sharrowblade

I went to Leeds yesterday for a few pints, on the way back I decided to stop off at Icons in Sheffield, and I have to admit it wasn't bad. Nice space, friendly staff, not very busy but it was OK. I might venture back.

I use to love going to Dempseys, had many a great night until one night I was attacked by a straight couple and assualted, resulting in hospital treatment and a health condition ever since due to injury, door staff at the time did nothing as they "knew" the straight couple and let them out the back doors before police got there, police investigated and said they couldnt do anything as when they looked at the CCTV in the club it was 2 grainy and bad quality, officer said he believed me and they had been called to Dempseys many times for trouble. I admit it might have changed now but since that assualt I have never been back. In more than 20 years going to Manchester and Leeds scenes I have NEVER been assualted or come anywhere near in. Assualted twice in Sheffield scene, says it all really.

LOL, its not a school anymore, the 3 Bears Cafe is based in the old school dining hall, all freshly made food, quality produce and I am sure they do eggs ANY style. Cafe is open to the public, home made cakes and coffee also available. ---------- Post added 12-08-2014 at 12:24 ---------- Check them out on Facebook, Three Bears Kitchen

The 3 Bears Cafe in The Old Junior School, South View Road, Sheffield S7 1

Well that is your experience, my HONEST experience of the Sheffield scene in the past is I have been attacked twice, once needing hospital treatment, verbally abused several times, my mate was attacked and put in hospital. This has NEVER EVER happend in Leeds or Manchester. 15-20 years ago the scene in Sheffield was AMAZING, but not now, sadly.

Leeds Pride was AMAZING, so much fun, so busy, great weather, the bars were still full at 2am. I got into my hotel at 3.30am after having such a laugh. Sorry to say it Sheffield but THAT is how you do a FREE Gay Pride.

Great game, spoilt a bit by flares but on the whole the majority of fans on both sides behaved and enjoyed BDTBL

Happy Yorkshire Day folks.

Happy Yorkshire Day folks.

I will be going to Leeds Pride this Sunday, so excited as Martha Wash is performing, I LOVE her, Katrina and the Waves, Nicki French, Angie Brown, and Stooshie will be performing too along with a variety of drag and comedy acts, all for FREE. Parade starts at 2.00pm. Staying over in a hotel so I can party hard LOL

Best of the bunch would be Icons, a bit more friendly too from what I hear but to be truthful dont expect too much from the Sheffield scene. Have fun.

I am going to Alert, the event is outside the Village area so no need for wristband. Alert is a men only event.

We can only judge things by our own experiences and taste and Sheffield just doesn't do it for me, I want to go out without fear of assault (that attack real shook me up), I want to feel comfortable and I just don't in Sheffield, I don't have the confidence to try Icons or Twist on my own (my friends of a similar age refuse to go out in Sheffield) they are in Doncaster, Rotherham and Chesterfield. I loved Pride when it was free and held at the Cemetry Park, felt much more a community event. Dempseys just isn't my sort of place, I don't want to spend Saturday night in a "market café", I HATE plastic table covers LOL. Good luck to those who do and enjoy but at the moment Sheffield just dosnt do it for me, I really wish it did.

FIRST THING FIRST, IF I WANT TO SHOUT I WILL Not sure how old you are but I have been doing gay prides for 30 years, and I first went into a gay pub in Sheffield in 1986 and seen all the bars/clubs come and go thank you. I also use to Volunteer for the LGB Youth Group and was involved in setting up the LGB Youth clinic and the Fruit Bowl in Sheffield so I have got involved, I have also done volunteering to fund pride. As for feeling welcome, I was assaulted in Dempseys which resulted in me being put in hospital, no help from Dempseys staff as the person who assaulted me was a "straight regular" police got involved so dempseys rewarded me with a ban. My friend was assaulted in Affinity, he is 63 and was put in hospital, he tried to defend himself when a young lad tried to take a picture of him saying " my Mum will never believe someone so old and ugly is in a gay bar". Myself and a friend in Fuel (old Fuel) been told by a group of young lads "it is disgusting you old people are in here, you should be dead your so old" . Never been out in Sheffield since. NEVER had any of that in any other city gay scene. Now you answer that. ---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 14:24 ---------- I know of one other older man who was recently assaulted in Dempseys and put in hospital, his crime not being young and pretty. ---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 14:27 ---------- I have been to Birmingham Pride and don't remember being caged in or paying !!! Must be my old brain playing tricks. I know you pay in Manchester, I have been many many times, my point is I don't mind paying IF I get some quality. ---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 14:27 ---------- I have been to Birmingham Pride and don't remember being caged in or paying !!! Must be my old brain playing tricks. I know you pay in Manchester, I have been many many times, my point is I don't mind paying IF I get some quality. ---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 14:30 ---------- No chip on my shoulder, just based on MY real life experiences of Sheffield scene and those of others my age and older I know. Also I was brought up in an age where I respected my elders

what community ????? we don't have a gay community in Sheffield, not in the true sense of a community, no gay scene as such (as in open e very night) not variety, older people made to feel unwelcome, too bitchy, gay pubs cant even be bothered to funraise or support Pride, no gay cafes/coffee shops, no gay social groups (unless your at Uni) no gay stores, no gay village. We don't have a community in Sheffield FACT. I am too old to be ripped off, I can go to Leeds or Birmingham Pride have a great day and night, come and go as I like, choose where I want to eat and drink, see good quality caberet and music artists, I can pay £18 for 2 days of Pride in Manchester with so much variety to choose from and see groups such as All Saints. I DO NOT want to pay money to see no one anyone has heard of, be caged in and hidden away and as I mature man I want to be able to choose where I buy my drink and food from NOT because I am caged into an area. I was in Manchester this weekend and it was GREAT, even with the rain it was busy, I went to a club and everyone got on and was so friendly, cheap to get in cheap drinks, great music and lads of 19 were happy chatting to men in their 40's and 50's and it was great to see EVERY aspect of gay life on display (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Fat, Thin and every race) I never saw one single bitching or nasty incident anywhere. Just booked a hotel to go back in 2 weeks time. Give me something GOOD to go to in Sheffield and I will.