Some business contacts of mine came up to Sheffield recently and saw Sheffield for the first time at night. They went to Gatecrasher after spending 5 minutes in the Leadmill. They were not, how shall we say, over impressed, which was rather disappointing. I was for example mortified to learn that the nightlife was apparently "better in Margate"(Kent in case u didnt know). I await your comments....(should be hilarious)

I have actually been to MArgate (not out of choice) and have my own rather different views on this "idyllic traditional and friendly seaside resort" as the tourist board described it. A derelict gasometer is more idyllic than MArgate!!!!

Of course, the gentlemen in question has been used to drinking Watneys Red Barrel or whatever bland tasteless product this is now called in his fair home-town, and no doubt was made to utter complete gibberish due to the consumption of REAL Sheffield/Yorkshire beer!!

Sheffield may have its bad sides but comparing it to Margate is an insult. That's all.

unfortunately I think they may have chosen two of the worst places to out in Sheffield. Leadmill and Gatecrasher are hardly two of Sheffields best night spots. In my own opinion that is

Its horse for courses - if they fancied an honest lairy **** up - then the leadmill is the place, if they fancied a slightly upmarket mainstream club - then Gatecrasher is the place. If they wanted bling bling or sophistication or trendiness -then neither of those places are really going to supply it...

I love sheffield to bits but i have to say it hasn't got as much going on at the weekends compared to cities such as nottingham, birmingham, leeds, liverpool etc. For the 4th biggest city in England i reckon it could have more to offer, thats my opinion. still, the weeknites do make up for it...

Originally posted by ruffness
I love sheffield to bits but i have to say it hasn't got as much going on at the weekends compared to cities such as nottingham, birmingham, leeds, liverpool etc. For the 4th biggest city in England i reckon it could have more to offer, thats my opinion.
You took the words right out of my mouth :D

Compared to Leeds, Sheffield has got much fewer late bars which is a problem. Virtually every bar in Leeds is open till at least 1am on a weekend which is a good thing IMO.

Also, when I'm out in Leeds I dont seem to see as many of the "jeans, white shirt and black shoes brigrade" as I see in Sheffield. There seem to be fewer large groups of drunk males and people seem to be having a better time.

Maybe it is just where I choose to go in Leeds and the fact it has a bigger selection of bars means I can avoid places I dont want to go.

If I want to got for a few drinks in Leeds I can get a taxi into town for about 10ish and have a few leisurely drinks until 1am or 2am, no rush, no hassle - no scramble to get into a minimal number of late bars at 11pm.

Sort it Sheffield!

I agree Micky, and some people have suggested that Sheffield has too many bars as it is, but the problem is that it has not enough! When I got out at the weekend, we always seem to ended wondering round and round trying to find a decent bar that doesnt have a huge queue to get in/don't have to pay to get in/is not too packed.

If there were more bars, people would be in them rather than wandering around on the streets wondering where to go! When I go to Leeds, my friends seem surprised when I ask what time a bar we are in is open until, and say they don't know, because it is not an issue. With clubs like Bed closing, we need more good late bars to replace them.

Also I think that if there were more bars (specifically late bars) then there would be less trouble because it is a more relaxed atmosphere, and similar types of people tend to end up in the same places, rather than all mixing together in an over full bar and causing trouble.

There definately aren't enough late bars. My friends and I always have a problem when we want to stay out a bit later. We don't want to go to clubs all the time and want to sit and talk or just have a less engergetic time. There seems to be only a few latebars and they aren't very good at all..


if they fancied a slightly upmarket mainstream club - then Gatecrasher is the place.
Whenever I've been there it's not been full of anyone upmarket..it's horrible and the music is usually terrible.

with Sheffield, the drinking, bar and eating-out crowd do not really mix as it does in other cities. People seem to go out for food and staright home. So everyone you meat is generally getting wasted.

for a major city we suck for nightlife.

You took them pubbing and clubbing.

Sounds they'd have been more at home at some knitting club.

Southern Softies!

When I moved to Liverpool 10 years ago, I remember being out drinking in town and suddenly realising that it was half past midnight - I looked around and wondered if it was some sort of mistake. Maybe they'd forgotten they were supposed to shut at 11!

I was amazed to discover that virtually all city centre bars and boozers were open until 1 or 2 in the morning. This was in 1995! My Sheffield mates used to think they were in heaven when they came over to visit!

So, yes, Sheffield needs to be a bit more liberal in its licensing (though the city has always been a nightmare in this regard - I remember when Sheffield pubs used to shut at 10.30 during the week when everywhere else seemed to stay open until 11.)

Sheffield used to be much better back in 1999/2000 when it had a better city centre for drinking and it was home to the best club in the world.

Sheffield council however due to them not granting licences and closing down places have put a stop to this, it needs more classy bars- not bargain basement £1 a pint places.

I agree, it doesn't need bargain basement places, but if there were more classy bars there would be some healthy competition to the existing ones so they wouldn't be too expensive.

But having said what I said about needing more late bars, there are late bars that are oten half empty. For example, I love the Sola Bar, it's fab with great cocktails and very stylish and good food, but is always a bit empty just because slightly off the beaten track.
And places like Trippets and Cubanas have a fantastic atmosphere (although they are always busy) are great too, so maybe just have to persuade people not to just stick to West St and Division St?

Originally posted by scottf

Sheffield council however due to them not granting licences and closing down places have put a stop to this, it needs more classy bars- not bargain basement £1 a pint places.

Granting licenses is not in the coucil's hands, its with the magistrates. Although there is new legislation coming through which mean the coucil will have control. Then i think things will pick up in terms of late bars etc(hopefully)

I read recently that Leeds is the largest financial centre outside London in the UK. This must be a major reason why it has a better nightlife when compared to Sheffield. Decent bars need decent people to go to them and this will only happen if the city can attract major businesses into the city and encourage more economic growth.

Not enough late bars I totally agree. The ones that are here tend to be full of drunken idiots all the time. Horrible atmospheres.....

I think we have an excellent selection of bars in Sheffield, ranging from the traditional boozer via lively music bars through to trendy/posh bars.

However we seem to have a problem when it comes to late drinks. Most of the pubs and bars shut at 11, leaving us with a small handfull of late bars that involve queuing to get in, paying an admission charge and then once in finding it crowded. Only other option is paying even more to get in a nightclub, none of which are particularly great.

Compare the late bar situation with Derby - they seem to have got it right there, and have had some brilliant Friday nights out in Derby. (I wouldn't bother clubbing in Derby though!).

Don't worry AndyC, in 12 months time Sheffield will be THE place to be with lots of late bars closing between 1-2pm. We will soon be able to enjoy a late night out without having to pay large entrance fees and overpriced drinks.

Originally posted by steven
Don't worry AndyC, in 12 months time Sheffield will be THE place to be with lots of late bars closing between 1-2pm. We will soon be able to enjoy a late night out without having to pay large entrance fees and overpriced drinks.

Really?! please tell us more... what is happening?

margates alright! My girlfriend is a 'Margateonian' and i have had a fw enjoyable nights on the isle of Thanet! Unfotunately however some of the lads wear chinos! not cool.

In reply to Becky, the new government proposal is for unrestricted opening hours to certain qualifying premises/venues. This means, licenced premises can apply to their local council to have longer opening hours. The plus side to this is that people aren't all vacating premises at the same time, thus causing trouble at taxi ranks, takeaways etc. and in the street. They instead will leave at various times throughout the night and hopefully cause less trouble. West Street in particular has been chosen as being a favourable area for these new times. However, areas such as Glossop Road (the top of West Street) and the area around Leopold Street and the Peace Gardens have been chosen as being quiet zones and as such will be restricted to 12.30am maximum closing.

Originally posted by jswr
margates alright! My girlfriend is a 'Margateonian' and i have had a fw enjoyable nights on the isle of Thanet! Unfotunately however some of the lads wear chinos! not cool.

Oh well, Margate has a fan! Actually I like the ISle of Thanet itself as I lived down there for a while, not MArgate though, a little further round to the West. I always thought it looked like a town that been at its best in the 1950's and just fallen apart since then. Everything without exception is falling down or boarded up or for sale, crumbling sea walls with rusty girders showing, a pile of rocks where once was a pier, a picture of dereliction in many ways. Of course that was January so maybe it wont be at its best then.....

The licensing laws will help a bit but not much.

The main problem is that a lot of people have the wrong attitude to going out and drinking in Sheffield. They go out and get very very drunk and can't remember what they have done. Every city has this but Sheffield doesnt seem to have any alternatives.

What is required is area's where the people who want to get incredibly drunk, urinate on the streets and get arrested can go and another area where people who want to have a good night out can go.

A more cultured bar scene needs to be created where people who go out "on the ****" would feel uncomfortable and out of place. Stricter door policys (not lets see how many people we can squeeze in this bar policys), no drinks offers, good music would help this cause.

Whether Sheffield's economy is big enough to sustain such a bar scene is perhaps questionable. Perhaps the area around devonshire green may accomodate this new bar scene - although it is rather close to the Cavendish

So where/what are the decent bars in sheffield?
i rarely go out here but when i do i end up at either forum halycon or takapuna - all not bad but they hardly set the night on fire!

Went to that new ruby bar (i think it's called?)
again quite average

Originally posted by steven
In reply to Becky, the new government proposal is for unrestricted opening hours to certain qualifying premises/venues. This means, licenced premises can apply to their local council to have longer opening hours. The plus side to this is that people aren't all vacating premises at the same time, thus causing trouble at taxi ranks, takeaways etc. and in the street. They instead will leave at various times throughout the night and hopefully cause less trouble. West Street in particular has been chosen as being a favourable area for these new times. However, areas such as Glossop Road (the top of West Street) and the area around Leopold Street and the Peace Gardens have been chosen as being quiet zones and as such will be restricted to 12.30am maximum closing.

Oh, I see what you mean. I thought from your first post that there was something happeneing that was specific to Sheffield, to make it Originally posted by steven
THE place to be with lots of late bars closing between 1-2pm. We will soon be able to enjoy a late night out without having to pay large entrance fees and overpriced drinks

Ah well, fingers crossed that it works!