I was born and raised in Manchester but have often visited Sheffield since 1997. As well as Sheffield, I also enjoy many visits to Liverpool which is a similar distance from where I live.

I stayed in Sheffield on Saturday night, 13th December. Sheffielders might be interested in reading some of my views:

Accommodation: Grosvenor House Hotel, Charter Square: Doesn't like inviting but my room was clean, spacious and reasonable value for money considering that I couldn't have been in a more central location. Reception is very smart with efficient, pleasant staff but it is a handicap that it is on the second floor as there's a tendency for local drunks to drift in the ground floor foyer and I felt sorry for the night porter who had to look after the car park as well as keep an eye on the hotel.

Meals: Aagrah, Leopold Square: Very pleasant, friendly staff. Excellent service. I had chicken dopiaza, vegetable Madras (shared with friend) and lovely kulfi for dessert. Look out for the restaurant in the Curry chef of Britain Awards. It's already won a Curry "Oscar" for Best Newcomer.

Museum pub (across the road) - expected it to be a bit sterile belonging to a huge pub chain but reasonable priced pub grub (not cordon bleu, but it does the job), superb ale, very friendly staff and disabled friendly! A true local pub in the city centre!

Drinks: Fat Cat, Kelham Island: Excellent beer and plenty of range. Too cramped on a Saturday night! Went in on Sunday angling for something to eat but felt surplus to requirements.

Kelham Island Tavern: Yet again, excellent beer from all over the country but oddly didn't see any from the Kelham Island brewery. I gather it attracts many repeat visitors.

Three Tuns pub: Decent pint of Tetleys (sorry to hear about the possible demise of a Yorkshire institution) and friendly!

Rutland Arms: Spoilt for real ale in Sheffield and this one delivered the goods. Maybe caught them on a bad day but gents loo was missing toilet tissue and soap!

Cutlery: I am running low on table knives and would call to Sheffield Scene shop on Surrey Street to replenish my stocks. However it was the Sabbath and they were shut! I am a keen supporter of the cutlery industry, long may it continue despite floods of cheap imports. Over the years, I bought items from Hiram Wild (now J & C Products) and Kutrite scissors.

Christmas Factor: Great to hear Salvation Army band and I'm aware of much going on in the Sheffield churches. Christmas market on Fargate looked would be nice if it was further developed.

Muesums and Arts Galleries: The city centre of Sheffield seems to be way ahead of Leeds on this with the centrepiece Millenium Gallery. The museum at the University is well-appointed and Kelham Isalnd fascinates me no end.

Good post, thanks for the kind words but I would be interested to hear how we compare with Manchester? We all know we're ahead of Leeds!

Good post, thanks for the kind words but I would be interested to hear how we compare with Manchester? We all know we're ahead of Leeds!

How is that then?

Nearer to London of course. They can't take that off us.

Very useful. Might try the Three tuns

I was born and raised in Manchester but have often visited Sheffield since 1997. As well as Sheffield, I also enjoy many visits to Liverpool which is a similar distance from where I live.

I stayed in Sheffield on Saturday night, 13th December. Sheffielders might be interested in reading some of my views:

Accommodation: Grosvenor House Hotel, Charter Square: Doesn't like inviting but my room was clean, spacious and reasonable value for money considering that I couldn't have been in a more central location. Reception is very smart with efficient, pleasant staff but it is a handicap that it is on the second floor as there's a tendency for local drunks to drift in the ground floor foyer and I felt sorry for the night porter who had to look after the car park as well as keep an eye on the hotel.

Meals: Aagrah, Leopold Square: Very pleasant, friendly staff. Excellent service. I had chicken dopiaza, vegetable Madras (shared with friend) and lovely kulfi for dessert. Look out for the restaurant in the Curry chef of Britain Awards. It's already won a Curry "Oscar" for Best Newcomer.

Museum pub (across the road) - expected it to be a bit sterile belonging to a huge pub chain but reasonable priced pub grub (not cordon bleu, but it does the job), superb ale, very friendly staff and disabled friendly! A true local pub in the city centre!

Drinks: Fat Cat, Kelham Island: Excellent beer and plenty of range. Too cramped on a Saturday night! Went in on Sunday angling for something to eat but felt surplus to requirements.

Kelham Island Tavern: Yet again, excellent beer from all over the country but oddly didn't see any from the Kelham Island brewery. I gather it attracts many repeat visitors.

Three Tuns pub: Decent pint of Tetleys (sorry to hear about the possible demise of a Yorkshire institution) and friendly!

Rutland Arms: Spoilt for real ale in Sheffield and this one delivered the goods. Maybe caught them on a bad day but gents loo was missing toilet tissue and soap!

Cutlery: I am running low on table knives and would call to Sheffield Scene shop on Surrey Street to replenish my stocks. However it was the Sabbath and they were shut! I am a keen supporter of the cutlery industry, long may it continue despite floods of cheap imports. Over the years, I bought items from Hiram Wild (now J & C Products) and Kutrite scissors.

Christmas Factor: Great to hear Salvation Army band and I'm aware of much going on in the Sheffield churches. Christmas market on Fargate looked would be nice if it was further developed.

Muesums and Arts Galleries: The city centre of Sheffield seems to be way ahead of Leeds on this with the centrepiece Millenium Gallery. The museum at the University is well-appointed and Kelham Isalnd fascinates me no end.
Somehow, I don't think Sheffield has more art galleries and museums than Leeds. It doesn't have anything like the Royal Armouries etc. And the new Leeds City Museum opened earlier this year.

I was born and raised in Manchester but have often visited Sheffield since 1997. As well as Sheffield, I also enjoy many visits to Liverpool which is a similar distance from where I live.

I stayed in Sheffield on Saturday night, 13th December. Sheffielders might be interested in reading some of my views:

Accommodation: Grosvenor House Hotel, Charter Square: Doesn't like inviting but my room was clean, spacious and reasonable value for money considering that I couldn't have been in a more central location. Reception is very smart with efficient, pleasant staff but it is a handicap that it is on the second floor as there's a tendency for local drunks to drift in the ground floor foyer and I felt sorry for the night porter who had to look after the car park as well as keep an eye on the hotel.

Meals: Aagrah, Leopold Square: Very pleasant, friendly staff. Excellent service. I had chicken dopiaza, vegetable Madras (shared with friend) and lovely kulfi for dessert. Look out for the restaurant in the Curry chef of Britain Awards. It's already won a Curry "Oscar" for Best Newcomer.

Museum pub (across the road) - expected it to be a bit sterile belonging to a huge pub chain but reasonable priced pub grub (not cordon bleu, but it does the job), superb ale, very friendly staff and disabled friendly! A true local pub in the city centre!

Drinks: Fat Cat, Kelham Island: Excellent beer and plenty of range. Too cramped on a Saturday night! Went in on Sunday angling for something to eat but felt surplus to requirements.

Kelham Island Tavern: Yet again, excellent beer from all over the country but oddly didn't see any from the Kelham Island brewery. I gather it attracts many repeat visitors.

Three Tuns pub: Decent pint of Tetleys (sorry to hear about the possible demise of a Yorkshire institution) and friendly!

Rutland Arms: Spoilt for real ale in Sheffield and this one delivered the goods. Maybe caught them on a bad day but gents loo was missing toilet tissue and soap!

Cutlery: I am running low on table knives and would call to Sheffield Scene shop on Surrey Street to replenish my stocks. However it was the Sabbath and they were shut! I am a keen supporter of the cutlery industry, long may it continue despite floods of cheap imports. Over the years, I bought items from Hiram Wild (now J & C Products) and Kutrite scissors.

Christmas Factor: Great to hear Salvation Army band and I'm aware of much going on in the Sheffield churches. Christmas market on Fargate looked would be nice if it was further developed.

Muesums and Arts Galleries: The city centre of Sheffield seems to be way ahead of Leeds on this with the centrepiece Millenium Gallery. The museum at the University is well-appointed and Kelham Isalnd fascinates me no end.
Somehow, I don't think Sheffield has more art galleries and museums than Leeds. It doesn't have anything like the Royal Armouries etc. And the new Leeds City Museum opened earlier this year.

Oops, responded to the wrong person. It should have been a response to olliew

The Leeds City Museum is a new one on me! Maybe I'll visit it in 2009. I used to think there were too few attractions in the city centre of Leeds but maybe times are a changing! I enjoyed the Royal Armouries, particularly the falconry and jousting. However, it was a bit pricy when I visited back in 1998. It's a shame about Tetley's - they had a really good museum, the Brewery Wharf on their site but Carlsberg seem intent on letting go of nearly 200 years of Yorkshire heritage. York is fantastic for museums too!

I realise that this isn't the Leeds forum but Sheffield does have a lot to offer and people from outside should take a fresh look - the steel and cutlery may have a lesser role these days but it's not all derelict factories and grime! I think it's a smart, modern city with many friendly people of all walks of life, vibrant student scene, great pubs / restaurants and a proud heritage which is celebrated in the museums. It's nice to know the metalworking design and manufacture is still alive despite cheap imports.

The Leeds City Museum is a new one on me! Maybe I'll visit it in 2009. I used to think there were too few attractions in the city centre of Leeds but maybe times are a changing! I enjoyed the Royal Armouries, particularly the falconry and jousting. However, it was a bit pricy when I visited back in 1998. It's a shame about Tetley's - they had a really good museum, the Brewery Wharf on their site but Carlsberg seem intent on letting go of nearly 200 years of Yorkshire heritage. York is fantastic for museums too!

I realise that this isn't the Leeds forum but Sheffield does have a lot to offer and people from outside should take a fresh look - the steel and cutlery may have a lesser role these days but it's not all derelict factories and grime! I think it's a smart, modern city with many friendly people of all walks of life, vibrant student scene, great pubs / restaurants and a proud heritage which is celebrated in the museums. It's nice to know the metalworking design and manufacture is still alive despite cheap imports.
Leeds City Museum is near Millennium Square, opposite Revolution. And there's the nearby Art Gallery.