Less than ten years ago West Street was a bit of backwater compared to the vibrant entertainment sector is has become now. Back in 1995 only a fraction of the Bars and pubs existed on West Street, none of them particularly 'trendy' or excessively popular with the majority of the Sheffield drinking crowds. This is a phenomenon perhaps experienced in other cities, but I think what we can call the 'gentrification' of West Street from a run down post-industrial and fairly unimportant street in Sheffield to a thriving social and cultural scene is unique.

Around10 years ago the main area of 'general interest' in West Street was the Unemployment benefit office, standing starkly surrounded by semi-derelict workshops and dated looking shops. Many of the Cities unemployed would sign on here, and this would be the only reason for many they would venture into this rather grubby and forlorn looking road. The drinking circuit in the main was not West Street based, but focused more in the Town centre around the Stonehouse, Marples, etc and more established old school city centre pubs. While pub crawls on West Street were not uncommon, they were much less populated than today. West Street was a road of great contrasts 10 years ago, as compared to the rather bland collection of 'trendy' bars we have in place today which has 're-polarised' the road from end to end in terms of social trendiness and drinking patterns. And of course, less than 10 years ago in 1995 there were no housing developments.....at this time the concept of 'city living' had not reached Sheffield....it was still stuck in Manchester and london. So no one actually lived on or closely adjacent to West Street except the pubs with management flats and the previous 1970's Housing association developments off DIvision Street like Flockton Court, etc.

At the town end of West Street there was little life before you reached the West Street Hotel, a rather dour venue of very mixed clientele. Before this became FLARES, it was only moderately popular and one of the old school of city pubs. And then the Saddle, re-incarnated from a much older and traditional smaller venue, which stood decaying for many years next door to the rebuild.

Moving along we encounter the Hallamshire Hotel, haunt of the alternative crowd and popular gig venue for up and coming local bands. Unmodernised and basic, and popular with the alternative crowd and students, it bears no relation to the modern' town' crowd which now form its clientele.

Moving up towards Glossop Road The Mailcoach was busy, although not trendy, prior to becoming an irish theme bar. Across the road the re-invention of the old B Hive pub was nothing like the venue we have today. Just around the corner, the Hornblower was lively and popular, but not in the terms of West Street as we think of today.

Certainly on a weekend night you could walk end to end from West Street and not meet fantastic numbers of drunk people on a 'weekend wobble'.....most of them were elsewhere.

So when did this great re-polarisation of West Street, and to the same extent, Division Street begin? We can look at say 1997/8 and the opening of the Cavendish Bar, the first of many new bars to be carved out of old inustrial premises and converted for bar use. Or the opening of FLARES, whidch was landmark for Sheffield pubs and a huge success which undoubtably contributed to the refocus of interest in West Street.

Just a few thoughts. Something started the massive wave of new bars on this road and it can be traced to possibly the Cavendish opening? Flares? The Mailcoach becoming an Irish theme bar? The Tin Pan Alley late bar/club? Weatherspoons Swim Inn? Supertram? It would be great to have a timeline of what was first to open which was new on West Street, and then what followed in date order. At some point this started to escalate and bars seemed to be opening (and closing) every week!!

There is more to life than allowing it to revolve around pubs.

They should all be closed at 8pm.

Originally posted by Yorkie
There is more to life than allowing it to revolve around pubs.

They should all be closed at 8pm.
Before Flairs there was the Millionairs club..A nice place to frequent ...if you knew the bouncers!

West Street was always know for the prostitution etc..but they moved them on and the area started to thrive as a good street to go out on a pub crawl.
There are still bad ellements on the street but all in all you can have a great night on West street.

I think that since they moved the redlight bit/...things have generally got better for the area.....no one wants to be propositioned at every corner whilst pub crawling.

I thought Mappin Street was the red light zone rather than spilling out into West Street.....

I used to love going in the Behive ,if i remember correctly it used to have a proper red telephone call box inside it. Never felt quite comfortable in the Hallamshire for some reason always seamed an odd mix of people in there.

I rememeber how they said that West Street was on its last legs after all the trouble when they where building the Tram,my God how things have changed!

West St has always been a major pub crawl from the University to town - West End, Hornblower, Beehive, Mailcoach, Saddle, Bath, Red Deer - there's just a few more bars now than there used to be! :)

Originally posted by MrHelicopter
West St has always been a major pub crawl from the University to town - West End, Hornblower, Beehive, Mailcoach, Saddle, Bath, Red Deer - there's just a few more bars now than there used to be! :)

agreed.....it just was not FASHIONABLE in the sense that it is today......and the number of bars has easily doubled.

We used to go to West Street every weekend as each pub was a bit different and they didn't realy care what you wore or looked like. It's all very townie now and I stopped drinking on West Street when the Halamshire Hotel was done-up and all the regulars dissapeared.

West Street has been poor for years now. I'm with Nick. Hallamshire used to be a qulity boozer.

I used to enjoy going for a drink down West Street. Whilst all the prats were down Ecclesall road being "seen".

Unfortunatly its changed now. Young lasses falling round in next too nowt flashing their a*ses at passing cars.

Hundreads of lads with those horrible modern Beckham Mullets
AARRGGHHJ i cant say anymore I'm upsetting me sen.

I think West Street looks really ugly and un-inviting by night, it needs more colourful lighting schemes on the stuctures.

If only the trams would squash a few of the young girls with their asses hanging out and also the drunken yobs who insist on punching the tram windows when they pull into the stops:thumbsup:

West St is revolting - a no go area unless you want to get paralytic. It is a shame and an area that relies on and encourages excessive alchohol consumption is not vibrant; it is seedy and tacky and not the sort of urban environment I would want to visit. It is sad that a large part of the city centre is off limits to a large part of the population for such a large proportion of time. Sheffield will never be a great city unless it can find some other activity to "regenerate" its city centre.

Originally posted by theflyingfish
It is sad that a large part of the city centre is off limits to a large part of the population for such a large proportion of time. Sheffield will never be a great city unless it can find some other activity to "regenerate" its city centre.

Hopefully when Leopold Square opens along with all the new bars and restaurant around St Pauls Place and the refurbished Barkers Pool and City Hall it will bring some much needed class into the city centre.

www.leopoldsq.com

Originally posted by skyfitsboy
Hopefully when Leopold Square opens along with all the new bars and restaurant around St Pauls Place and the refurbished Barkers Pool and City Hall it will bring some much needed class into the city centre.

www.leopoldsq.com


What is that hideous thing they are planning to build on West Street ?
Looking at the plan, it's the resturant and hotel rooms but it looks so 70's.
I understand they are demolishing one of the listed buildings to build it too ?

The aerial location photo is interesting though as it shows the eggox being demolished (perhaps a more recent photo might have helped) and what looks like a large courtyard inside the central library building.

Originally posted by nick2
What is that hideous thing they are planning to build on West Street ?
Looking at the plan, it's the resturant and hotel rooms but it looks so 70's.
I understand they are demolishing one of the listed buildings to build it too ?

The aerial location photo is interesting though as it shows the eggox being demolished (perhaps a more recent photo might have helped) and what looks like a large courtyard inside the central library building.

Wake up people of Sheffield!! You want improvements, well here they are, stop criticising!!!!!!!:rant:

Originally posted by Sony
Wake up people of Sheffield!! You want improvements, well here they are, stop criticising!!!!!!!:rant:

But it is horrible, the building that is there now is better.

The rest of the design looks good, it's just that bit.

Whats horrible?? A beautiful building gets refurbished and another will be built. Love it! Old meets modern..:clap:

Originally posted by Sony
Whats horrible?? A beautiful building gets refurbished and another will be built. Love it! Old meets modern..:clap:

Sorry, but I think it's horrible especially joined onto the old building like that.
I like the idea of old and new, but that building just looks like something off the Moor.

Well you're entitled to your own opinion, but it sure doesnt look anything like the moor!!:suspect:

I think it's the general "big concrete box" shape and the square panels on the front that make it look (to me) very 70's style.
I'm hoping it's going to be faced in stone, that might save it a bit.

I agree with a few here...I prefer the OLD West Street, minus the modern beckham mullets and the bare assed girls mooning at the taxis........OK West Street never had anything in the way of CLASS 10 years ago, but at least it was free from intimidation and excessive rabble. And yes, the old Hallamshire was one of the best pubs in town for the eclectic mix of punters ranging from punks, metallers to indie kids and various alternative types....a wicked mix of the Dove and Rainbow and Corporation with a bit of Leadmill thrown in.......

remember when the Landlord used to make loud announcements over the PA commencing with "This is your Captain speaking....."......a far cry from the plastic bar now taken its place.

I love the new west street, yes it is full of students but where else do you want them to go?? the city centre where all the shops are?? Ecclesall road where there are hardly any pubs??
Students are a massive part of sheffield and they need to be catered for, west street with its good transport links and its closeness to the city centre was always the first option.

"yes it is full of students but where else do you want them to go??"

Birmingham

Originally posted by Scottandandy
I love the new west street, yes it is full of students but where else do you want them to go?? the city centre where all the shops are??

This is not the issue. And I never singled out STUDENTS as being the sole drinking population of West Street. To be honest its far more occupied by 'townies' at the weekend than students. Students have always drunk on West Street, even 'unfashionable' West Street and Division Street of 10 years ago.....its the concentration of the City Centre drinking circuits onto West Street I am commenting on.

10-20 years ago the main drinking areas were focused around the pubs such as Fountain Bar, Stonehouse, Old Bluebell, Marples, Hind, Golden Ball, the row of bars by the old Roxy, etc.....this area is now in total decline as the main focus of drinking in Sheffield, the 'townie' drinking circuit has moved West to Division STreet and West Street....

Also the bars that have sprung up just 'off' West Street on the side roads have added to this re-focus of drinking patterns re geographical density. Other factors such as the late bar half way up, forget its name, and the late licence Harley Hotel are all other factors.

Students may be the majority in the week at the top end of West Street but they are sure outnumbered by 'townies' at the weekend up and down its entire length.....

Probably the last bastion of the OLD style of 'unfashionable' West Street is actually a fantastic pub, down the side road nr Nat West bank....Bath Hotel......real old worlde decor and fantastic range of real ales. The last relic of the West Street (and its surrounding feeder roads) of old.

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Probably the last bastion of the OLD style of 'unfashionable' West Street is actually a fantastic pub, down the side road nr Nat West bank....Bath Hotel......real old worlde decor and fantastic range of real ales. The last relic of the West Street (and its surrounding feeder roads) of old.

Ah, yes, a pint of Winter Warmer and a sit by the fire, lovely.

Originally posted by nick2
Ah, yes, a pint of Winter Warmer and a sit by the fire, lovely.

Didnt know they still sold that particular brand....I have not been in for a month now. The MOONSHINE was always quite superb....they also sell that in the Fox and DUck in Broomhill but its just not quite as fruity.