Was in Artisan the other night and overheard some other customers asking the manager if a rumour they'd heard about Catch closing was true and he said it was! It will close on 3rd Jan and from then on the upstairs of Artisan will just be a cafe-type place (the downstairs remaining 'fine dining'). What puzzles me about this is that surely the upstairs will now be just the same as their other venture Thyme Cafe in Broomhill...

Anyway, just thought I'd tell people so that anyone else who is a huge fan like me can plan their last ever meal there in the next couple of weeks :-(

Gutted
I had some great meals there. Definitely my favourite seafood restaurant in Sheffield.

Is this true, or is there a Catch?

Sounds a bit fishy to me...:suspect:

This doesn't sound right. Seems a little off the scales.

Maybe it's a red herring.

That's enougth now. Xmas is no excuse.

And don't argue. Xmas is no time for us all to have a sprat.

Not another Richard Smith type cafe?

More meat and potato pies at a tenner a time then.

Is this true, or is there a Catch?

I thought it was a load of Pollocks until I haddock confirmed by Mr Smith

He should name all his restaurants he's ever had:- Turpins. Highway robbery at it best

I am gutted about this....

This was my second favourite restaurant in Sheffield, downstairs is far too dark and claustrophobic. Another nail in the coffin for fish in Sheffield, now that Bluefin has closed. Loch Fyne have fish, but I am not sure about the quality of the cooking, nothing interesting or special available there.

As for another Thyme cafe, I am usually a fan, but I have been three times in hte last four weeks or so and the menu has barely changed. A real bonus was the seasonality of the restaurant and the constantly changing menu, but it is just more of the same at the moment. There are too many dishes which don't change. And teh fish menu is so limited..they put meat with most of it and always serve it with now potatoes...how desperately dull.

On two seperate occassions I booked a table of six for Catch and on both times they screwed the booking up so we ended up in Artisan. I'm pretty convinced they'd book it and then we got there, because Catch was full, they'd hope you'd stay and go to Artisan. Not impressed with that kind of behaviour.

Good food from both upstairs and downstairs. The full fish platter was superb at Catch and decent value.

As for another Thyme cafe, I am usually a fan, but I have been three times in hte last four weeks or so and the menu has barely changed.

I absolutely agree, plus, more and more things seem to be crossed off the menu and not available! Very disappointing. Really will miss Catch very much, the variety and quality of their fish was worth the price.

On two seperate occassions I booked a table of six for Catch and on both times they screwed the booking up so we ended up in Artisan. I'm pretty convinced they'd book it and then we got there, because Catch was full, they'd hope you'd stay and go to Artisan. Not impressed with that kind of behaviour.

Good food from both upstairs and downstairs. The full fish platter was superb at Catch and decent value.

The full fish platter!

You mean the marinated fish with a few fesh prawns thrown in?

Have you ever had a a proper fruit de mare?

I am also devasted....i have no doubt that they have been hit since loch fyne opened, but after visiting both on several occasions - catch wins hands down!

If the owners are reading this.....dont make a hasty decison.....it wont take long for the loch fyne visitors to soon be back to you...

I have indeed Chinaski... the best I had was in Shropshire. The Jolly Frog. Highly reccommend it, but it was £65 x 2 for the fish platter there but it was huge.

I think you must have had a bad one cos with mine I had at Catch was a full lobster, small prawns, king prawns, langoustines, oysters, some smoked fish, white bait and a couple of other things I forget. This was £30 x 2 which I thought was superb. Must say this was a year ago though...

I have indeed Chinaski... the best I had was in Shropshire. The Jolly Frog. Highly reccommend it, but it was £65 x 2 for the fish platter there but it was huge.

I think you must have had a bad one cos with mine I had at Catch was a full lobster, small prawns, king prawns, langoustines, oysters, some smoked fish, white bait and a couple of other things I forget. This was £30 x 2 which I thought was superb. Must say this was a year ago though...

MMMmmm sounds nice swiss. I have to confess I haven't tried the one at Catch but when I did look at the menu I'm sure there were things like rollmops on it. Actually sounds pretty decent from your account. I had a dozen oysters from Catch and they were fantastic.

Wish you could get a decent fish platter in Sheffield. Have you tried the one at Loch Fyne?

Last time I had one I bought all the ingrediants live from The Smelly Alley Fish Company. I'd recommend them - a huge feast of native oysters, crab, lobster, winkles and clams for around £60.

Yum, yum, slurp, slurp.

Ah yes, roll mops, there's one I missed!! lol. I do like them but they are a sorta poor man's lunch!

I've not been to Loch Fyne yet. With it being a chain and me being new to Sheffield, I like to try the independents first. I will no doubt go in the new year as they will likely have some January offers in to lure people. Have you been?

Just had a click at the Smell Alley Fish Co you mentioned. Fantastic website, will definitly be buying some from there!!!

>Big shellfish fan here!<

Ah yes, roll mops, there's one I missed!! lol. I do like them but they are a sorta poor man's lunch!

I've not been to Loch Fyne yet. With it being a chain and me being new to Sheffield, I like to try the independents first. I will no doubt go in the new year as they will likely have some January offers in to lure people. Have you been?

Just had a click at the Smell Alley Fish Co you mentioned. Fantastic website, will definitly be buying some from there!!!

>Big shellfish fan here!<

I've not been to Loch Fyne, though a friend recommends it. I find it hard to reconcile decent fish with a chain. It may sound a bit snobbish, but a restaurant has to be on the ball to serve fresh fish, especially, and as it should be, live and kicking before it goes into the pot.

So you're new to Sheffield? Where you from?

(yeah, rollmops are a poor mans luch. I do eat them, but I'm aware that 'one more' could leave a lifetime of distaste for the things.)

Last time I ordered from SAFC, the delivery company got the wrong address and two live cock crabs, a live lobster and an assortment of bits and pieces got delivered to Bath . . . unopened. Two days after that they finally arrived back to the SAFC, they said the smell was horrific. I still weep at night thinking of all the lovely seafood gone to waste.

They refunded me though, the next day.

Totally agree about chains. I must try Loch Fyne though as it has a decent brand. I agree about the food being absolutely fresh. It's why I actually go fishing during the summer season - it is enjoyable - but I am definitly doing it in the hope of getting some fish from the sea for tea! Wales is great for this sort of thing.

I'm from Manchester - Saddleworth specifically. I highly recommend the White Hart at Lydgate if you fancy trekking over. But I am fortunate in that I travel a lot to Shropshire (fantastic country food - first sampled Salt Marsh Lamb there) and London, which lets face it, really is the food capital.

Massive shame about your delivery but great for them being prompt with a refund. I hate to see food wasted!!!

Maybe we should get all the big SF Foodies together for a trip to Loch Fyne! See if we can get a deal arranged, though January will be good anyway.

chinaski and swissheavy, Loch Fyne is fine but it isn't as good as catch imo. I'd prefer both to stay open.

Loch Fyne, although a chain, is supposed to be based around the their own produce from Loch Fyne in Scotland and seafood quality is meant to be taken very seriously. I don't think it's as good value as Catch and the chef flair isn't in the same league but it's not bad. I have been quite a few times and would/will go back.

chinaski, I've not ordered any seafood online yet but might do at some point.
I used to get live lobster and crab from a stall at castle market but the owner closed it (not been to castle market for a while, I'm due a visit).
For seafood, Doncaster market can be great and has the widest choice I've found in our neck of the woods. If you are keen on seafood then it's worth a visit.

I think rollmops look very unappetising but taste a lot better! Can't say I have them regularly though.

BTW has anyone been to the Mussel and Crab at Tuxford, Nottinghamshire? Heard some good reports but haven't been yet.

Cheers for the report GQ... I will visit in the next month or so and report back :)

Ah yes, roll mops, there's one I missed!! lol. I do like them but they are a sorta poor man's lunch!

I've not been to Loch Fyne yet. With it being a chain and me being new to Sheffield, I like to try the independents first. I will no doubt go in the new year as they will likely have some January offers in to lure people. Have you been?

Just had a click at the Smell Alley Fish Co you mentioned. Fantastic website, will definitly be buying some from there!!!

>Big shellfish fan here!<

The fish looks kind of expensive online. £5 for a dressed crab? I had one from the fish monger at Ecclesall shops for £3.50 a couple of weeks back, the real thing from Filey, properly dressed in it's shell, none of that plastic shell nonsense.

Yeah but you're in a restaurant pal, they have to make some money for themselves! Anyway, I wouldn't go to a restaurant for crab... I'd be going for something a bit more exotic or complicated. I'd go to a fishmongers for crab!

Yeah but you're in a restaurant pal, they have to make some money for themselves! Anyway, I wouldn't go to a restaurant for crab... I'd be going for something a bit more exotic or complicated. I'd go to a fishmongers for crab!

I thought I explained it correctly. I said I was looking at the online price of crab, from the Smell Alley Fish Co you mentioned. It's expensive.

I demand an apology, or will it be pistols in Endcliffe Park at dawn? !

Aaah sorry pal - with the topic being Catch I just assumed (as they have an online menu). Yes I guess it's a touch expensive - depends on the size of the crab of course! With this online company I'd be buying the more exotic stuff really which would be hard to find, as I think you have to spend over £50 anyway.

Booked a table for tonight, was told tonight is the last night. It's a great fish restaurant with some lovely touches and the service is tip top.

Loch Fyne is pretty good too but it is a chain and doesn't have the same charm despite excellent service and food.

Very quiet on the last night, not even half full, can see why it's closing sadly, people just aren't prepared to trek up to Crosspool for good fish. I've never been to Artisan but Catch was very good, excellent food and service, may have to try Artisan.

Artisan is very nice, with a great menu; hopefully they will put more fish on the menu.

Well we're off to Canteen tomorrow night ! Hope it's good!