mrsmills

As an atheist in a country that is allegedly still 70%+ Christian it is astounding that so many people wilfully forget just how violent a religion Christianity is. Indeed when taken literally, as many believers do, it requires the same levels of violence that a literal reading of the Koran does. That is not the issue here. The issue here is two-fold. The police represent the community in its entirety. The police in this country is over-whelmingly white and predominantly male. It is not difficult therefore for them to see the world from the perspective of white people. However, non-white households also pay council tax and thus for the protection and services of the police. They are therefore entitled to a police force that has at least some sense of the concerns of this group of people and is capable of effectively engaging with them - failure to do so is likely to precipitate more crime and less community assistance in solving it. Secondly, how much useful, i.e. crime preventing, work would actually have been done by these officers? Presumably, they would have intervened and made an arrest if they had witnessed a crime in the City Centre. There are huge issues in respect of respect of race relations in this city and in this country and politicians especially are too timid to discuss them frankly but this is something totally different.

In itself, it is not an iconic or unusual building but it speaks of an industrial prosperity and a believe in the importance of industry (whether it is important or not is a totally separate issue) particularly in the city, which very few industrial buildings do, which seems unusual given the industrial heritage of Sheffield and that part of the city in particular. Most industrial building make do with sheer size or sootiness to make clear what they are. This is completely different. Aside from its industrial use it is also probably the most attractive building on Penistone Road, no doubt quietly appreciated by thousands of people who drive past it every day and whatever replaces it is likely to be entirely soulless and build with only a couple of decades use in mind. It will be another aesthetically (if not architecturally) important building sadly lost.

I'm going to go and buy some more Rich Teas before the hooligans steal them all then vomit on me, film it and put it on a MyTube.

Well it's only an hours drive away!

From the couple of times I've eaten there I'm pretty sure most of Piccolos food arrives in a bag. Unless there was some other reason it was still frozen.

Usual 'Indian' restaurant food, done competently, good atmosphere, bring your own is a bonus and it's cheap as chips. Very smart, service generally good and certainly commensurate with price. Doesn't pretend to be anything more than a curry house and is all the better for it. Does often have some very big (often student) groups in which take over the place and can be noisy and pyst but that's the nature of the area. Don't expect too much, you'll love it.

Well if Lille and Liverpool can be regarded as cities of culture bring it on! Let's throw money at importing zeitgeist pseudo-culture that means little to anyone except those who make a habit of noisily speculating on what it all means and then argue about the legacy or total absence of it. If Charlie Brooker was involved in any way however, I support it!

Fluorosis?

Average food from disinterested staff. For noodles would head to East One every time.

Went just after it first opened and it seemed to have potential, staff were enthusiastic and professional, which on that visit meant that they knew how to make a cocktail properly. Went again last weekend could have been any bar in town, endless waiting for a drink that wasn't worth waiting for and an atmosphere exactly like any other city centre bar. Are there no bars that do decent drinks, without the banging music and meat market/spray-tan-and-vivienne-westwood-earrings vibe? ...I've pretty much given up.

You're absolutely right ripsaw it is a downward spiral. I just don't know (and maybe some people in the trade on here could throw some light on this) why these very large and presumably well resourced corporate landlords don't see it as a necessity to maintain the quality of their estate? While there probably are some wealthy publicans who can afford and are prepared to invest heavily this is presumably not the norm?

Lunch offering at Thyme is broadly similar. It's disappointing that Catch was closed, it was not perfect but it had something about it. Artisan was a consistent disappointment, a pretty joyless place with cloying staff and far too much emphasis on being "Michelin aspiring," which seemed to manifest as a bloated, pretentious wine list. Be interesting to try Canteen...but it does seem to be very similar to Thyme which has always got the balance of cost/food/service/atmosphere right when I have been.

Daemon, you're exactly right, we have three, four, five pubs within a shirt walk, we maybe go to one of them once a fortnight. It's not that they don't try, a couple of them have really made the effort to bring in some trade and have a good drinks selection, generally good clientèle, etc. but they are down at heel, not in an endearing homely sort of way, just plain scruffy, uncomfortable, at times just ludicrously noisy - when no one seems to want the music to be on at all and moreover, really quite expensive. It's a real shame.

Certainly is, 12 months and counting for me on allotments in Rivelin Valley which (I think) have the shortest waiting list of all the sites.

I was sceptical but Thyme in Broomhill is actually really good, they have a diverse menu with a set price option which includes a glass of wine or a beer, the service is good, atmosphere is nice.