England’s fourth largest city prospered because of its steel industry. Although
Sheffield suffered industrial decline in the 1980s, the city now produces more
steel than ever before (up to 500,000 tons a year), although at a fraction of the
cost and with a reduced workforce. As well as cutlery, Sheffield also produces
confectionery and is home to the Basset factory where the Jelly Baby was born.
It’s also where Liquorice Allsorts are made. Apparently the assortment of sweets
came about by accident in 1842 when a salesman knocked over a tray of samples.
Sheffield is also home to the most advanced urban tramway system in the country,
boasts the most visited shopping mall in Europe, Meadowhall, and houses the National
Centre for Popular Music.
GREAT TRAMSWhy all these facts? To fill space. When it comes to the city’s gay life, there isn’t that much to write home about. Nevertheless the scene is getting much better all the time, but it suffers a bit from it's relative closeness to Manchester, where those who want to party hard head to. Sheffield itself tends to attract visitors from places that have non-existent scenes, such as Chesterfield and Rotherham.What little there is, is scattered about. Bar Miles in Furnival Gate is really popular and offers a lively mix of funky choons, drag DJs, regular discos and great atmosphere. On alternate Wednesday's there's g-stringed boys behind the bar plus cabaret and guest DJ nights. Dempsey's in Hereford Street is the only gay bar in the city centre with a late licence. It attracts a lively mixed crowd and has a small dancefloor and chill-out areas. A fun place to go. Cossack's a 50 year old stalwart of the Sheffield scene has closed. HOMOSEXUAL HAMLET | |
| Attercliffe Rd is one of the main arteries out of the city and houses a smattering of gay venues - not so much a gay village, more a homosexual hamlet. Here you’ll find the Manhattan Dance Bar. With a Hollywood film theme going on, the decors as tacky as the music. Expect Steps ad nauseam. Open pub hours. Ma Baker's in Carlisle Street is also thriving at the moment. Biggest opening over the past few months is Club Xes in nearby Carlisle Street. Alan and Angel who ran the old Bar-Celona and Planet clubs have now opened up a new combined bar and nightclub right in the city centre. It's currently the most popular full-time gay club in the city and boasts a Basement Bar and two floors of clubbing fun. Club Xes features strippers, tv, sports kit and bear nights too. Check out their website for the latest info. |
Lewis - a regular in the cage on Saturdays
at Club Xes.
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The Norfolk Arms, also in Carlisle Street, is home to Club Lucas. Don’t
be fooled by the pub’s façade, while it may look traditional from the outside,
inside you’ll encounter dry ice and chrome cages. Licensed till 1am at weekends,
this mostly male space prides itself on being a Steps exclusion zone. Up until
recently, the upstairs bar was a SM space. It’s now a wine bar (as opposed to a whine bar).
The club becomes a bit of bear pit on the first Friday of every month; and holds
TV nights on the second and fourth Friday of each month. Holds regular strip shows.
Friendly staff and cheap beer.
Until recently Poptastic brought a taste of the rest
of the gay UK to Sheffield with their Saturday night at the National Centre for Popular Music.
It's not on at the moment, but Poptastic say they'll be back later on in the year. Keep an eye on their
website.
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