Less than a year after pulling its first pint, The Canary has been named Best Micropub at the Exposed Awards 2026. With strong competition across the city, it’s an impressive accolade for any independent venue, but even more so for one sitting on the fringes of Sheffield as part of a growing neighbourhood development in Waverley.
For bar manager Niall, hearing the bar’s name read out on the night was a genuine surprise, particularly given the strength of the competition.
“There were some really well-established names in the category, so it was almost a bit intimidating being up against them,” he says. “When they actually announced us onstage, it made me realise how hard we’ve worked since opening.”
Since collecting the award, he says the bar has welcomed an increasing number of visitors from across Sheffield and the wider region, many of whom are discovering both The Canary and Olive Lane for the first time. The development, which was still very much in its infancy when Exposed last visited in winter, now boasts several new food and drink venues alongside other amenities, with just one unit left to fill.
Opposite the bar sits small plates restaurant Mono Malo, which opened earlier this year alongside brunch and cocktails spot Serve. Next door, Indian restaurant Karobar completes a small but perfectly formed day-to-evening crawl, with the independent businesses working together through shared offers and collaborations that encourage visitors to explore.
“We all support and help each other out – if you want this type of development to work, you have to,” says Niall. “There’s a great feel around the place now it has filled up, and there’s now things on offer whether you’re wanting breakfast and coffees or an evening meal and cocktails.”
Back to bar itself, and he explains that at the heart of is a simple philosophy. Awards, rotating beer lists and putting on interesting events all matter, but service comes first.
“I think micropubs are big on atmosphere and friendliness. Because you’re a bit smaller, the welcome people receive is even more important. The community here have really taken to us and are happy we’re here for them, and the staff are also happy to come in and work here. We’ve laid some important roots down here in Waverley.”
The Canary may focus solely on drinks, but that doesn’t mean visitors are short of food options. Regular street food traders bring everything from artisan pizzas and stacked burgers to the hugely popular Yamas Greek slinging out gyros wraps.
Outside, the spacious suntrap terrace has become one of the area’s most popular places to spend a warm afternoon, while inside there’s always something happening. Bring Your Own Vinyl evenings have built a loyal following, DJ nights regularly fill the room and the events calendar has quickly become one of their biggest selling points. Acoustic sessions, tap takeovers, whisky tastings, magic shows and bustling summer street festivals have all taken place over the past month alone.
That sense of momentum is only set to continue over the summer. The World Cup games have been popular on their big screen inside, a cocktail menu refresh is on the way and plans are in the offing for an 80s and 90s-themed celebration inspired by Stranger Things, complete with retro arcade machines. Families will be able to enjoy the games during the day before the venue shifts into a more nostalgic evening atmosphere for adults.
Winning the Best Micropub accolade may have brought wider recognition and increased footfall, but there’s little sense of a venue resting on laurels. Niall is already talking about returning to defend the title next year, while continuing to build both the pub’s offering and the community around it.
And anyone who’s yet to venture down to Olive Lane, his message is fairly straightforward.
“Just come over and try it out. From Sheffield city centre, you can be here within 15 minutes in a cab. It’s a buzzy place and you might just find your next favourite bar – so surely that’s worth the short trip out?”
We fully concur.
