Sheffield City Centre v Manchester City Centre

[MobileB 10]

I have not been to Sheffield City Centre for a while, so a few weeks ago, I had reason to go there on a Sunday.

 

First thing I noticed is that the Council car parks now all charge for parking from 8 am to 8.30 pm on ALL days. When did this change happen so that parking was chargeable on a Sunday?

 

I also noticed that on Arundel Street, all the little yellow signs at the single yellow lines had been removed so that there is no way of telling what times you can park there. Thus almost forcing people to go into the paid car parks for fear of getting a ticket.

 

It was like a ghost town. All the shops, or the ones that had bothered to open, were so quiet.

 

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Manchester on a Sunday and went into the city centre. The contrast was unbelievable. Plenty of free parking, street entertainers, all the shops busy, lots of people about. A very continental and cosmopolitan feel to the place. Lots of street side cafe's where on a glorious day you could sit outside.

 

I was born and grew up in Sheffield. Travelled the country for a while and was always very proud of it.

 

The contrast I saw on those two consecutive Sundays was amazing and almost ashamed of my home city.

 

You can't even blame Meadowhall given the local of the Trafford Centre to Manchester City Centre.

 

Perhaps our car loving City Council ought to take a look across the Pennines at how some very simple measures could make the city centre an attractive place to visit again.

[holster100 10]

I agree MobileB. Having spent the last 10 years in Sheffield, and 10 years in Manchester before that, Manchester has a lot more going for it on a Sunday. It always surprises me just how dead Sheffield is. An exception is of course when the international markets are in town - shows people are happy to shop on a Sunday if there's something open!

[reditiger 10]

Give me Manchester any day of the week

[nick2 10]

Manchester has much, much better shops.

[boyface 10]

In most city centres around the UK Saturday and Sunday are exactly the same.

 

I quite like the fact that on the whole Sheffield has a day off.

[Stuff 10]

Not shopped in Manchester City Centre, but Sheffield City Centre is a dump. When you compare it with the likes of Nottingham, Leeds or even SCUNTHORPE - it's embarrasing. Their city/town centres are much nicer.

[Mattski 10]

I think Sheffield city centre has improved immeasurably over the last decade. I am happy to visit the city centre on a sunday now whereas 5 years ago it would be unimagineable. In fact, I never used the centre except for a quick shop in the day time on a saturday. I certainly wouldn't fancy going in at night.

 

But this has changed. Of course, improvements still need to be made, but with the flagship H&M and River Island opening soonish and more cafes opening on a weekend its getting better all the time. Last month a couple of my friends from Czech visited and we had a wander around the city on a sunday, stopping in Ha Ha for a coffee. The place was packed and had a great buzzy feel to it, as had Fargate and the area around the cathedral and Winter Gardens.

 

Manchester is years ahead of Sheffield but is a much bigger city so what do you expect. I was in Nottingham on a sunday last year and believe me, that was like a ghost town. It's simply not true to say Sheffield is dead on a sunday. Ask the poor b*ggers who have to go to work.

 

Matt

[nick2 10]

I don't think H&M or River Island will be any bigger a pull than Top Man is or M&S, I would have thought having something you can't get at Meadowhall would have been a better idea. But what do I know.

[Mattski 10]

Well neither of these stores would attract my custom but I am certain that they would prove appealling to many many people. Of course, I am basing this assumption on the talk in my office but hey, why let that disrupt the general flow of negativity.

[Umeeksk 10]

Manchester for size, facilities, public transport and overall design...

 

BUT - the Peace Gardens knock Piccadilly Gardens into a cocked hat. Just goes to show we can get it right here!

[snuggles 10]

If you think Manchester is good you ought to try Birmingham. Far far better than Manchester and Sheffield put together. Went there last weekend and was amazed on how good the place is for shopping/bars/hotels/ etc. Excellent!

[sheffieldism 10]

i do like sheffield and its vibe, but Manchester has a bigger and better centre, especially for record shopping