Exposed Magazine June 2024

HAPPy DRINKS!

available until 6.00pm, SUNDay TO FRIDAY

Treat yourself to a delicious cocktail or two!

CHOOSE FROM OVER 20 COCKTAILS TAGGED WITH THE 'CUBANA STAR' IN OUR DRINKS MENU FOR ONLY £7.00! PLUS...

>> House Spirit Double £7.00

>> Selected bottled beers £3.50 - Corona and Super Bock

>> Selected house wines £4.25 per glass or £18.50 per bottle. Choose from Pinot Grigio White, Pinot Grigio Rosé or Montepulciano Red

>> Prosecco - £22.50 per bottle

>> Sangria or Sangria Blanca £22.50 per jug

**DOWNSTAIRS BAR EXTENDED HAPPY OFFER**

We have extended all of the above Happy Drinks offers for a further two hours, until 8pm, Monday to Friday in the downstairs bar **only available in the downstairs bar

available until 6.00pm, SUNDay TO FRIDAY

Call in and chill out at the end of a hard day, unwind and soak up our relaxed Latino vibe whilst enjoying our ‘Happy Tapas’ deals.

2 tapas dishes for £12.95 £5.00 off ANY Of our tapas set menus –– OR ––

Fantastic value when you dine early. APPLIES TO ALL TABLES SEATED AND ORDERING BEFORE OR AT 6PM.

Please note our Happy Drinks and Happy Tapas Offers are not available on Bank Holiday Sundays

Cubana’s LATEST Cocktail & Drinks Menu

IRRESISTIBLY, DIVINE BLENDS & SENSATIONAL FLAVOURS!

OUR LATEST DRINKS MENU BOASTS OVER 50 AMAZING COCKTAILS, and we truly believe it’s our best menu yet!

Discover the Cubana originals - there are over a dozen Cubana original recipes, one-of-a-kind concoctions that you won’t find anywhere else:

VERY BERRY JERRY is a divine blend of spiced rum, raspberry liqueur, fresh blackberries, and raspberries combined with cranberry juiceIt’s like sherbet, lollipops, and sunshine dancing on your palate!

We’ve crafted an entire section of the menu dedicatedly solely to the nectar of the godsRUM! Indulge in the authenticity of traditional Cuban cocktails such as, EL NACIONAL, invented in the prestigious Hotel Nacional, Cuba or you can explore our imaginative twists on legendary classics.

Let the SINGAPORE SLING; or the refreshing STRAWBERRY CAIPIROSKA whisk you away on a tropical journey of flavour.

Can’t Find Your Favourite? No Worries .. If your go-to cocktail didn’t make the cut, our talented bartenders will be happy to oblige.

Another Cubana classic is LA MANZANA MALA, made with Green Island Spiced Gold and is combined with St Aubin Vanilla rum, Disaronno, lime and apple juice and a dusting of cinnamon to finish. You won’t be able to resist the allure of this Cubana masterpiece!

PA S RES TA URANT

So, what are you waiting for? Join us at Cubana and dive into a world of sensational flavours, incredible originals, and refreshing twists on the classics!

20: CITY VIEWS

In 2016, Livia Barreira arrived in Sheffield from Fortaleza, Brazil, ready to start a new life. She shares her story with Xanthe Palmer, recounting how she embraced the people and culture of the Steel City and used her experiences to create a support network for fellow migrants.

23:

EXPOSED AWARDS '24

What a night! The 2024 Exposed Awards was another smashing event, celebrating the very best that the Steel City has to offer across a wide range of sectors. We’ve got the recap of how the night went down…

43: HELLO, IS IT MEAD YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?

We discover how Timothy Young, founder of Paradise Garage Brewing Co., is bringing mead, the world’s oldest alcoholic drink, to the heart of Kelham Island.

58: MOCK ‘N’ ROLL

With a new album in the works, Castlegate’s answer to Bay City Rollers stop by to chat hangover cures, tax returns and bin day drama.

64:

SOLID AS A DOC

Sheffield’s internationally renowned celebration of filmmaking returns this month. Our seasoned DocFest reviewer, Mark Perkins, rounds up what’s looking good at this year’s event.

GAFFERS

Phil Turner (MD) phil@exposedmagazine.co.uk

Nick Hallam (Sales Director) nick@exposedmagazine.co.uk

FINANCE

Lis Ellis (Accounts) accounts@exposedmagazine.co.uk

GRAFTERS

Joe Food (Editor) joe@exposedmagazine.co.uk

Ash Birch (Online Editor) ash@exposedmagazine.co.uk

Lizzy Capps (Content Creator) lizzy@exposedmagazine.co.uk

Marc Barker (Design Dogsbody)

GI’ US A HAND PLZ

Olivia Warburton, Heather Paterson, Mark Perkins, Rosie Knapp, Amy Britton, Ellie Ashton, Maja Drwal

THE BUSINESS STUFF

Exposed is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd Unit 1b, 2 Kelham square Kelham Riverside Sheffield S3 8SD

We need your help to raise £2million towards the build of a new world-class research and technology centrethe National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT)which will be run by She eld Children's NHS Foundation Trust and based at the She eld Olympic Legacy Park. Follow us on Find out more about the centre support@tchc.org.uk tchc.org.uk/nccht

tuesday 4 june 2024

The Tuesday Club: girls don’t sync

£14.00-16.00, Doors 11:30pm, 18+

wednesday 5 jun 2024 jake lambert: the sunshine kid

£11.00, Doors 8:00pm

tuesday 18 june 2024

The mysterines ‘afraid of tomorrows’ album launch show

£13.50, Doors 7:30pm

friday 21 jun 2024 groovebox x temple pres. alan fitzpatrick

£11.00, Doors 10pm, 18+

thursday 27 jun 2024 belgrave house band pres. amy winehouse’s back to black

£16.00, Doors 7:30pm

thursday 11 july 2024 royel otis

£20.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 13 sept 2024 big country

£32.50, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 14 sept 2024 brogeal

£11.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 20 sept 2024 los campesinos

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 21 sept 2024 antarctic monkeys

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 5 oct 2024 crime viral: murder staged

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

sunday 6 oct 2024 michael aldag

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm

friday 11 oct 2024

from the jam

£35.00, Doors 7:00pm sunday 13 oct 2024

matt bragg

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm

wednesday 16 oct 2024

skinny living

£20.00, Doors 7:30pm friday 18 oct 2024 red richardson

£16.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 18 oct 2024 george lewis: the best thing you’ll ever do

£11.00, Doors 8:00pm saturday 26 oct 2024 cast

£30.00, Doors 7:00pm friday 1 nov 2024 kai humphries

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm friday 1 nov 2024

the brand new heavies

£30.00, Doors 7:00pm thursday 14 nov 2024

kneecap

£20.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 15 nov 2024

craig charles funk & soul house party

£20/22/24, Doors 7:00pm, 18+ thursday 14 nov 2024

kingfishr

£17.50, Doors 7:30pm saturday 23 nov 2024

john bramwell

£25.00, Doors 6:30pm

saturday 30 nov 2024

katy j pearson

£16.00, Doors 7:00pm sunday 8 dec 2024

michael head & the red elastic band

£25.00, Doors 7:30pm friday 13 dec 2024

turin brakes

£27.50, Doors 7:00pm SATURDAY 25 JAN 2025

THE MAGIC NUMBERS

£25.00, Doors 7:00pm all shows open to the public (14+ unless stated otherwise) tickets available from foundrysu.com box office: 0114 222 8777

foundry, sheffield students’ union western bank, s10 2tg foundrysu.com - foundry@sheffield.ac.uk @foundrysheffield

scan for tickets

A COLLECTIVE TRIUMPH

Europe’s largest purpose-built food hall, Cambridge Street Collective, opened its doors in the Heart of the City last month – and it did not disappoint.

The 29,000 sq ft venue, a venture from the awardwinning Blend Family, features 20 independent food vendors, four bar areas, two outdoor terraces and a courtyard space.

Inside you’ll find everything from high-end modern British cuisine from Frérot (a new kitchen from the Luke & Joe team) to the finest Eritrean and Ethiopian dishes served up by House of Habesha.

Vietnamese, Malaysian, Pakistani, Greek, Mexican, Korean, Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Nepalese – these are just some of the national cuisines covered across the four floors.

Elsewhere, there are plenty of things to keep you occupied other than food and drink, with AR darts, an in-house cookery school, a kid’s play area and a stage area for live performances. Head to cambridgestreetcollective. com to browse a wide array of upcoming events including monthly indie markets, arts and crafts workshops, yoga sessions, cooking classes, networking days and more.

It’s the latest opening in Sheffield City Council’s £470m ‘Heart of the City’ regeneration scheme, which has promised 1.5m sq ft of development to significantly improve the city centre. Watch this space for further exciting arrivals soon!

cambridgestreetcollective.com // @cambridge_ street_collective 23 Cambridge Street, S1 4HP

Blades legend Tony Currie will join Sheffield Euros Fanzone Party with Owls Star Chris Waddle, while opening ceremony plans are also revealed for Devonshire Green ‘Fan City’

Fan City – the all-new fully immersive football village located in the heart of Sheffield – will welcome ex-Sheffield Utd and England star Tony Currie to its soon to launch European Championship party, as Blades and fans of the Owls lay down their rivalry for a month to cheer on The Three Lions.

Launching for this summer’s Euros, the epic outdoor event, which will televise all of the tournaments’ games on the biggest screens in South Yorkshire, has also revealed its plans for the free to enter opening match between Scotland and Germany on Friday 14th June, two days before England take on Serbia for their crunch opening game. All non-England games will be shown for free.

In the true spirit of the competition, the opening ceremony on Devonshire Green will come complete with German and Scottish themes including German lager, Bratwurst, bagpipes and Buckfast to kick-start a monthlong programme of live football, music and laser-guided football punditry from the legends.

Poised to join the already confirmed Chris Waddle on stage for England’s opening game at Fan City, Tony Currie needs little introduction to football fans in South Yorkshire.

Currie, who had spells at Queens Park Rangers, Chelsea, and Leeds Utd, holds the city of Sheffield close to his heart. After a transfer to Sheffield United in 1968, Tony scored on his debut and immediately became a favourite with loyal fans. ‘TC’ as he was affectionately nicknamed, became strongly idolised at Bramall Lane, scoring 54 goals in 313 appearances,

becoming captain of the side in 1974.

Chris Waddle said: “Fan villages like this are like a New Year’s Eve party. People just enjoy it, it’s a lot of fun and there is loads going on. If you enjoy your football, you enjoy a party, then why miss it?’

“We have a great chance, when you talk about teams that could win this tournament, you talk about England in that conversation, for sure.”

As well as the football, there will plenty of other activity happening throughout the month. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast, music lover, wellness seeker, Fan City has got you covered with plenty of other FREE activities to enjoy.

Including:

•  Saturday yoga mornings with R1se Yoga

•  Live Wimbledon screenings

•  Glastonbury Party

•  British Grand Prix

• Movie evenings and more to be announced!

Tickets are flying out fast for England’s group stage games so we recommend you act fast and grab your tickets now: fancity.co.uk

With a raft of VIP packages available and more exciting announcements just around the corner, this Sheffield Football Fan Zone offers more than just a place to catch the action. See you at the Green!

www.fancity.co.uk

Socials: @fancityuk

GET DISCOUNTS WITH TRAVELMASTER

Over the next couple of months, TravelMaster are partnering with local businesses in the city to offer exclusive offers when you show a TravelMaster Smartcard or ticket.

The ExploreSY campaign highlights where passengers can explore exciting destinations with their TravelMaster ticket and smartcard, which can then be used to pick up offers in participating venues.

This time, they’ve teamed up with a selection of businesses to offer discounts to anyone who shows their TravelMaster card when making a purchase, including:

• 10% off at Unit Burgers Centretainment site

• 10% off at The Wonky Labrador micropub

• 10% off at Caffe Tucci 10%

• 10% off at Reyt Good Illustration, plus a free greeting card with any orders over £10

• 10% off at Pangolin Craft Beer

Head to @exposedmagsheff on Instagram to find out the wide range of discounts you can get your hands on!

Follow #ExploreSY for more details and sign up here for updates: sytravelmaster. com.

JOIN THE EUROS PARTY AT DEV GREEN

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD NOMAD MAISON

Tucked away on Stanley Street, in an unassuming industrial area just off the Wicker and a stone’s throw from Kelham Island, you’ll find a recently opened unit, adorned inside with beautiful rugs, ceramics, mirrors and soft furnishings.

Welcome to Nomad Maison, a space created by ex-professional rugby player turned interior designer Jake Henry. While visitors can browse the retail offerings from 11am to 3pm on weekends (by appointment only during the week), Jake is particularly excited about plans to grow the venue into a hub for all manner of creative and cultural events.

“We’ll be doing supper clubs, wine tastings and creative evenings,” Jake tells Exposed. “Our live drawing sessions will be starting up soon, plus pottery throwing, yoga brunch mornings and terrarium making workshops.”

As if to confirm the venue’s readiness for events season, a fully stocked coffee van can be found at the entrance, and where the previous tenant’s office once stood, there is now an attractive handmade bar complete with a vinyl turntable setup, through which music can piped into each room.

“We want it to be a place where people can come together, a spot holding regular creative events that aren’t just one-offs,” says Jake. “We’ll be opening the shutters and utilising the courtyard space in the summer, running monthly curated homeware markets so people can come down and see the space.”

From hand-poured concrete sinks to beautifully crafted rugs and textiles, visitors can feast their eyes on a curated selection of artisanal products sourced from all corners of the globe. Crucially, each item has a story to tell, whether it’s the tale of a 90-yearold Turkish rug repurposed into a stunning cushion or the journey of a textile sourced from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

Jake explains that the seeds of the project were formed when he began studying interior and design at The National Design Academy while playing rugby in France. He retired from the game at 30-years-old, established his own interior design practice, JWH Design, and began to look for his dream space – somewhere that could serve both as a showroom and a space for likeminded creatives to flourish.

Whether it’s serving as a venue for a teambuilding workshop, a photo shoot, a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work, or a space for classes taught by skilled artisans, Nomad Maison has arrived in Sheffield with a key commitment: empowering creatives to thrive.

To see more of the space and check out the latest scheduled events and opening hours, follow @ nomadmaison on Instagram.

hidden gem: de yummy

Sheffield’s first full-service Ukrainian restaurant opened at the bottom of The Moor in March, boasting a menu packed full of authentic, homecooked Ukrainian cuisine.

Since opening, the restaurant has introduced Sheffield residents to the joy of Ukrainian food as well as helping our burgeoning Ukrainian community enjoy a slice of home.

Co-owner Angelina, who moved to the UK just over a year ago and now runs the restaurant with her mum who takes care of the cooking duties, told Exposed: “Ukrainian cuisine is very versatile, and we want to show why we love it so much by bringing you a piece of Ukraine on a plate.

“We are very proud to present a place where we speak the language of Ukraine through taste and our souls.”

On the menu, you’ll find a whole host of authentic, home-cooked food, as well as traditional Lyiv coffee imported from Ukraine. Dishes include steamed cabbage rolls called Golubtsi, Ukrainian dumplings called Varenyky and, of course, Chicken Kyiv, which is definitely not what you’ll remember from the frozen, supermarket version of your childhood!

Angelina, who is still completing her university studies while running the restaurant, moved to the UK a little over a year ago. She told Exposed: “My hometown got destroyed in March 2022, just a few weeks after the war started.

“My flat was just seven miles away from occupied territory, so I lost everything.

“As well as introducing Ukrainian food to people here in Sheffield, the other goal of the restaurant is to help my dad feel better back home because the life that we had before is gone.

“The way I see it, I could be here crying about what’s going on, but I’ve got to live my life. Even if it’s not in Ukraine, I’ve got an opportunity to do something great here in England.”

DE Yummy can be found on 8 Cumberland Street and is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10am7pm, and Sunday from 10am-4pm. For bookings message them on Instagram @de.yummy.uk

You can also contact on WhatsApp: +44 7446 345168

DOING THEIR BIT

SNOWDROP PROJECT

For this month’s spotlight on an organisation making a difference in Sheffield, Exposed hears about the vital work done by the Snowdrop Project - a charity that supports and empowers survivors of modern slavery and exploitation in South Yorkshire.

How did the Snowdrop Project come about?

The Snowdrop Project was formed in 2012, when a group of volunteers came together to provide long-term support to women who had experienced modern slavery. At the time, these women were the only survivors in the UK to receive long-term support. Our name was actually chosen by this first group of clients. As different ideas were discussed, “Snowdrop” stood out. Snowdrops are incredibly resilient - they are one of the first flowers to push through in the spring. This was important for our clients as a symbol of new beginnings. 12  years on, Snowdrop has supported hundreds of survivors, enabling them to build futures free from modern slavery.

Could you talk us through some of the services offered by the project?

Snowdrop supports and empowers survivors of modern slavery and exploitation in South Yorkshire to recover from their experiences and rebuild their lives. We do this by providing a holistic package of support. Our services are free to access, and clients can access support for as long as they wish.

Our caseworkers help clients

navigate next steps, including housing, education, benefits, legal issues or police investigations. Snowdrop’s counselling service helps survivors process the psychological impacts of their exploitation. Community activities help survivors build confidence, meet new people and reintegrate into the community. Finally, we help survivors transition into independent living by cleaning, decorating and furnishing accommodation.

Can you talk about some of the positive impacts and achievements of the Snowdrop Project?

We’ve achieved so many milestones over the last twelve years. We’ve seen individuals arrive at Snowdrop with no money, mental health issues, no permanent accommodation, ongoing legal battles and no hope for the future. However, we have seen these same clients exit our support systems with newfound confidence, plans for the future and the ability to cope with everyday life. It’s an honour to walk alongside such resilient, tenacious and inspirational individuals. In 2023, we supported 274 adults and 119 children on their journeys towards recovery.

How can people get involved to help the Snowdrop Project?

There are lots of ways to support Snowdrop. We have an amazing community of supporters – Friends of Snowdrop – who give regularly and help fund long-term support for survivors. You can make a difference to those we work with from as little as £3 a month. Find out more at snowdropproject. co.uk/regular-giving. We also have an amazing team of volunteer caseworkers, befrienders and childcare volunteers. Find out more about our volunteering opportunities at snowdropproject.co.uk/ volunteering. Finally, we complete one renovation per month with the help of volunteers. Renovations take place across three days in Sheffield or surrounding areas. No experience is necessary - just enthusiasm and the drive to make a difference! Even if you can only spare a few hours on one of the days, it’s still a big help. If you’d like to be added to our renovation volunteers list, please email info@snowdropproject.co.uk.

Finally, why are organisations like Snowdrop so important in today’s world?

Modern slavery is a hidden crime that’s happening all around us – including in Sheffield. It could be happening in a home on your street, or at a car wash, nail salon or restaurant. It could be happening to the cleaner in your office, or to the person working in your local shop. It’s impossible to know the full extent of modern slavery in the UK, but the Home Office recorded 17,004 potential victims of modern slavery in the UK in 2023 – the highest number since records began in 2009. Snowdrop is committed to ensuring that every survivor has access to the support they need to process their experiences and build brighter futures. However, Snowdrop literally wouldn’t exist without our supporters – we depend on donations to fund the services we provide. We are grateful for any support!

snowdropproject.co.uk // @ snowdropproject // 0333 880 5008 // info@snowdropproject.co.uk

On a rainy day in the spring of 2016, Livia Barreira stood at the taxi rank outside the train station, bags in hand, ready to start her new life in Sheffield. She’d traded her hometown of Fortaleza in Brazil, surrounded by skyscrapers, beaches and family, to build a new life in the Steel City. She was both excited and terrified in equal measure.

Fast forward to 2024, and Livia is firmly rooted in her second home here in Sheffield and has formed her own community for those who felt just like she did back on that damp day outside the station.

LIVIA BARREIRA

WORDS: XANTHE PALMER

Livia had created a successful career back home in Brazil as a journalist. Her most notable gig was for a local newspaper, ‘Diário do Nordeste’, as a business reporter. After several years reporting, she decided she was ready for a change and wanted a break from the daily grind of working in the newsroom and took a sabbatical to learn English in Dublin. During her time in Ireland, she studied, explored and engrossed herself in the culture, before returning back home to Brazil as a press officer for the local government. Organising some of the biggest events in Brazil became her new beat. She worked on all the best gigs, from organising press for one of Brazil’s New Year’s Eve parties on the Fortaleza beach, to the FIFA Fan Fest for the FIFA World Cup in 2014.

But what pulled Livia to Sheffield goes back to 2012, when she met eyes with her now-husband Dean, in a fivefloor nightclub in Prague. A born and bred Sheffielder, Dean was on a holiday with friends and caught Livia’s interest with his warm Yorkshire charm … and perhaps a drink or two. It was then that Livia knew there was something special about Dean; she felt as though they’d known each other forever. They met up again during their short visit to Prague and kept in touch through Facebook. Their unlikely meeting blossomed over time and ultimately went on to be a four-year long-distance relationship, which they sustained as Livia travelled and studied until, eventually, they decided to move to Dean’s hometown and tie the knot. The following year, the couple married in a civil ceremony at Sheffield Town Hall, surrounded by a small group of friends and family.

In the early days of Livia’s life in Sheffield, she quickly made friends and felt the warmth and friendliness of the people here, despite it being so cold. That said, Livia still felt alone in many ways. She feared the unknown, she missed the sun, and although felt welcomed into her new life, being a migrant in an unfamiliar city was at times a lonely experience. Being the strong-willed, tenacious woman she is, Livia strove to change that. She signed herself up to as many classes as she could, including English classes and conversation clubs at community centres across the city, not only

to strengthen her English but to meet new people and immerse herself in the local culture. She spent a lot of her time volunteering at Volunteer Action Sheffield as well as her local charity shop and playgroups, too. Livia was determined to make this place feel like home.

Shortly after arriving here, she created her Instagram profile, @Livinginsheffield, not only as a way to connect with people online, but to share experiences of living in the city as a migrant. What started off as a means to express and connect with others has grown to a source of support and guidance for those who felt just like she did when she arrived in the UK.

Her love for the city and desire to help and support others led Livia onto a fruitful career working in community engagement and as a Sheffield Ambassador for seven years now. She’s also written a book, sharing stories of women migrants in Sheffield from several countries, all with the aim of spreading positivity and the understanding of the migrant experience.

Livia regularly sells-out inclusive events, many of which she puts on for women, those who identify as women and, of course, migrants living in Sheffield. One of her many hats includes Audience Development Manager for the Migration Matters festival. She’s worked for the event for two years now, helping it to reach new audiences and tap into different communities – quite a fitting role for Livia.

Her mission is clear. Though she came to Sheffield in search of community and connections, she now offers just that to those who felt like she did all those years ago.

“Always be someone who can welcome people, and I try my best to give back,” she tells me. “I just want to see everyone feeling happy, integrated and respected, regardless of who or what they are. Everyone deserves a chance in life to be happy.”

@livinginsheffield

SHE’S ALSO WRITTEN A BOOK, SHARING STORIES OF WOMEN MIGRANTS IN SHEFFIELD FROM SEVERAL COUNTRIES, ALL WITH THE AIM OF SPREADING POSITIVITY AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE MIGRANT EXPERIENCE.

STRONG & NORTHERN SPICY SNACKS!

Every year, we’re overwhelmed by the support from attendees, as well as the thousands who cast their votes beforehand. As expected, Peddler Warehouse was buzzing with Sheffielders representing a wide range of sectors including music, fashion, hospitality, culture, events, and beyond.

Big winners on the night included newcomers The Old Shoe, who took home Best New Bar, and Hillsborough’s Orange Bird, clinching the title of Best Restaurant.

Others making their debut on the winner’s podium included La Bottega (Best New Restaurant), Triple Point (Best Brewery) and The Dog & Partridge (Best Traditional Pub).

DJs, a well-stocked bar and superb street food vendors

kept the party going before the crowd were treated to a special rendition of Moloko’s ‘Sing It Back’ by a supergroup of Sheffield musicians including hip-hop artist Franz Von, Gina Walters (Before Breakfast), Tim Bottrill (Bromheads Jacket), Joe Green (Milburn) and Exposed’s very own Ash Birch (Harrisons) slapping bass.

It was a truly beautiful, sunkissed evening captured beautifully by our photographer, Ellie Grace, and we couldn’t think of any better way to celebrate our 20th anniversary as your friendly neighbourhood free mag. The love in that room was real.

Now that’s the mushy bit out of the way, turn the page and have a nosey at what the winners had to say for themselves!

BEST CAFÉ

SPONSORED BY PAGO PREMIUM FRUIT JUICES

CAFFÈ TUCCI

How does it feel to win tonight?

It’s been amazing – we didn’t expect it! We literally came just to enjoy a nice night out with our staff, so we weren’t really thinking about winning it. This is the cherry on top of the cake!

And what does it mean to you to be voted best café in Sheffield?

It is just incredible. We’ve opened two years ago with the idea of having a family-run business by me and my brother. I have no words for it. If I would have expected to win, I would have prepared my speech! We’re so pleased and very proud.

Any messages to the people who voted for you?

Thank you because, at the end of the day, your support means everything. Whether that’s support by voting for us or just by coming to the shop, it’s all support. Thank you all for that.

THE OUTDOOR CITY AWARD

HEELEY CITY FARM

How does it feel to win tonight guys?

Oh, it’s amazing and such a pleasure to work with an incredible team. It’s really nice to know that we’re being supported by the wider community outside of the farm. To be recognised both as a visitors’ centre and a charity, one that helps people and does a lot of important work, really means a lot to us.

And what would you like to say to everyone who voted for you tonight?

Thank you! Thank you and please keep supporting us – oh, and come to our festival on June 22nd. We’re going to throw a big party!

Ah lovely, and what can we expect?

We’ve got two music stages, lots of stalls and entertainment for everybody. Also beer. It’s going to be a really good day!

VINTAGE RETAILER

GLASS ONION

We’re super happy. It’s a bit crazy to win this award for the second year running.

How are you feeling?

We’re honestly didn’t expect it, and we’re in such beautiful company tonight. We're very proud to be here.

What’s behind the success of the shop?

Loads of amazing people who put in so much hard work, people sharing the same vision. Also, the Sheffield community for supporting us – it’s just beautiful. It’s hard being a retailer at the moment. You have good days and you have bad days, but our customers make it the best thing in the world. They’re what make this such a nice job.

BEST VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

SOUTH STREET KITCHEN

Congrats, South Street Kitchen! How does it feel to get this award?

It’s absolutely mental. We’re so proud of all the people that work for us, the incredible chefs and just everyone in the team. I wish they could all be here – it’s just two of us tonight, thinking we were just going to have girly night out with a couple of drinks, and now I’m holding a bloody award!

Is there anything you’d like to say to the rest of the team who aren’t here tonight?

They are what make it – the team. They are the ones that won this award. I can’t wait to go in tomorrow and tell them all.

What goes in to being the best vegan/veggie food spot in Sheff?

An awful lot of falafel, aubergine and courgettes. But in all seriousness, a lot of passion goes into it. Everybody who’s there just cares about what we do. We try and just make it the best experience possible for everyone who comes in, and with all the charity work we’ve been doing recently, we’re just trying to make a bit of a difference – even if it’s just from a teeny, tiny little café in Sheffield!

Another win for Glass Onion!

BEST NEW BAR

SPONSORED BY

THE OLD SHOE

Congratulations, Old Shoe!

Oh my god!

Clearly, lots of emotions running right now. How does it feel? F*cking bosting!

Fantastic word. What would you like to say to the people who voted for you?

Keep coming in, keep seeing us. We’re going to be bringing more interesting stuff to the table, keeping it fresh in Sheffield. Whether that’s wine, cider or beer – we’ve got it. Oh, and soft drinks. Woo! Also, there’s a new cocktail and spritz menu coming soon. The caipirinha is where it’s at.

FORGE WAREHOUSE

What do you think makes FORGE the best club in Sheffield? We’ve worked so hard for it, it’s been such a hard time for venues and I think we’ve really come out on top. We work hard to provide an inclusive, accessible environment for everyone where people feel safe. To get this award is a beautiful feeling.

What would you like to say to everyone who voted for you? We love you! We’ve got amazing things coming this year and we can’t wait for everyone to see it.

Oooh, exciting. Could we get a sneak peek? It’s top secret at the minute, but it’s bigger and better. It’s heavy. It’s enormous. It’s so big. Words don’t exist, that’s why we can’t mention it. We’re putting Sheffield on the map. Oh yeah, baby!

BEST SUSTAINABLE BRAND

SPONSORED BY TRAVELMASTER

BEST SUSTAINABLE BRAND

SPONSORED BY TRAVELMASTER

BEANIES WHOLEFOODS

How does it feel to win tonight?

Oh, we’re really pleased. It’s so nice to get the recognition. Beanies has been going for nearly 40 years now, so it’s great to be noticed and feel the support from everyone.

What goes into creating the best sustainable business in Sheffield?

We invest in people first and foremost. We’re always working hard to modernise and keep our systems and processes up to date, but what we value above all other things is our staff, so we’re we’re a worker co-operative, which means everyone gets paid the same and we all have a stake in the success of the business.

Is there anyone in particular you’d like to thank tonight? All of our staff, our customers and our suppliers.

BEST TRADITIONAL PUB

SPONSORED BY GUINNESS

THE DOG & PARTRIDGE

How does it feel to bag Best Traditional Pub?

Humbling. Really humbling. We genuinely didn’t think we’d win, but it’s been a fabulous year; we’ve worked really hard as a team and that hard work has paid off.

And what would you like to say to everyone who voted for you tonight?

Thank you so much and keep supporting independent businesses – that’s the most important thing. We appreciate every single person who come into the pub.

What goes into making an award-winning traditional pub? It’s a combination of things. I mean, I could talk for hours about it. It’s a combination of people, atmosphere and product, plus a million other things as well. Standards and having a team we love is important. Oh, and Guinness – having the best Guinness always helps.

MICROPUB

BEST

SPACE CUTLERY WORKS BEST

FOODHALL / COURTYARD

PANGOLIN CRAFT BEER

How are we feeling, Pangolin team?

It’s crazy! We’d genuinely not thought about it until five minutes before, when someone asked what we would say if we won. Like, should we read out some pub reviews on the stage? But yeah, it’s really exciting and we’re really happy.

It’s the second year in a row for you. Does that make even more special?

It does. In a way, it feels even better than last year because, in your first year, you’re just riding the wave. But to be still up there in your second year, after other great places have opened, is just a great feeling. We spoke about how all the places in our category are great and we’d be really pleased if any of them won. We’ve got friends in those places, and I think we’re all pleased for each other.

It must be nice to be a part of a community like that?

Within our small locality of Hillsborough, we’ve got a couple of other micropubs, but we’ve also got like cafes, delis and small shops that all feed off each other. We’ve also got the wider beer community in Sheffield, where people really support each other. There’s a great feel to it.

What does it mean to you guys to win tonight? Well, this is for all of our staff.

What do they mean to you?

Without them, we wouldn’t be here today. It’s for everyone who’s put in the blood, sweat and tears. It’s for the Sheffield community, too, because they’ve supported us since 2018.

How have things grown since 2018?

I’ve personally seen the scene grow and grow. It’s so nice because when there was only one food hall in Sheffield, it was easy. Now, there’s a bit of competition, but it’s friendly, and it’s nice to see it grow. It’s good for the food scene. It’s good for the community.

What you like to say to everyone who vote for you guys tonight? Thanks so much! Also, keep an eye out because there’s much more to come from us!

SOUTH STREET KITCHEN

BEST VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN

RESTAURANT 2024

Open everyday for fantastic food, exceptional co ee, homemade kombucha, cocktails, wines and craft beers

Welcome to La Bottega

In our Italian-inspired kitchen in Sheffield, our mission is to bring authentic and original tastes to your lunch and dinner experiences. With a focus on seasonally changing small plates, an impeccable wine selection, and curated events like paired tastings, we invite you to embark on a culinary journey through the heart of Italian cuisine.

Our goal is to share our passion with our community and create a welcoming space where people can come together to enjoy the simple pleasures of good food, good wine, and even better company.

1-3 LEOPOLD ST, SHEFFIELD CITY CENTRE, S1 2GY Instagram: @labottegasheffield Email: info@labottegasheffield.co.uk

SPONSORED

ALDER

SPONSORED BY CRUZCAMPO

How does it feel to be voted Best Bar in Sheffield?

It feels bloody lovely! Yeah, we’ve worked very, very hard! Thank you to everyone who’s voted, everyone who’s spent their hardearned cash with us. Thank you to the community we’ve generated and the community in Kellham Island as a whole.

Kelham Island has a thriving community of independents. What’s it like being part of that scene?

Bloody lovely. Reyt nice. It’s been great. Sorry, we’re very drunk –we weren’t expecting to win!

How are you planning on celebrating tonight?

Going back to Alder Bar! We’ve got a drum and bass night on, so we’re going there. Free drum and bass, free jungle, free everything! Actually, it’s not free drinks, we’re definitely not doing that. But yeah, we appreciate the recognition and sorry we’re not more sober to give you a better reaction. I love Alder Bar! BEST BAR

SPONSORED

BEST CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

SPONSORED

How does it feel to be voted as the best cultural experience in Sheffield?

Absolutely amazing. The arts are so important in Sheffield, so obviously it’s great to play a big part in that. And you know, we’re just really.. really proud to accept this on behalf of everybody at Sheffield Theatres.

What performances should people keep an eye out for this year? Oh gosh, there are so many! I don't know if we have time to list them all.

Give us a few...

We’ve got Chariots of Fire coming to the Crucible in the summer and that’s going to be amazing. Then we’ve got Little Shop of Horrors at Christmas, and we’ve also A Doll’s House in the autumn. There are lots and lots of things coming to Sheffield!

BEST INDEPENDENT SHOP

BEAR TREE RECORDS

Congratulations, Bear Tree Records! How are you feeling? Yeah, it feels…

You seem quite shocked?

Yeah, I don’t know… we’re just not used to an awards ceremony really! We’ve been running for nine years, and we’re just not used to it.

How will you be celebrating tonight? We’re just going to go and eat more food. We don’t drink, so we’ll be celebrating with food!

THE HENDERSON’S RELISH MADE IN SHEFFIELD AWARD

FRAZER’S COFFEE ROASTERS

Congrats, Frazers Coffee team! How does it feel?

It feels incredible, yeah! Frazer is super-passionate about coffee; I’ve never met someone so interested in it. He could talk for 24 hours solely about coffee, so it's great to see him get some recognition.

Frazer, two years in a row is no mean feat. That must make it feel even better?

For me, working in an industry like this that is so well-established in this city, this will surpass anything I could achieve with the business – to be nominated in three categories and then win the Henderson’s Relish award for two years running. I can’t think of a better accolade.

•

• She eld safe places registered: A welcoming and safe environment for everyone.

• Diverse food menu: Catering to all dietary preferences - Meaty, Veggie, Vegan, Gluten-Free.

• Live acoustic music & more: Enjoy live music, exciting classes, and unforgettable parties.

• Licensed bar & dog-friendly: Have a drink in our pet-friendly venue, just a stone’s throw from Meersbrook Park!

• We have all 5 star reviews on Trip Advisor and Google! and are in the top 5 cafes of 95+ cafes in She eld on Trip Advisor too!

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

SPONSORED BY FENTI

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

SPONSORED BY FENTI

LA BOTTEGA

La Bottega, you’ve clearly made a huge impact. How are you feeling after winning Best New Restaurant?

Very excited, as we did not expect this one. We’ve been running for less than one year, opening back in July 2023. It means a lot, especially as the current times aren’t the best for everyone – and restaurants in particular. However, we’ve worked really hard and are proud to achieve this.

What would you say is your most popular dish?

Well, it’s a small plate dish concept that we do, and we think they’re all nice! A lot of thought went into making the menu, and we have a very well-stocked wine cellar, with more than 130 different wines from all around the world. Come and try for yourself!

BEST TAKEAWAY

SPONSORED BY PAGO PREMIUM FRUIT

BEST TAKEAWAY

SPONSORED BY PAGO PREMIUM FRUIT JUICES

BEST BOY BAGELS

Well done, Best Boy! How does it feel to win?

Very honoured. We love everyone that come into the shop –without them, we don’t do this. They’re very sweet. We’re pretty, pretty surprised because we had decent people up against us. We didn’t really know what to do when we won, but it was pretty nice.

What’s the next new thing on the menu?

We’re introducing new things all the time. Keep your eyes peeled.

I never got to try the Garfield, the incredible looking lasagne bagel. Will that be making a comeback?

Oh yeah! I mean, when we introduce things and they’re that popular, they’ll have to make a comeback at some point!

THE TRAMLINES AWARD FOR BEST LOCAL EVENT

PEDDLER MARKET

Nice one, Peddler. How does it feel to win The Tramlines Award for Best Local Event?

It’s great. This is the second year in a row, our little venue that everyone keeps coming back to. It’s been ten years of Peddler and we’ve only been involved in a little slice, but when something’s been around so long, it’s nice that everyone keeps coming back.

It’s been a big couple of years for the event as you’ve moved to other locations.

Yes, the expansion is massive. As you say, we’re in other places now, like Leeds, Chesterfield (Chedler?) and Wakefield. You can’t miss us!

What’s the next event you’ve got planned?

Well, there’s a wedding taking place here tomorrow, so we’re straight back to work!

BEST UNSIGNED ACT

BEACHCOMBER

Congrats, gents. How does it feel to win?

Absolutely mindblowing. We really didn’t expect it, so we’re in total shock. Although one of us was confident and we now owe him a few pints.

He's in for a fun evening! What advice would you give to unsigned bands or musicians?

Keep at it. There are lots of great venues out there that we didn’t think would be worth it, but we kept playing gigs and gaining confidence from it – it’s worth it in the end.

What are the plans for 2024?

We have Tramlines coming up, which will be great. And then, it’s time for us to get our heads down and start writing again. Watch this space!

Bar-Ristorante-Caffê

BEST LOCAL BREWERY

TRIPLE POINT BREWERY

How does it feel to win?

Nice. Good. Amazing. Honestly though, it’s sick. We’ve been coming a few years now and we’ve not won one, so it’s sick to win one finally! In fact, we’ve left our award on the table in our excitement. But it’s all about what’s in your heart rather than metal. Believe in the heart of the cards – that’s a quote I insist of staying in.

Consider it done. It looks like you’re having a lot of fun. How are you planning to spend the rest of the evening? We always do at the Exposed Awards. But we’re probably going to go to one of the great Exposed afterparties, where one is a stockist of our beer. Honestly, we only want to drink our own beer now. We’re kind of already too big for our boots. My boots are very tight right now.

BEST LIVE VENUE

SPONSORED BY BEAVERTOWN NECK OIL

THE LEADMILL

Leadmill bags it again. Congrats!

It’s amazing. It just goes to show that all the hard work that we all put in, day in and day out, every single year, it all pays off and is recognised! We all love this job and love the place we work at. All we want is for everybody to come to these events and enjoy them.

How does it feel to be a venue so close to the hearts of Sheffielders?

It feels really nice. You know, we have some really great connections with a lot of really great people and businesses in Sheffield and we’re so fortunate to have those. We’re very fortunate they that they trust us with all of this. We put so much effort into it, so it’s really nice to hear when we see that coming back to us from the people.

And what can we expect from The Leadmill this year?

I feel like a local indie band … big things coming soon! Obviously, we don’t want to give it away too much, but we do have some surprises coming. We’ve been going since 1980 and there are some things we do really well that we’ll continue to do, and then there are other things that will feel a bit new and exciting!

BEST RESTAURANT

Hang on… you’re not Orange Bird!

I’m accepting this award on behalf of Orange Bird! Unfortunately, they were unable to make it tonight, but Anna and Matt work their arses off everyday to provide an amazing restaurant. They’ve been in the Good Food Guide Top 100 for two years in a row, which is pretty incredible for a high street business in Hillsborough.

Who do you think they’d like to thank?

I know they would want to thank all of their amazing staff; they all work so hard and they really deserve this award. I’m so proud of them and they would love to be here. They’ll be really pleased about this.

What is your favourite dish from the restaurant?

I have two favourite dishes. Number one is the peri peri chicken. It’s so good; they put this crazy purple hibiscus powder on it and it’s just amazing. Dessert-wise, it has to be the peppermint crisp tart. It’s absolutely iconic.

THE SARAH NULTY SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

TRACKS

You guys deserve this. How does it feel?

We’re really happy, and it’s great to get the recognition. Exposed Magazine, they’re great for all of us as musicians and the young people who want to be in the magazine. It’s a really brilliant night for us and we're proud to be here.

How does it feel to win such a significant award?

The Sarah Nulty Foundation have been amazing for us on different projects; it feels like they have the eyes of the city in terms of music, and I think that’s really important. It’s nice to speak to all of the people tonight who are running small businesses and big businesses in Sheffield – that’s the way we connect to the whole city. It’s really important to us to connect in that way as a charity because we don’t get that platform very often. It just feels amazing. We all put in loads of work, so it’s nice to have a night out, see people and have a drink. We’ll be spending the rest of the evening partying!

BEST BAR

SPONSORED BY CRUZCAMPO

Alder

Firepit Rocks

Neepsend Social Club & Canteen

Public

Two Thirds Beer Co.

BEST NEW BAR

SPONSORED BY MADRI

Hallamshire Hotel

Panenka Bar & Grill

The Old Shoe

The Pearl at Park Hill

Vocation & co. Sheffield

BEST TRADITIONAL PUB

SPONSORED BY GUINNESS

Dog and Partridge

Fagan’s

Hallamshire House

The Broadfield

The Rutland Arms

BEST MICRO PUB

Pangolin Craft Beer

The Bear

The Boston Arms

The Itchy Pig

The Wonky Labrador

BEST RESTAURANT

SPONSORED BY BIRRA MORETTI SALE DI MARE

5Tara

Antler Grill & Wine

DOMO

Pellizco

The Orange Bird

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

SPONSORED BY FENTI

Assembly at The Schoolrooms

Grappa

La Bottega

Proove (City Centre) Unit (Valley Centertainment)

BEST VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

5Tara

Church – Temple of Fun

Dumpling City @

The Tramshed

Pom Kitchen

South Street Kitchen

BEST SUSTAINABLE BRAND

SPONSORED BY TRAVELMASTER

Beanies Wholefoods

Moss Valley Fine Meats

The Bare Alternative

The Sheffield Honey Company

Unwrapped

BEST CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

SPONSORED BY NAPOLEON’S CASINO

Kelham Island Museum

Millenium Gallery

Sheffield Botanical Gardens

Sheffield Theatres

Weston Park Museum

BEST TAKEAWAY

SPONSORED BY PAGO

PREMIUM FRUIT JUICES

Best Boy Bagels

Molly’s Café & Deli

Paesani

Ue’ Paisa’

Urban Pitta

THE TRAMLINES  AWARD FOR BEST LOCAL EVENT

Abbeydale Road Beer

Festival

Peddler Market

Pollen Market

Sheffield Beer Week

Sheffield DocFest

OUTDOOR CITY AWARD  SHEFFIELD ADVENTURE FILM

Festival (SHAFF)

Graves Park

Heeley City Farm

Pollen Market

Whirlow Hall Farm Trust

BEST CAFÉ

SPONSORED BY PAGO PREMIUM FRUIT JUICES

Caffè Tucci

Frazer’s Coffee Roasters

Mandala Café

Molly’s Café & Deli

The Hidden Gem Cafe

BEST VINTAGE RETAILER

Glass Onion

Good Good Vintage

Rag Parade: Jo Jo’s

General Store

St Luke’s The Moor

Vulgar

BEST INDEPENDENT SHOP

Annie Jude’s

Bear Tree Records

Frazer’s Coffee Roasters

Hillsborough Bookshop

Polka Dott

THE HENDERSON’S RELISH MADE IN SHEFFIELD AWARD

Birdhouse Tea Company

Bullion Chocolate

Frazer’s Coffee Roasters

Our Cow Molly Dairy Farm

The Mowbray

BEST LOCAL BREWERY

Abbeydale Brewery

Bradfield Brewery

Brewery of Saint Mars of the Desert

Heist Brew Co.

Triple Point Brewery

BEST LIVE VENUE

SPONSORED BY BEAVERTOWN NECK OIL

FoundrySU Sheffield

Sidney & Matilda

The Leadmill

The Washington

Yellow Arch Studios

BEST CLUB SPONSORED BY GATECRASHER APARTMENTS

Corporation

FORGE Warehouse

FoundrySU Sheffield

Hope Works

The Leadmill

BEST FOODHALL/ COURTYARD SPACE

Cutlery Works

Haggler’s Corner

Herd

Kommune

Sheffield Plate

BEST UNSIGNED ACT

Abs

Beachcomber

Emma Saville

Hard As Nails

Howarth

TA VERY MUCH!

We couldn’t put on this do without the efforts of a few hardy souls, so special thanks go to this lovely lot…

Organiser: Danielle Gigg

Host: Chris Arnold

Location: Peddler

Warehouse

Venue Styling: Dancing

Dandelion Events

Visuals: Cuckoo Films

Drone: Hovaloft

AV: Wide Eye Lighting

Magician: MM Magic

Backstage Interviews: Olivia Warburton and Rosie May-Knapp

Awards: Wentworth

Pewter

Scran: Reyt Good

Dough, As Tha’ Got Beef?, Bina’s Kitchen

APARTMENTS

FOOD & DRINK

The Kelham Island area has long been synonymous with craft beer and real ale, but Timothy Young, founder of Paradise Garage Brewing Co., aims to bring another drink to prominence in the neighbourhood.

The beverage in question is mead, the oldest alcoholic drink in the world. At his recently launched meadery, located within the charming Merchant’s Court courtyard (formerly Caledonia Works) at 43 Mowbray Street, Tim currently offers three varieties of homemade mead. Guests can enjoy these options by the glass, bottle, or in creatively crafted cocktails.

“All mead is honey-based, but the flavours and styles can vary tremendously,” explains Tim. “People are often surprised by how versatile mead can be; my favourite feedback is when customers tell me it’s like nothing they’ve ever tried before.”

Tim’s mead-making journey began in Vietnam, where he was teaching English. When the first Covid lockdown came around, Tim found himself with time on his hands and access to the required ingredients from local markets. Inspired by the country’s booming craft brewing scene, he delved into experimentation. Encouraged by the promising early results, the seeds of a potential business model were sown.

Following his return to the UK, he began making mead from a Londonbased brewery before realising he needed a space of his own. A quick search online revealed a brand-new courtyard unit in a thriving area of Sheffield. After researching the local craft drinks scene’s popularity, he decided that the S3 would be the perfect destination.

Named in homage to the iconic New York nightclub, the Paradise Garage

taproom combines some of the founder’s passions: brewing and disco. Swing by between 6pm-9pm on Thursdays or Fridays, or 2pm-6pm on Saturdays, and catch Tim spinning his favourite disco tunes while pouring glasses of his finest creations.

There are three meads on offer: Salvation, a traditional-style mead known for its light and balanced flavour profile; Roxy, a sweet and fruity concoction infused with blackcurrants and red Kampot peppercorns, providing a subtle kick; and the intriguing Funhouse, which combines the sweetness of honey and dried apricots with the heat of habanero and guajillo chili and hibiscus.

A fourth mead – a plum-infused concoction – will be arriving towards the end of the summer, stymied slightly by a disappointing harvest last year. However, there are two mead cocktails to try in the meantime, the Funhouse Negroni and the Roxy Royale – both ideal sipping partners to while away a summer’s afternoon.

“It is an ancient drink, but what I’m doing with it is quite modern,” says Tim. “Mead is drank in many countries across the world and there’s a growing craft mead scene over in the States. Sheffield appealed to me partly because of the community spirit here; you can already find our mead in places like The Old Shoe, The Crow, Lost in West Bar, Nook Bar and Starmore Boss. Now, we’re focusing on getting people into this taproom to try our stuff from the source!”

PEOPLE ARE OFTEN SURPRISED BY HOW VERSATILE IT CAN BE; MY FAVOURITE FEEDBACK IS WHEN CUSTOMERS TELL ME IT’S LIKE NOTHING THEY’VE EVER TRIED BEFORE.

Follow Paradise Garage Brewing Co. on socials to find out more: @ pgbrewing.

PARADISE GARAGE BREWING CO. UNIT 1C, 43 MOWBRAY STREET (LOOK FOR MERCHANT’S COURT) S3 8EN

Taproom opening hours: Thursdays & Fridays: 6pm-9pm Saturdays: 2pm-6pm

Paradise Garage is a Sheffield-based meadery that wants to prove that mead can be bright, fun, modern and a little bit sophisticated

Available by the bottle and glass in select Sheffield locations and at our taproom at Merchant’s Court, 43 Mowbray St, Sheffield, S3 8EN

Beer Community Wine Events Cocktails Inclusive

Accessible Dog-friendly

FOOD & DRINK

What makes a bar a hit? In this month’s spotlight on a Sheffield-based independent, Exposed chats with Mike Pomranz and Matt Beety, the owners of The Old Shoe in Orchard Square. A winning combination of craft beer taproom, natural wine bar and modern ciderhouse, the venue was recently crowned ‘Best New Bar’ at the Exposed Awards and is gearing up to celebrate its first birthday next month.

Congrats on the win, gents, but more importantly, The Old Shoe is coming up to its first-year anniversary. What do you think has contributed to your popularity so far?

MB: I think the reason people like this place is that we’ve done what we initially set out to do: provide a wide range of drinks in a welcoming space, creating something in town that doesn’t exist elsewhere. We didn’t want to be known as just a beer place, and I think we’ve hit that goal. The work doesn’t stop, though, and we’ll be developing that goal even further by co-founding Sheffield Wine Week and launching a new spritz menu.

MP: For me, the goal’s not to win awards; it’s to be a great bar regardless. We have a vision of what bars can be and how we can do something better for the hospitality and food and beverage community.

As well as the drinks offering, you’ve spoken before about the importance of getting the ‘feel’ of the place right.

MB: Yeah, maintaining that standard of service, understanding the drinks we’re serving and taking our time with the customers who come in and are curious about what we’ve got. We’re not resting on our laurels and will continue to push, but we’re really pleased to see that we’ve stayed true to the original ethos and fundamentals that we laid down.

Going back to that ethos, you’ve managed to unite the concept of natural wine and craft beer bar – bringing a good offering of cider, soft drinks and

cocktails to the party too. Were there any teething problems in the process?

MP: Well, we’re always trying to push the idea that there’s more going on here than what people might expect. Understandably, some come in, see 20 draught lines and instantly assume it’s a beer place. I also think that’s kind of a general Sheffield/northern mentality: more often than not, you go to a bar and drink beer. We’ve tried to show that you don’t have to be a specialist bar with one trick; you can be a hybrid bar that offers great drinks of all types across the board. I know they say you can’t please everyone, but if we were trying to please everyone, we’d also serve mediocre drinks and show sports, you know? What we’re fundamentally trying to do is grow the audience of customers interested in trying new drinks. So, someone who comes in for an IPA might try a Northern Italian wine, someone coming in for a cider might realise they’re actually an orange wine fan, or someone coming in for a Pinot Grigio might find that what they’re really after is a sour beer. That’s the sort of idea we’re working with – expanding palates.

And that’s where customer service and rapport become so important?

MP: Exactly. You can’t force things on people, so it’s more about offering and encouraging them to try things in their own time and suggesting what might be of interest. We’re just here to help people find something different and exciting.

"WE’VE DONE WHAT WE INITIALLY SET OUT TO DO: PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF DRINKS IN A WELCOMING SPACE, CREATING SOMETHING IN TOWN THAT DOESN’T EXIST ELSEWHERE."

You mentioned the spritz menu coming out – just in time for summer. I imagine you’ll be putting a Old Shoe twist on that?

MP: Yeah, we don’t stock Aperol as most of our spirits are independent brands or at least off the beaten path. As such, we’ll be doing three different spins on the Aperol Spritz: a fruity one called the Kwai Weh Spritz, a herbal one called Montenegro Spritz and a savoury one called the Ionian Spritz. They’ll all use different liqueurs such as a lychee-flavoured Dutch liqueur inspired by an ancient Chinese tradition, a spritz that uses some weird tree resin found on a Greek island, and the third will use Amaro, which comes from Montenegro, and in theory that’s in the same kind of family as Aperol. If we’re going to do a spritz menu, we’re going to go big and exciting with it.

Sounds delicious. What else is coming up for you guys?

MP: We’ve got the new cider release from our in-house cider brand, Exemption Ciderhouse. We’ll once again be doing our annual 100% Sheffield garden apple cider, and we’ll have another that’s made with Sheffield garden apples but blended with foxwhelp juice from Ross-on-Wye Cider Company in Hertfordshire. Then the final cider is a pretty crazy one that we might save for bottles. We’re calling it Fear & Loathing in Chez Vegas, as it was made using apples from Renishaw Hall.

I’m also told that you have some big plans in store for the first birthday party. How are you planning to celebrate?

MB: The weekend of 12th-13th July, we’ll be having a big party with some of the best beer, cider and wine we can get our hands on. The week after, Vault City, an incredible Edinburgh-based brewery, will also be coming down to celebrate with us in style.

Now that you’re within touching distance of the first year, how do you reflect on reaching that milestone?

MP: It’s been insanely challenging, somewhat by design. But I try to set everything up as an almost unachievable challenge, as I find that’s the best way to push yourself into new territory. The job should never feel like it’s done, so when I think about celebrating a one-year anniversary, I’m thinking about what the five-year anniversary will be like and how we set up for the future. We want to keep evolving as a bar, finding those new challenges and continuing to push things forward.

MB: Apart from being physically broke and exhausted, it’s been great. Getting a year under your belt is a good milestone; everyone’s worked so hard, and we’re just going to carry that on. I’m pleased for the staff that they got the recognition of an award, but we’ll keep cracking on and hopefully draw more people in. There’s always plenty more we can do. To be honest, we've barely scratched the surface!

Find out about all upcoming events and see the latest menu additions on their website (theoldshoebar. com) or by following their socials (@theoldshoebar // facebook.com/ theoldshoebar).

Every Tuesday - 7:15 start! Three rounds of speed-quizzin three rounds of darts! bar tabs, drinks & cash jackpot could be yours! 2 quid in!

NEEPSEND

SOCIAL CLUB

SHEFFIELD WINE WEEK

The first-ever Sheffield Wine Week is set to take place at venues across the city from Wednesday 26th June to Sunday 30th June.

Establishments from all corners of the city will hold a range of events highlighting the diversity and versatility of Sheffield’s expanding wine scene. From Crookes to Park Hill, out to Meadowhead and across the city to Hillsborough, on popular streets like Eccy Rd and Sharrow Vale, and even in a reemerging city centre, Sheffield is seeing a growing community of bars and shops that focus on artisan, independent and natural wines.

And yet, despite earning honours like “the real ale capital of the world”, the city has had little recognition as a top wine destination.

Expect to see a range of events from meet the winemakers to food and wine pairings to wine list takeovers. For instance, on Wednesday 26th, Tenaya and St. Heloise are holding their seasonal ‘Supper Club’. Thursday, Elm is throwing an ‘Organic & Orgasmic Pintxos Party’. Friday, Starmore Boss and Naturally Wines are hosting a meet the winemaker with Italy’s Pierpaolo Badalucco. And Saturday, The Old Shoe has an all-English takeover of their by-the-glass list.

City centre-based The Old Shoe and Crookes-based Tenaya Wine launched the week in the hopes of breaking through Sheffield’s traditionally beery veneer to help expose a vibrant vinous underbelly.

They quickly found support from the city’s most prominent purveyors of wine including Bench Le Cave, Elm, Gills & Co, The Harritt, Mitchell’s, The Pangolin, The Pearl, SHÖP by JÖRO, and Starmore Boss. These founding members will be highlighted on a collectable Sheffield Wine Week map available for free at participating locations.

“A big part of why we opened

Tenaya Wine was to try and expand the world of wine in Sheffield,” said Sarah Hatton and Virginia Myers, the bar and wine shop’s co-owners. “Since then, we have welcomed a few new wine spots and it’s so exciting to see the wine scene growing in this great city. Sheffield Wine Week is a way to celebrate the growing appreciation of good wine here and open the community’s eyes to what’s on offer.”

“I love beer. It’s part of what initially endeared me to Sheffield,” explained Mike Pomranz, co-owner of both The Old Shoe and importer Quality Ferments. “But in recent years, we’ve seen a continued confluence of top-quality beer, wine, cider, and other drinks into a single category of artisan alcoholic beverages. Beer certainly gets its due; Sheffield already has a beer week. ‘Confluence Week’ sounds a bit insane. So ‘Sheffield Wine Week’ was the next logical step to further advocate for all of the amazing drinks offered at bars and shops across the city.”

Andy Trudgill, owner of Gills & Co, a wine shop, bar and restaurant on Ecclesall Road, added: “There’s now so much choice for the people of Sheffield when it comes to finding somewhere to try and learn more about wine. This is why it’s so great to be part of Sheffield Wine Week, having all these independents come together to celebrate all things wine.”

Sounds good, no? To see the initial list of events – with plenty more expected to be added as the week gets closer — head to sheffieldwineweek.co.uk/events. Anyone within the wine trade interested in participating in Sheffield Wine Week can contact the organisers at info@sheffieldwineweek. co.uk.

SPOTLIGHT ON:

HALLAMSHIRE HOTEL

Whether it’s for live gigs, a refined tipple or a late-night boogie on Sheffield’s coolest looking dancefloor, there’s ample reason to check in at The Hally Hotel.

Opening back in February, this quirky West Street boozer has already become a hot favourite on the local music scene, hosting some memorable gigs from both local and travelling artists as well as showing off its brand-new soundsystem with DJ sets that go through to the wee hours.

After years of being largely unused, the upstairs area now boasts a new stage, marking a return to the venue’s illustrious history as a host to numerous acts from Sheffield and beyond, including local legends like Pulp, Clock DVA and Richard Hawley.

The downstairs area showcases a striking and surreal aesthetic, creating an atmosphere that could be described as ‘Kubrick chic’. Throw in the fact that Sheffield hasn’t seen such an extraordinary dance floor in years (unless you remember the days of Stardust) and the result is a retro-inspired that oozes cool vibes.

Will McMahon, Ops Manager of Hallamshire Hotel, told Exposed: “The response to our opening night was amazing and it's been great seeing the venue go from strength to strength since then. We're really happy with the feedback on the new look and we're pleased to see it's as attention-grabbing as we'd hoped! It's a great feeling when people say they've never seen a bar like this before. The live room upstairs has seen some fantastic acts grace the stage so far and I think people are surprised at how great it looks and sounds up there. We can't wait for more as we look to Tramlines and beyond.”

With the warmer months approaching, the new cocktail menu and wide offer of craft beers and ciders is sure to go hand-in-hand with the revamped beer garden space.

@hallamshire_hotel

JUNE GIGS AT THE HALLAMSHIRE HOTEL

5: HYDEOUT

15: SPLINT

18: GARETH DUNLOP

22: IN THE NURSERY + SIEBEN

28: MY ONLY SOLUTION + ALL EARS AVOW + BANSITH

29: DUBINSKI

All tickets available at hallamshirehotel.pub

Sheffield is regularly regarded as one of the UK’s top beer destinations, but in recent years, a small but strong cadre of bars, restaurants, and shops have been making the case that the Steel City can be considered a top wine destination as well. Find us

Email: info@sheffieldwineweek.co.uk

Web: www.sheffieldwineweek.co.uk

You can also follow us on social media: Instagram: @sheffwineweek

Facebook: @sheffwineweek

Twitter / X: @sheffwineweek

Following the worldwide success of debut album Talk To Me, Sheffield soul artist Kat Eaton tells Exposed how her second album revisits some integral early influences and pulls no punches lyrically.

Hi Kat, how are you getting on?

Good! We’ve been busy getting everything together for this tour, we’ve got some UK shows and some dates in Europe as well, so there’s plenty to do and sort out.

Not to mention doing promo for your latest album, Honestly, which is out now. How are you looking forward to taking that to the stage?

It can be a difficult one when you work on an album, finish it, and then have to talk about it much later on, because it can kind of feel like old news by then. I mean, we’ve already started working on the next album! However, me and Nick had a couple of rehearsals recently and it was really cool to hear some of these songs live for the first time. So, I was over it before we revisited these songs and I’m now really looking forward to the tour; the songs take on a new life.

Your debut record, Talk To Me, came out in 2021. How does this follow-up build on those foundations?

We loved that first record, and it has loads of fun influences in there from the likes of Mama’s

Gun and Emily King. For this album, we were really inspired by Sheffield musician Frank White, who sadly passed away in March 2020, and we wanted to make something that was a bit of a homage to him and all the music we grew up listening to, so Nick wrote a song called ‘Saturday Night at the NBT’ which was about going the New Barrack Tavern with Frank and playing/watching live music. So, this album goes back to the roots of the music we loved when we used to go and see Frank – a lot of gospel, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. It was an itch we wanted to scratch, and we’ve done it.

He sounded like a real force of nature as a personality, and he was also clearly quite influential on your career?

Yes, for both me and my husband, Nick, who’s also my songwriting partner and producer. Me and Nick got together when we were 16 and our first gig was going to see Frank play, and Frank later got us our first gig, at the Crown in Totley. He was very influential in the early days in terms of telling us to write and perform

the music we love rather than worrying about stuff that we thought was cool or on-trend. In school, me and Nick were playing blues, jazz, soul and rock ‘n’ roll while a lot of others were listening to Linkin Park and Foo Fighters. We’d go and see Frank almost every weekend – we must have seen him at The Pheasant a thousand times – and he showed us that you could have a career in music, but you didn’t have to reach the status of Bruce Springsteen or Beyonce. It doesn’t have to be about becoming a superstar.

They seem like important lessons to learn as an aspiring musician. It feels like these days, there’s an increasing pressure on young musicians to continuously push and promote themselves on social media. It must feel like a constant anxiety. Yeah, it’s awful. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to start being a musician in this day and age, when everything is so saturated and you have put on your best self all the time. But it’s interesting because whenever I’ve been honest or vulnerable through social media, I’ve had a really

good reception from it – rather than going around saying “everything’s brilliant”. Of course, not everything’s brilliant; it’s a f*cking nightmare at times and you have huge existential crises and there’s a lot of insecurity and you feel only as good as your last piece of work. I’ve tried to be as open and honest as possible with this album, hence the name, and I suppose just to fight against the pretence of always putting on your best and bravest face. That’s bullshit. We all struggle, and it is what it is.

On that note, what would you most like people to take away from this record?

I hope they enjoy it; I hope they can have a dance, a laugh and a cry. I hope that they can take something of Frank away from the record and feel and hear the history of what we’ve experienced with Frank and the Sheffield music scene. I also hope it brings people a bit of solace and they feel seen.

Honestly is out now. Kat Eaton plays Yellow Arch on 28 June, tickets (£15) available now from www.kateaton.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRIS SAUNDERS

MY LIFE IN MUSIC

Kat takes us on a stroll through her musical past, sharing the key moments and experiences that have shaped the journey so far…

THE FIRST RECORD I BOUGHT…

‘How Deep Is Your Love’ by Take That, which I would’ve bought from Virgin Megastores on the corner of Fargate. Maybe not the coolest, but it’s definitely the first one I can remember getting in my hand. This was before I started listening to blues and soul! The next one would’be have been an album by The Offspring, who I still love to be honest.

MY FIRST GIG…

The first gig I played was ‘Battle of the Bands’ at Silverdale school in Sheffield. Nick wrote a song and we also performed a cover, which I think might’ve been ‘Further on Up the Road’. The second gig was at The Boardwalk, where we did a few covers including Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker and BB King.

A SONG I WISH I’D WRITTEN…

I really love ‘Distance’ by Emily King. It’s beautiful and really clever.

I FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH MUSIC WHEN…

Growing up, I listened to so much music with my dad. He would put a record on in the morning to wake us up. I remember listening to Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd and just thinking it was genius. I had the opportunity to listen to music with my dad and not feeling embarrassed to show emotion at it; we would just sit there in silence, reading the sleeves and taking it all in. The sun would be coming through the window and we’d have this quiet, contemplative moment without any other distractions. It was a beautiful thing to do.

A SONG I CAN’T GET OUT OF MY HEAD…

I’m going to say ‘I Need a Win’ by Mama’s Gun. It’s a very cool song.

A SONG THAT REMINDS ME OF A SPECIFIC TIME AND PLACE…

Oh, Incubus and another called ‘Wish You Were Here’! It reminds me of being a 14-year-old teenager, and my boyfriend at the time ripped the album and gave me a copy with a printed-out cover. It just reminds me of listening to that song in my bedroom during the summer. Good times.

MUSIC ALLOWS ME TO…

Vent. Express myself. It allows me to understand myself and the world. It allows me to connect with all sorts of people, which is an amazing thing to do, isn’t it? So, yeah – it allows me to connect with others and feel connected myself.

@kateatonmusic

MOCK ‘N’ ROLL

Peddling frenetic, glam-infused garagepunk forged in the darkened corners of a town centre Spoons, Mock Tudors are here to engage you with heady tales of bin day antics, canine-led pub crawls and tricky tax return forms. Exposed’s Joe Food located a comfy snug with two of the trio, Ben Hall and Richard Birkin, to discuss the band’s latest release and their upcoming album, Good Drinkin’ Times.

How did it all begin?

BH: I think the genesis of it was in this very room. Our friends had a gig booked at Sidney & Matilda and the headline band dropped out, so the room was free all evening. We’d been drinking all day and decided that we couldn’t let this evening go on without some kind of gig happening.

RB: We were called Screaming Bastards. That was the on-the-spot, six-pints-in name we came up with.

BH: We rang Tufty up at the venue, hired the room and improvised music on the night.

RB: And that is the only time I’ve seen someone slutdrop at a gig.

When did Screaming Bastards becoming Mock Tudors?

BH: In January 2023, me and Tom were sat in the pub jamming to a song called ‘Mock Tudor’. That’s where it came from. With the name sorted, we then rang Rich up and asked if he was up for making some music in Delicious Clam, just the

three of us in a rehearsal room making silly songs.

How does the dynamic work as a trio?

BH: We’re all good drinking times characters. I also think it’s quite democratic in a way, which is really nice. It’s really liberating to be able to share all the duties.

RB: It’s very easy, almost too easy. I remember walking through Sheffield Bus Station on the way to our first practice, guitars in plastic bags, and it felt like being 16 again. It’s more of a laugh now, though, because you’re not worried about what people think and can just enjoy it.

BH: Yeah, I think we try not to set too much expectation for the writing side of things, even though we do take it seriously in some respects. We like it to be quite spontaneous; we’ll put a phone in the corner of the room and listen back to what we were making a few days later.

There seems to be a thread of writing songs about the everyday humdrum of

life – ‘Bin Day’, which is self-explanatory; ‘Hair of the Dog’, again something many could relate to; and ‘Self Assessment’, which kicks off an EP about filing your tax returns. Is this a conscious decision or part of the spontaneity?

BH: I think Tom is interested in kitchen sink imagery, but we also all share the same sense of humour. We’re all freelance, kind of dossers in a way, and I feel like we’re interested in romanticising quite mundane stuff.

But also making fun, upbeat punk rock tracks out of the everyday.

BH: Yeah, I suppose that’s the juxtaposition.

RB: Everyone’s got a bin, you know?

Everyone thinks about bin day.

RB: And you’d suspect a lot of people would think about self-assessment tax returns, but not in Birmingham. Before playing ‘Self Assessment’, we asked if anyone in the crowd was self-employed and … silence. We had to reassure them

that we weren’t the taxman.

‘Hair of the Dog’ is the latest release. I like to think that came about on one of those post-big-night pub meetings, where the third pint hits and everything’s okay again for a bit.

RB: That song was written in our ‘writing booth’ in the back of the Banker’s Draft. We do the lyrics there and go back to [Delicious] Clam to rehearse.

BH: That song was originally called ‘Man from the Bog’, and we were trying to write a song about a man … from the bog. He basically gets reincarnated and goes around town getting pissed. But we realised it didn’t quite roll off the tongue, so “man from the bog” was replaced with “hair of the dog”.

RB: It must’ve been like watching a really bad episode of Get Back

That single will feature on the upcoming album, Good Drinkin’ Times, out at the end of August. What can you tell us about the record and how things have

moved on since your last release, Bozo?

BH: There are a few songs that we wrote a year ago that didn’t really fit with the last set of songs we put out, and then the remainder have been written in the last two months or so. I’d say there’s a similar vein to the last album running through this one, but there’s slightly more junk shop glam in Good Drinkin' Times, a bit more punk, too, and it’s more honed.

Some daft ones to finish off. If Mock Tudors had a spirit animal, what would it be and why?

BH: I was gonna say a big bulldog. Or a shaggy little mutt.

RB: If not that, a squirrel.

Why squirrel?

RB: One night a squirrel saved my life.

Fair do’s. If hair of the dog isn’t an option, what’s the best hangover cure?

BH: Mine is a packet of Snaps crisps and a Lucozade Sport.

RB: Agree on Lucozade Sport, but don’t

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘HAIR OF THE DOG’ HERE

try to drink it like a sportsperson as I did, squirting it into your mouth. It doesn't end well.

If you could resurrect someone from the Tudor era to join the band, who would it be and why?

BH: Oh, I don’t know. Maybe we’d resurrect Richard III and he’d just dance around and go mental, a bit like Bez.

Sound. And finally, if you had to persuade someone to pop along to your gig at Sidney & Matilda in September, how would you go about that?

RB: What is it – 11 pounds a ticket? I guarantee you’ll not be disappointed with spending that. We’ve got enough in the tank to take you on a journey throughout the set, with stuff coming out that’ll probably even surprise us.

Good Drinkin’ Times is out on 30 Aug and tickets for the Sheffield gig at Sidney & Matilda on 18 Sept are out now. More on socials: @mocktudors.

MUSIC

A NEW CHAPTER

Emerging from the ashes of the critically acclaimed Sheffield-based band Ophelia, The Greatest Endangered Thing is an exciting new project by indiefolk artists Samuel Taylor and Rebecca Van Cleave. After releasing their debut album, Phosphenes: Vol 1, Exposed caught up with the duo to discuss the new directions explored in the album, the vitality of the local folk scene and the essence of youth captured in their latest single, ‘Delilah’.

Hello! Could you please introduce yourself to the Exposed readership?

Hey! We’re Samuel and Rebecca and we’re a Sheffield-based indie-folk band called The Greatest Endangered Thing.

The last time we caught up you were writing under the name Ophelia. What inspired the change and has it coincided with a shift in styles too? Yes! It’s been quite a journey. There were a few unfortunate elements that all hit at the same time just after we released our first album for Ophelia, meaning that we needed to press pause and regroup. But everything happens for a reason, and it enabled us to take a breath to look at what was in front of us and figure out how we wanted to move forward. We found the name The Greatest Endangered Thing in a poem called Your Soft Heart by Nikita Gill. It stuck with us; it was everything we had been looking for and felt like a perfect new beginning. Nikita kindly allowed us to use it for this project.

Style-wise, it’s the same and it’s different. I think there will always be a similarity there because it’s us, but there are new elements. There’s a lot more space in the recordings, a lot more room to breathe. We wanted to escape the noise, to stop filling every moment just because we could. We built it up and stripped it right back. It was about making every part complementary: if it didn’t add something, it was taken away. Our vocals are often in harmony on this project, rather than trading off on lead. There’s still the energy of Ophelia, but

there’s a softness too. It feels more raw in a way. So, The Greatest Endangered Thing is Ophelia and it’s also something new – a little older, a little wiser and hopefully something that can continue and grow for many years to come.

Sheffield has enjoyed a vibrant folk scene for quite some time, producing some remarkable artists and music along the way. Why do you think that is?

Sheffield has such an abundance of musical talent across all genres. It’s a little tricky to hypothesise about the alchemy of it all; there must be something in the water here. We feel very lucky to be part of such a great music scene and a wonderful community.

On that note, are there any artists from the local scene who you feel particularly enthused or inspired by? There are far too many to list, but we’re playing a gig with Rhiannon Scutt and Robbie Thompsom – both incredible artists. We’re excited to be sharing the stage with them as well as Philippe Clegg and Ruth Nicholson. All of them are doing very cool things in the local music scene, working with younger artists and in lots of different projects, solo and collaborative. For this record, we were also lucky enough to have Jon Boden come into the studio for a day and add some violin parts to the tracks. He created such beautiful moments, pulling out melodies that really took the songs to a new place. He’s an incredible

musician. We are very grateful to have him on it.

Your latest single, ‘Delilah’, features on the recently released EP Phosphenes: Volume 1. Could you tell us a bit about the inspirations behind that track and how it links into the wider themes and sounds explored in the EP?

There’s a bit of a loose narrative that ended up running through all the songs on Phosphenes. It focuses on the past, the present, the in-between. The name of the album came from the idea of memories: the way that when you close your eyes, memories often come back in short glimpses, disjointed pieces, nonlinear fragments. The way they can be triggered by colours or scents or sounds. These tiny little snapshots of a life, of a moment. They’re all part of a bigger story, but when you close your eyes, all you have are the remnants, the bits that stuck. And those become the new story, the one that stayed.

In creating ‘Delilah’, we wanted to focus on that feeling of the sweet headiness of youth: the electric current that runs through your veins when you realise you could sweep the board or lose everything in a single hand; the cheap thrill of impending danger; the rush of losing yourself in a new person, a new place; of burning so brightly you may spontaneously combust at any moment. We wanted it to feel explosive, tender, urgent, playful, edgy, celebratory, hedonistic, a hand placed a little too close to the flame.

What else is on the horizon for the band?

We’re off to Greece next month to finish off writing Volume 2 and begin working on the next record. We’re hoping to release it by the end of this year/early next year, with some other small releases in between. And definitely some live shows. We’re really looking forward to gigging again. It’s felt like a long time since we were consistently playing live, what with the name change and then the pandemic and the live music scene shifting, it’s felt like a journey to get back to it. But we played a gig last month and there was something so incredibly special about the immediacy of it all. It reminded us how much we missed it. People in a room together, collectively sharing an evening, a moment ... there’s nothing like it.

Keep up to date with gig and release announcements on the band’s socials: @thegreatesten dangeredthing.

MUSIC

STEVE EDWARDS @ LIBRARY THEATRE

PHOTO: MAL WHICHELOW // WORDS: NICK HARLAND

Steve Edwards is Sheffield royalty. Since roughly around the time of the Big Bang, he has been churning out relentlessly upbeat tunes in various projects, side projects and side side projects. He has been a producer, songwriter, singer, backup vocalist, guitarist and everything in between. He has been twice Grammy-nominated, written number one hits and performed all over the world.

Yet there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of him.

Maybe it’s because he has so often been the guy behind the guy (behind the guy) – often a songwriter or producer. But tonight is different. Steve has worn many hats over the course of his colourful career, but this gig is simple enough: An Evening with Steve Edwards.

For tonight is a celebration. Five years ago, Steve was diagnosed with cancer. And for a short while, he admits he thought he might never have another chance to play his songs live again. So, this is indeed a celebration; a special one-off gig to raise money for Weston Park Cancer Charity, as well as a chance to raise a glass to the superhuman staff at the Northern General and Cavendish Cancer Care.

It’s at the Library Theatre, which is a 200-capacity all-seater venue tucked inside a secret corridor behind, well, the library. It’s certainly one of the lesser-known venues in Sheffield, but it feels like a good

metaphor for Steve’s still-underground status in the city.

On stage tonight, he almost breaks down as he recounts the moment he first heard his cancer diagnosis. It’s the first time there’s anything other than a huge grin on his face all evening. Backed by his 7-piece Momentum of Love backing band, at times the set seemingly survives solely on that relentless feeling of love and positivity that Steve has preached for so long.

As the set progresses, you’re reminded of the diversity of his work: there’s funk, there’s soul, there’s gospel, there’s pop, there’s pretty much everything here. ‘Northern Black’ – a proud proclamation of his dual heritage – soars on a tidal wave of Sheffield and Black pride, whilst ‘World, Hold On’ – ahem – Grammynominated ‘World, Hold On’ draws a huge singalong from the now-standing crowd. Steve’s back catalogue is as diverse as they come, but if there’s one theme that connects all of his songs together, it’s that very Sheffield of declarations: love. It seems to imbue everything he does and every song he writes. And just like Sheffield itself, Steve has had knockbacks, been underestimated, even underappreciated, but simply gets up, dusts himself down again and calls you love.

Say it again: Steve Edwards is Sheffield royalty.

NUBIYAN TWIST

Leadmill // 7 June // £15

The Leeds-born 9-piece jazz ensemble will be taking to the stage at The Leadmill this month. Their music, which encompasses a variety of styles and genres from Afrobeat to electronica, works perfectly for creating mesmerising live shows. The band, led by Tom Excell, will be joined by vocalist Aziza Jaye to bring their latest album to life. leadmill.co.uk

I MONSTER

Leadmill // 21 June // £25

Join some of Sheffield’s best musical talent for their homecoming show. The electronic duo are guaranteed to play a collection of tracks from their extensive discography. I Monster will be supported by the multitalented Kid Acne. leadmill.co.uk

KAT EATON ALBUM LAUNCH

Yellow Arch Studios // 28 June // £16.50

To celebrate the release of her sophomore album, the soul-singer, Kat Eaton is holding an album launch party. Eaton is sure to perform a handful of songs from her new album ‘Honestly’ with backing from her talented live band, who have supported the likes of Tom Jones and Van Morrison.  yellowarch.com

FUNKY DRUMMER 3: TC & THE GROOVE FAMILY

Yellow Arch Studios // 14 June // £15

After the success of their two previously sold-out shows, Funky Drummer is holding one final club night of the season. The 10-piece afro-fusion band will be mixing live and electronic music to create a dancefloor-filling atmosphere. An impressive laser and lighting display will accompany the music.  yellowarch.com

THE MYSTERINES

Foundry // 18 June // £13.50

The Liverpudlian alternative rock band will be taking to the stage at the Foundry this month. The group are sure to be teasing some tracks from their upcoming album ‘Afraid of Tomorrows’ alongside some of the classic fan favourites.  foundrysu.com

DOC ROLL

He’s a complete Doc-head, but he’s our Doc-head. Our seasoned Sheffield Docfest reviewer Mark Perkins picks out the highlights from this year’s celebration of documentary-making...

Admittedly, it’s not all that likely to come up in the Waggon and Horses’ Monday night quiz, but if anyone ever asks you the question “which globally renowned film event takes place in Sheffield in June each year?”, the answer is, of course, DocFest.

There really isn’t anything in the year that gets my cinematic juices flowing more than when the DocFest team announce what they have planned.

Of course, it’s not just for us Sheffield folk: 3,000plus delegates from over 60 different countries attend the festival. For its 31st year, we will have to choose from a handpicked selection of 109 films over the six days, 48 of which are World Premieres. I’ll try to give a flavour of the films and events on offer, pointing out a few that look

likely to be in the ‘unmissable’ category. However, every year I’m delighted to be proved wrong when some unlikely piece of skilfully crafted storytelling becomes the hot ticket of the festival, often winning the much-coveted Audience Award in the process.

As is now tradition, the opening film will be shown at Sheffield City Hall. This year, they’ve chosen to screen the world premiere of Kevin MacDonald’s Klitschko: More Than A Fight

The filmmakers have been given unprecedented access to former heavyweight boxing world champion Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir, who together dominated the sport for more than a decade. Now the longest-serving Mayor of Kyiv, this feature-length documentary

charts Vitali’s journey from the ring to political office, leading the defence of the capital when it was attacked by Russian forces in February 2022 through to the present day.

Amongst other films that have caught my eye is The Hexagonal Hive and a Mouse in a Maze, co-directed by Tilda Swinton. Believe it or not, one of my claims to fame is that I talked to her in a queue at a DocFest event in 2018. It turns out she wasn’t just there for a natter with me; the film was actually being pitched that year at the Docfest MeetMarket, where filmmakers try to find backers for their upcoming projects. Another one I’m definitely going to watch will be the world premiere of My Sweet Land. It’s a coming-of-age tale focusing on the story of an 11-yearold, Vrej, who lives in the war-torn region of Nagorno-Karabakh – an area internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but disputed by neighbouring Armenia. As his school lessons become increasingly militarised, Vrej struggles to hold on to his childhood dreams.

DocFest has six recurring themes running through the week: Rhythms,

Debates, People and Community, Journeys, Memories and Rebellions

I always take a keen interest in the music films, which are generally in the Rhythm strand, and this year looks as compelling as ever. Eno With Live Mix will be a unique, never-tobe-repeated experience, in that it is a film that is ‘re-mixed’ every time it is shown. Unsurprisingly, it is a portrait of musician, artist, activist and all-round polymath Brian Eno. I’m also very much looking forward to the world premiere of Blur: To the End and the UK premiere of Chris Smith’s DEVO

Reflecting the medium’s ever-growing popularity, two live podcast events will be part of this year’s programme, reflecting DocFest’s commitment to embracing all types of broadcast media. The Last Witness, with actor Michael Sheen, looks like one to catch, where he chats with Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor about the upcoming series they are working on.

If you fancy watching some TV shows before they hit the (not so) small screen, three world exclusives are being shown of forthcoming series, all of which will

be followed by conversations with the stars and creators. Four Kings looks like a big hit (pun very much intended), charting the rivalry between Frank Bruno, Lennox Lewis, Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn. The screening will be followed by Frank Bruno himself in conversation with the filmmakers. But seasoned fans will know that screening films is only one part of DocFest. Increasingly over the years, it has provided an opportunity to widen the definition of a documentary way beyond the cinema screen to embrace all aspects of telling real-life stories. I’m talking about their world-class Alternate Realities events, which run all day in the Site Gallery and are completely free. If I had to list the DocFest events that have lived with me the longest, they often come from here. This year, the most compelling may well be an installation where participants navigate the world as a a bat! Nocturnal Fugue, by renowned artists Jiabao Li and Matt McCorkle, is described as a multisensorial installation that, if I understand it correctly, allows participants to find their way around objects in the way a bat

does, using just echolocation. Another intriguing (and slightly perturbing) instalment is The Finger Rub Rug by Laura A Dima, consisting of a carpet of 1,300 lifelike silicone fingers, each a replica of a cast from the artist’s partner.

The Crucible will be the venue for eight talks and interviews, all of which will explore the stories and personalities associated with documentary in its widest form. One event I’ll be going to is a talk from the creative team behind National Geographic’s documentary, Erased: WW2’s Heroes Of Colour, which will include Idris Elba, the documentary’s narrator. Also in the main Crucible theatre, this year’s BBC Interview will be with Simon Reeve, and the Channel 4 Interview will feature Anna Hall.

Many of the documentaries will have a post-screening interview with some of the creative team or stars, and some of the more popular events will also be staged in the Crucible. One film that is certain to draw crowds marks the 40th anniversary of events at Orgreave. The discussion following the world premiere of the film Strike: An Uncivil War,

BUT SEASONED FANS WILL KNOW THAT SCREENING FILMS IS ONLY ONE PART OF DOCFEST. INCREASINGLY OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIDEN THE DEFINITION OF A DOCUMENTARY WAY BEYOND THE CINEMA SCREEN TO EMBRACE ALL ASPECTS OF TELLING REAL-LIFE STORIES.”

directed by Daniel Gordon, will feature ex-miners, journalists and Jon McClure (Reverend and the Makers). They will be discussing the film and no doubt the events surrounding what became known as the infamous Battle of Orgreave.

The whole of DocFest is squeezed into just six days in June, from the 12th to the 17th, and takes place in The Showroom, Site Gallery, Curzon Cinema, Channing Hall and many other venues dotted across the city centre. Most of the events are ticketed, and advance booking is always a good idea (although events at the end of the festival are more likely to have tickets on the door, as some of the delegates have planes to catch).

Head to www.sheffdocfest.com for ticket info, which includes everything from individual films to purchasing a day pass or even one for the whole week. There are concessionary prices available, including discounts for carers, students, over-60s, claimants, and those unable to afford the standard prices (all operated on a trust basis).

SHOW YOUR PRIDE

Flags at the ready – it’s June which means it’s Pride month, and we have a packed month of events to celebrate. The first of the city’s prides is Kelham Pride (Sat 1 Jun) with the parade starting from Kelham Island Museum to the Main Stage on Burton Road. Main stage acts include BiPolar Abdul, King Confuza, Kavita, DJ Chris, Electric Blue, Haus of Gaga, Mx Rio, Colbalt Tales, Ivy Alexxander, Sam Beagles, D’rama Qween & Gordon Pocket. SAYiT, who celebrate 25 years of supporting LGBTQ+ young people in the city this year, will be hosting the youth area on Percy Street, where you will also find the market stalls and there will be more performances at partner venues across Kelham including Peddler, Yellow Arch, Alder Barm Factory Floor, Neepsend Social, Happy’s, Parrot Club, Grafters and Kelham Kitchen &

Wine Bar. And if one Pride isn’t enough for you, then fear not, as Sheffield Radical Pride (Sun 23 Jun) is back, marching from City Hall at 1 pm to their Queer Takeover, reminding us that Pride is a Protest and what we are still fighting for.

We also have an abundance of queer film offerings to mark the season with Pride programmes at Showroom, Curzon and Cineworld and plenty of queer content as part of this year’s DocFest. Showroom’s programme kicks off with an interactive screening of Rocky Horror (Sat 1 Jun) hosted by the university’s Horror, Drag and LGBTQ+ societies with live drag performances. They also have a 10th-anniversary screening of Pride (Sun 2 Jun) followed by a Q&A with Mike Jackson, co-founder of Lesbians & Gays Support the Miners and three nights of the classic Priscilla Queen of the Desert (21/22/23

June). Showroom Workstation will also be hosting Project 6’s Ideas Conference 2024 (Thu 6 Jun) bringing together an action-packed programme of professionals and activists to explore what’s the problem with inclusion? How do we build diversity and an authentic sense of belonging for all groups in the drug and alcohol sector?

Curzon’s Pride listings include My Own Private Idaho (Sat 1 Jun), Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Sat 8 Jun), All About My Mother (Sat 22 Jun) and Call Me By Your Name (Sun 30 Jun). While over at Cineworld, we have Death Becomes Her (Tue 4 Jun), Pride (Wed 12 Jun), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Wed 19 Jun) and Carol (Wed 26 Jun).

DocFest returns with a wealth of LGBTQ+ screenings among their vast lineup including Teaches of Peaches (12/13 Jun) celebrating the groundbreaking career which helped kick open

the doors that enabled women in music to talk more frankly about sex, identity, rage and their own, uncompromised artistry, The Backstreet (12/13 Jun) an intimate exploration of four decades of desire, community, love and loss through the eyes of regulars at The Backstreet, an iconic London gay leather club, We Can Be Heroes (14/16/17 Jun) a lifeaffirming film which unfolds in a live-action role-playing camp that offers neurodivergent, queer and self-proclaimed ‘nerdy’ teenagers space for self-discovery and Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (15/16 Jun) and ode to pioneering Black trans soul musician Jackie Shane. In addition to the film screenings, there is also a workshop at Site Gallery, Transcending Queer Utopias: Terrarium Building (Sat 15 Jun) transforming digital ideal worlds for LGBTQIA+ communities into physical, living creations. The workshop includes

a private view of LETU: Frankie’s Story open to QTIPOC (Queer, Trans, Intersex People of Colour). Sheffield LGBTQ+ youth charity SAYiT are hosting two online events this month; Working with LGBTQ+ Young People Forum (Mon 3 Jun) a lunchtime drop in session for professionals to find out more about current issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities and LGBTQ+ History (Wed 26 Jun) open to anyone interested in learning more about our histories. Over at Juno Books, Nancy Lindisfarne and Jonathan Neale will be discussing their book, Why Men?: A Human History of Violence and Inequality (Wed 5 Jun).

If you’re after group sessions and activities, then Rainbow Minds (Every Wed) meets at the Wellbeing Centre in Sharrow for members of the LGBTQ+ community who are isolated, lonely or who have mental health

needs, Trans-Active Swimming (Every Saturday) meet for a group swim at Heeley baths open to any trans, non-binary and genderquestioning adults of all fitness levels and the Diversity Fest (Sun 9 Jun) organising a group meet-up at the Showroom bar to continue planning this years’ festival.

Bringing the queer joy and laughter at Leadmill this month, we have comedy from bisexual, nonbinary comedian and author Sofie Hagen (Tue 4 Jun) with their brand new stand-up show and book ‘Will I Ever Have Sex Again?’ and lesbian comedian Catherine Bohart (Mon 10 Jun) as seen on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, A League Of Their Own, Pointless Celebrities, Celebrity Mastermind and as a correspondent on The Mash Report.

The highly virtuosic contemporary dance performance The Monocle (Sat 15 Jun) takes

place at the Drama Studio telling the story of Le Monocle, a secretly notorious lesbian cabaret in 1930s Paris. International non-binary beatboxing star SK Shlomo (Sat 1 Jun) takes to the stage at Playhouse with awardwinning new solo show Breathe, a rollercoaster love letter to the lifesaving power of beats, bass & breathing.

There are of course plenty of drag happenings throughout the month. The Malin Bridge lineup includes The Comedy Queens: Anett Curtain and Sassy DJ Brooke (Sat 1 Jun) joining forces for the night, Tanya Minge’s Drag Queen Bingo (Fri 21 Jun) and The Miss Bella End Show (Sat 22 Jun). Electric Blue, Big Taystee and Ivy Alexxander head to Eckington Civic Centre for their Pride special Don’t Be A Drag Just Be A Queen (Fr 14 Jun) and Demspeys resident queen, Ivabollocoff will be hosting their fancy dress Rocky Horror Night (Wed 12

Jun) and Karaoke (every Wed). And Manahatta have an array of iconic drag queens for their Pride Extravaganza Bottomless Brunch (Sun 9 Jun) with dance performances throughout the afternoon, games, quizzes and more.

Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ inclusive rugby team have the Sheffield Vulcans Kit Launch 2024 (Sat 22 Jun) at the OEC with a party night unveiling their sleek new kit and introducing their new sponsors. And last but not least, queer hyperpop collective CYB3R are at Panke Social with CYB3R BR4T (Fri 7 Jun) an unofficial album launch party for Charli XCX’s sixth studio record “Brat”.

That’s your lot for this month. Do make sure to check out the latest event announcements at www.facebook.com/ sheffieldlgbtevents.

COMEDY

A STAND-UP GUY

Our resident funnyman, Daniel Inniss, is back with news of big announcements, fresh nights to enjoy and some milestone celebrations on the local comedy scene…

It’s great to be back with a column for Exposed, and let me tell you, the standup comedy scene in Sheffield is in the rudest of health!

It’s always fantastic gigging in the Steel City, and the comedy-savvy audiences around these parts have been loving the acts that have been taking to the stage. Personally speaking, things are busy and I’ve been lucky enough to gig all over the country recently, but it’s always brilliant coming back to my monthly nights in my hometown, and boy, have there been some crackers, with plenty more to come throughout the year!

The best thing for me is seeing outstanding new talent arriving on the stand-up scene, and a lot of this has come from new acts at my development night (Monday Night Comedy, first Monday every month) at The Ship Inn, Shalesmoor. I must admit, I’m not one for watching videos from comics that are sent through to me. Instead, I prefer asking them to come and perform at a lovely, intimate venue like The Ship where they can be seen live, where I can see the whites of their eyes as well as seeing them own the stage!

Honestly, I would advise any wouldbe comic to get themselves on a new material/development night, as this is

how to get noticed as well as providing you with invaluable stage time. Trust me, it’s the best way to progress in the embryonic stages of your comedy career.

May has been another FAB month, but June and July are set to be even busier ones with some superb performers heading to both Hagglers Corner (No Haggling, All Comedy) & Yellow Arch Comedy Club. Keep an eye out for my hot tips Daniel Blacow, David Smith, Kat Molinari and Maura Jackson performing at the two venues. I’d urge you to look them up on their socials to get a flavour of what they’re all about, and that’s just the beginning of the talents heading to the lineups at those venues (yes, I am a tease).

We’ve got a big do coming up – the three-year anniversary of Yellow Arch Comedy Club on 18th July – and we’ve pulled out all the stops, bringing the hilarious, brilliant Angelos Epithemiou (of The Angelos Epithemiou Show and sundry other TV shows). He’s back for the first time in two years, and if you haven’t seen Angelos live yet, I urge you not to miss this chance to see one of Britain’s finest at his best.

If that’s not enough excitement for you, I’m going to be making another major announcement through this

column in the coming months about taking stand-up comedy to another of Sheffield’s ICONIC venues. Put it this way: some of Britain’s best bands have played here and I’m so excited to be introducing stand-up comedy to this gorgeous spot.

See you all at one if not all these nights over the months, and I’ve handily listed a guide to everything coming up. Look after yourselves, Sheffield. Oh, and look out for next month’s column!

@danielinnisscomedy

MONTHLY COMEDY NIGHTS: The Ship Inn: First Monday of THE MONTH

Hagglers Corner (No Haggling, All Comedy): First Wednesday

Picture House Comedy at Picture House Social: Second Thursday (contact Tom Douglas through socials) Yellow Arch Comedy Club: Third Thursday

Baby Comedy Club: Back in September (details to follow)

Thorncliffe Sports Comedy Night (High Green): Friday 28th June - £10 entry, free pizza and hot dogs as well as wonderful stand-up comedy

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CULTURE

TEA AND CONTROVERSY

AHEAD OF THE SHEFFIELD THEATRES DEBUT OF THATCHER-RITE, WE SPOKE TO ITS CREATOR AND PERFORMER, JACK BOAL, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE INTERACTIVE SHOW TAKING A UNIQUE APPROACH TO EXPLORING THE PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LEGACY OF MARGARET THATCHER…

Hi Jack. Your one-person show has been described as ‘part political performance art, part slapstick drag show’. How would you describe ThatcherRite?

I would describe Thatcher-Rite as an interactive performance that directly asks the audience how they think the legacy of Margaret Thatcher has impacted the country. Mixed in with lip-sync, clown and autobiographical elements to give it that contemporary performance flavour. I enjoy that it can be many things: a drag-show, an interactive show, a clown show.

What inspired you to create the show?

I’m from Finchley in North London where Mrs Thatcher was the MP, so the inspiration came from trying to understand the area I grew up in – it’s very green, safe and boasts good schools but has little to no arts and culture or active nightlife. This is something really important to me and I had to leave my home area to find the life I wanted. I thought exploring Mrs Thatcher would be an interesting way to talk about this – and more widely how her legacy is felt across the country.

How did the unusual structure and format of the show evolve?

I always had an image in my

head of Mrs Thatcher hosting a tea party in the afterlife. I love hearing from the audience and the surprises they offer when called on and so I wanted to merge those two things together: political debate over tea and biscuits. I am primarily interested in giving a voice to the audience and asking questions where conflict can occur in a fun and enjoyable space.

There’s a fair amount of audience participation, but could tell us about some of the more notable audience cameos…

Yes, there is and that’s where the joy and fun of the show is at. A memorable audience member was someone in Nottingham who immediately was up for the fight and came in ready for an argument. When that happens, all I need to do is keep the conversation going and find the space to play. So, don’t hold back – I can take it!

How has the show largely been received by audiences?

Having performed the show in London, Nottingham and

Lincoln so far, every iteration has been different with new perspectives and observations that give the show its liveness. Nottingham was much younger and ready to argue it out. Lincoln was more reserved but with more personal testimonies and London was at my home venue, where there was a greater interest in the Jack persona that features in the show.

What are your feelings about today’s political climate, and does this show attempt to bridge the gap between Thatcher-era policy and the current political landscape? It’s pretty uninspiring… the leadership of the main political parties clearly haven’t generated a great level of turnout in the recent local elections. The show attempts to showcase the qualities of leadership that are devoid from our current crop but also remind us of the root causes for our housing crisis, our crisis in English identity, Brexit and more. Mrs Thatcher changed the fabric of our economy and society and there has been no serious offer of an alternative since. We won’t

be getting one in the next general election and more of the same won’t fix these problems – I don’t think we can live with kicking the can down the road much longer.

Thatcher-Rite is touring into June. What’s next for you and where else can we catch you? This is the final stop and the final ever show of ThatcherRite so it’ll be onto new projects and pastures. My next show will explore the state of care in England, inspired by my grandmother who died from dementia and titled in her name, Catherine. This will be a more traditional performance so no audience participation this time! In August, you can catch me at the Edinburgh Fringe hosting my cabaret idiots… GAY idiots – a variety night of yesteryear with drag, stand-up and clown. It’s going to be a blast. That’s on the 19th, 20th and 21st of August.

Thatcher-Rite heads to Sheffield Theatre’s Playhouse on Saturday 8th June with tickets available at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

CULTURE

THROUGH THE LENS BARKA PHOTOGRAPHY

First of all, could you introduce yourself to the Exposed readership?

Hi, I’m Bee, a portrait photographer. You can find me online under www. barkaphotography.co.uk or at my studio in Kelham Island. People can work with me on location or in my studio.

What first made you take up photography?

My grandad was a big film photography enthusiast; there were always photos drying somewhere in his cottage and cameras for us to play with. When I went traveling in my mid-twenties, I bought my first camera and got really into it, so much so that I applied for a one-year scholarship in Indonesia, which was one of the countries I had visited and fallen in love with. The course itself was a bit rubbish, but I was in a beautiful place, surrounded by beautiful people, and taking photos became second nature to me. After that, it was just like building blocks.

Has your style evolved much since starting out?

Of course – it’s inevitable, I think. I’ve always been fascinated by people, so that hasn’t changed at all. But I’ve become more attuned to how the light interacts with the camera, as well as to different poses, colours and moods in general. I started to explore what makes me tick and started shedding what didn’t feel like me. The way I edit now is miles apart from how I started, and I’m pretty sure things will keep morphing.

What are some of the secrets behind good portrait photography? For me, it’s staying true to myself. Sometimes, people ask for things I just don’t do, and it shows. I’ve learnt to say no when a shoot doesn’t feel like a good fit. But when there’s a vibe and you’re all having a good time, it’s magic. If there’s ever a time and a place for showing off,

it’s in front of a camera! So, encouraging a client to be a bit silly is always good. And keep making those connections – Kelham Island is a great place to be based because there are so many interesting characters around. Social media is a great way to connect, too.

Who on the Sheffield music scene do you particularly enjoy shooting?

Anyone that is willing, really – musicians are great to photograph! In particular, I had some great sessions with Tsarzi. She wrote her one-woman show, Gone to the Dogs, in the studio next door and took it to the Edinburgh Fringe last year. She’s an incredible musician and just an inspiring person to be around. We had a lot of laughs – and a lot of silly and wonderful shoots.

I also really enjoyed my shoot with Melrose Quartet. We just had a good laugh during the whole session, and they let me put them into a giant flowerpot, because why not?

What advice would you give to aspiring photographers who are looking to refine their craft and find their own style?

It’s so easy to keep looking at others, comparing your abilities and beating yourself up over the mistakes you’ve made. But those mistakes are the foundation of the knowledge you’re gaining. So, if you love taking photos, just keep at it (am I talking to the readers or myself right now?) Listen to what your body is telling you – you can always push yourself, but there will be something in your art that you keep coming back to, and that is your calling.

You can find Bee’s work on Facebook, Instagram @barka_ photography_sheffield and at barkaphotography.co.uk. Get in touch to discuss hiring her as a photographer.

CULTURE

CLUEDO 2 @ LYCEUM THEATRE

WORDS: JOSEPH FOOD PHOTO: ALASTAIR MUIR

Last May, the stage adaptation of Cluedo arrived at Sheffield Theatres – a deliberately silly whodunnit caper based on the iconic board game (which consequently inspired an American film, Clue, and then an American play of the same name). The original outing, brought to life by Mark Bell of The Play That Goes Wrong, was a self-aware, feelgood farce done, in my humble opinion, pretty darn well: shedloads of slapstick, an onslaught of well-delivered one-liners and, crucially, an engaging cast who brought their eccentric characters to life on stage.

A year later, Cluedo 2 picks up the mantle from its predecessor, moving the story on a couple of decades later to the swinging 60s. Our gaggle of oddballs all convene not at Boddy Manor, but at Graveney Manor, the home of rock superstar Rick Black (played by Liam Horrigan with more than a few Russell Brand/Aldous Snow-esque flourishes and mannerisms thrown in).

Joining him for an eventful evening is his gold-digger wife Mrs Peacock (played in haughty fashion by Hannah Boyce), his larger-than-life Texan manager Colonel Mustard (Heartbeat’s Jason Durr), the more-than-meetsthe-eye interior designer Miss Scarlett (Ellie Leach of Corrie and Strictly fame) and musician buddies Professor Plum (Edward Howells) and Reverend Green (Gabriel Paul).

Completing the main cast and, frankly, carrying much of the comedic load, is the actor (definitely not a real-life butler!) Wadsworth and seasoned pot-stirrer (in more ways than one), the chef Mrs. White. Played respectively by Jack Bennett and Dawn Buckland, Wadsworth’s energetic exasperation and White’s devilish cunning are the highlights of a fairly mixed bag of performances ranging from commanding to quite forgettable.

After the first body appears, fingers begin to point. It isn’t long before the guests are scurrying around the beleaguered mansion – leading to some amusing and well-directed chase scenes – as they try to catch the perpetrator and save their own skin in the process.

It is more than passable entertainment if you’re looking for a daft murder mystery with some very cheap laughs to shepherd it along, but it does feel like a step down in quality from its predecessor. The original play balanced silly jokes, over-the-top choreography and engaging storytelling quite well; however, Cluedo 2 often fails to hit the required mark on any of these fronts.

3/5

DON’T MISS! CHARIOTS OF FIRE

Crucible // 6-27 July // £15-£42

Based on the true story, Chariots of Fire follows the extraordinary tale of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell, as they fight to become the fastest men on Earth at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. The exciting musical score, alongside the impeccable performances, will have you on the edge of your seat.  sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

THE KITE RUNNER

Lyceum // 4-8 June // £15-£45.50

Based on the international bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner explores a story through different cultures and continents. Two friends are torn apart on the day of a kite-flying competition by a war taking over Afghanistan. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

WORDS AND PICTURES

Yellow Arch Studios // 14-23 June // Free

The artists of the Kelham Island Arts Collective are being challenged to create a piece of art based on their favourite poem or prose. Grab a drink at the bar on the exhibition’s opening night and enjoy the live music and poetry readings while the artists create their masterpieces.  kiac-sheffield.org

MIGRATION MATTERS FESTIVAL

Various venues // 14-22 June // £20-£120 Get involved in events across the city of Sheffield. From crafts and plays to live music, the Migration Matters Festival has something for everyone. The festival hopes to highlight the positives of sharing culture and what migration can bring to the UK. migrationmattersfestival.co.uk

AN EVENING WITH ROGER ROBINSON AND FRIENDS

The Leadmill // 20 June // £4.40-£22

Join the T.S. Elliot Prize-winning poet, Roger Robinson, through a journey exploring his extensive work. His poems, which tackle the themes of home and belonging, will be accompanied by performances by poet Keisha Thomson, writer Ahmad Zaidan and DJ sets from Ashely Holmes.  leadmill.co.uk

DEAD GIRLS RISING

Playhouse // 10-11 June // £14-£16

The coming-of-age punk cabaret show follows Katie and Hannah, two girls who are obsessed with murder. The girls go on a journey to tear apart the tyrannical history of the patriarchy with the help of The Furies, the Greek Goddess of vengeance.  sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

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