried, New Orleans-style food, which is not really something you see in Sheffield.” Says Adam.
The loaded fries topped with vegan duck are convincingly rich and textured – so much so that a quick double-check was needed after the first bite. Elsewhere, the catfish is flaky, tender and well-seasoned, while the pineapple salsa served alongside the pork belly cuts cleanly through the richness. The steak sub does exactly what you want it to do, packed with flavour and finished with a properly indulgent, cheesy sauce.
It all feeds into a wider aim – to create a space that works for everyone.
“We want to make sure it’s a venue that everyone can come to,” Adam says. “Live events, quiz nights, the World Cup is coming up – pretty much everything you can think of really.”
That means DJs, comedy, quizzes and, soon, screens for live sport. It also means something arguably more important – filling a gap in this part of the city.
“I think it’s been missing something like this around here. Somewhere everyone can come for a drink, come for a party, come for an event.”
Judging by the early crowds, that idea is already resonating.
“It’s been great so far. People are still discovering us, but it’s getting busier and busier.”
After eight years of stops and starts, Watt Bar feels like it’s arrived fully formed – and is well worth going slightly off the beaten track for a coffee, cocktail or bite to eat. But don’t just take our word for it – go and check them out on Charles Street.
