Basement bars in the Steel City

[E-Man Groovin 27]

Some of my favourite bars in the place that I used to live in before Sheffield, were all underground basement joints (e.g. Chinawhite, Che, Quaglinos etc). I used to like them because of the subterranean, away-from-it-all vibe. I've just noticed that there don't seem to be any smoky downstairs dives in Sheffield. Or maybe I just haven't found em yet?

 

Can anyone help me make some new discoveries..?

 

Zeddy

[tinajones 10]

yeah like 'alley cats' in brighton!

 

theres always the casbah...

[alchresearch 214]

Have you been to the bar in the Printworks in Manchester? Name escapes me but its across from the cinema and it's like a subterranean city with bars and rooms that just gets deeper and deeper!

[will_ 10]

Also in Manchester is the Music box, a pretty good little basement club.

 

Come on Sheffield, lets get digging.

[tinajones 10]

orchis is a basement club but it doesn't always have the right vibe - depends what night it is i guess.

[samscam 10]

I'm not sure if it counts as a bar, but Sumunye can be quite underground in it's own little way... Sheffield isn't such a basementy place, more a terraced-house-and-back-yard affair

[E-Man Groovin 27]

Originally posted by tinajones

yeah like 'alley cats' in brighton!

 

Hey Tina,

 

That's crazy... you know Alley cats! I used to hang out in there quite a bit when I lived in B Right On! They used to show arty lo-fi films some nights as well... cool. Did u live in Brighton? When? It must be quite recently coz I was living there when Alley Cats opened.

 

Let me indulge in some further Brighton reminisences for a mo: my all-time favourite was/is The Jazz Rooms on Ship Street. This is what a basement bar should be like: fabulous DJs (Rob Luis, Russ Dewsbury etc), a basic matt black decor and forget about sofas, the seating in this place consisted of wooden benches, but then again people didn't go there to sit down, rather to dance !

 

Where's Orchis?

 

Zeddy

p.s. how's post-grad hell? you *know* that the perfect remedy is a night of chillin' @ trippets with the Z-Man

[tinajones 10]

Originally posted by E-Man Groovin

Hey Tina,

 

That's crazy... you know Alley cats! I used to hang out in there quite a bit when I lived in B Right On! They used to show arty lo-fi films some nights as well... cool. Did u live in Brighton? When? It must be quite recently coz I was living there when Alley Cats opened...

 

Where's Orchis?

 

Zeddy

p.s. how's post-grad hell? you *know* that the perfect remedy is a night of chillin' @ trippets with the Z-Man

 

my cousin lives in hove so i've been down a few times for the weekend - last time was for the festival a couple of years ago now. went to see biosphere at the arts centre and down to the honey club for a drum n bass night. i love brighton but its a bit exxpensive for us northerners!!!

 

i was well impressed with alleycats and have spent many a hazy afternoon/early evening watching films there after going round the shops. i keep saying that somewhere in sheff should get a licence and do the same. i'd do it if i had any money!

 

orchis is on carver street (off divvy st) next to havanas internet cafe. there used to be some good hip-hop/jungle nights there a few years back. not sure whats on there these days - probablly whatever is comercially viable.

 

post grad exam hell is soooo OVER! i now can have a life again. i'm actually intending on coming down this weds for a bottle of wine with a couple of mates that i've not seen for ages - so get some tunes ready!!!

[E-Man Groovin 27]

YAY!

 

Be sure to come over and say "hi!" won't you...

 

Z

[goldenfleece 11]

Anyone remember the UNDERGROUND, the ultra hip basement bar circa 1983 to around 1986, short 3 year life it had, occupying the basement of what is now CHARLES STREET club, when the club upstairs was called FACES at the time I think.

 

the basement was done out like a London tube station, complete with giant picture of a tube tunnel on the wall, with fake Underground station signs with the red circle and a fake tube map with Sheffield streets on it, like THE MOOR, FARGATE, etc. It was great AND they were the first bar in Sheffield to have a VIDEO JUKEBOX!!!

 

It was part of the alternative pub circuit between 83 and 86, attracting rockers mainly, but a good section of "trendies" as well, one of the few bars where both could exist in the same bar without problems!! Such a short life, no one seemed to know why it closed down and later became a trendy and very expensive restaurant. Always seemed packed out at the weekend, only the stairs were very narrow and if 10 people were coming up and 10 people were trying to go down, usually 20 people would end up descending the stairs!!! Get the beer in!

[Lickszz 10]

Originally posted by tinajones

orchis is a basement club but it doesn't always have the right vibe - depends what night it is i guess.

 

Yes, I not been for many years but in the past I have found it to be hit and miss.

[Spacehopper 10]

Nah Den Ace.......

 

Does anybody remember a boozer on Shude Hill, where the new hotel is. I think it was called "The Barrow Boy". You used to get loads of skin'eads in in the early 80s.

 

Not strictly a basement bar, as you could walk in from street level; but it was well dark and dingy!

 

Regards,

 

Spacehopper.