A bustling artery of the city centre and an area that has been steadily growing for the best part of a decade now, a recent slew of exciting openings in 2019 makes it feel like Abbeydale Road is finally coming in to its own.
For years it has been served by stalwarts of the local food and drink scene – proudly independent businesses such as Bragazzis, The Broadfield and Picture House Social who, amongst others, have helped to turn a relatively neglected suburb into a popular place to live, work and socialise.
From retail to nightlife, cosy cafes to fine-dining, it’s a shining example of what can be achieved when independents come together as a community and offer a range of exciting options and experiences, bringing a unique identity to the mile-long stretch of road.
To celebrate a big year, we spoke to the people behind the new arrivals and established gems to find out why it’s one of the city’s most in-demand neighbourhoods…
TWO THIRDS
twothirdsbeer.co // 434-436 Abbeydale Rd, S7 1FQ
Good beer enthusiasts and old pals Ben Stubbs and Danny Clare recently joined forces with business partner Adam Inns to turn the old Steel City Cakes unit into a craft beer haven, providing 16 different rotating keg and cask options as well as a selection ales from Sheffield, Yorkshire and far beyond. We spoke to Ben about how they’ve found life in the Abbeydale neighbourhood so far…
What attracted you to the idea of opening a bar in the Abbeydale area?
It’s just such a great area that has the most amazing atmosphere and is full of genuinely lovely people! The sheer amount of independent bars, cafes, shops and restaurants is just incredible. Breakfast at Amici & Bici, lunch at Bragazzis, followed by a few pints at Dead Donkey and Barrowboy before dinner at The Teller – is there a better way to spend a day? You never need to leave! Also, my dad was born about 50 yards away, and my grandad was a drayman for Tetley’s in the 70s, delivering beer to all the local boozers on the road – so for me, I’ve got a personal connection to the area too.
How did you find the experience of transforming the previous unit into what it is today?
Brutal, to say the least! We originally came to view the unit in January last year, so it’s been a long old process! We picked the keys up at the start of October and it’s been all hands on deck since then – smashing walls down, laying the floors and fitting toilets – and I also never want to see a paint brush again in my life! We’ve all got day jobs too, and have never done anything like this before. I’m still not quite sure how we’ve managed to pull it off and open on time! We brought onboard the incredibly talented folks at Rocket Design who listened to our ideas and ramblings and have built the most amazing bar as well.
What is the main ethos at Two Thirds?
It’s a bit clichéd but all we wanted to do was to build a bar that we’d want to drink in. Somewhere you don’t get a warm glass, or a flat beer, or there’s nowhere to put your coat and, most importantly, somewhere that’s completely unpretentious, where everybody is welcome. I think being new to the industry has helped in a way too, as there are no preconceptions or bad habits that anybody has brought with them.
Why do you think the city’s beer scene is so strong at the moment?
We’re just bloody good at making stuff in Sheffield, aren’t we? Knives, forks, relish, beer, you name it! There’s so many incredible breweries in Sheffield, too many to name them all, but I think the relatively newer breweries such as SMOD, Lost Industry and Triple Point are all really pushing the boundaries in terms of flavours, which is helping complement an already thriving local beer scene. We’ve had some beer off Mark from Crosspool Ale Makers recently, a bloke who brews some amazing beers in his garage, all on his own – it’s really incredible stuff!
How have you found the first couple of months of trading?
Mental! It’s completely surpassed all our expectations! We’ve met so many lovely people too, and it’s been great to see so many familiar faces coming back in. Obviously, we’re all new to the game so I’m sure there’ll be some teething problems along the way, but so far we couldn’t have asked for it to go any better.
What would you like to bring to the area?
Something a little different, and something that complements the already incredible offering on Abbeydale Road. Barrowboy, Dead Donkey, Piccy House, The Broadfield – they’re all so good at what they do, so hopefully we can add to that and help people see Abbeydale Road as a destination for a night out, similar to how the likes of Kelham and Ecclesall Road are.
