Exposed July 2020

J U LY 2 0 2 0 JANUARY 2020

unlocking CARNALL’S BACK WITH Sheffield ANOTHER CHRISTMAS THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE STEEL CRACKER CITY’S INDEPENDENTS DOC/FEST // HONEYBLOOD // MIGRATION MATTERS // BLACKWATERS // SIMON REEVE // EXPOSED AWARDS

PROUDLY PUBLIC SERVICE SUPPORTING PROUDLY THE CHILDRENS SUPPORTING ANNOUNCEMENT! CHARITY THEHOSPITAL CHILDRENS

If you pickCHARITY up this mag, please HOSPITAL takeFOLLOW with you US and ON dispose of it accordingly. Or file it with the rest in your Exposed Magazine collection at home. We know you’ve got one!

EXPMAGSHEFF EXPOSEDMAGSHEFF

TA PAS

R E STAU R A N T

&

CUBAN

BAR

TA PAS

R E STAU R A N T

&

CUBAN

BAR

We WILL RE-OPEN ON WEDNESDAY 8 JULY After careful review of government guidelines and working hard to implement various, appropriate, safety and social distancing measures We are really pleased to announce that Cubana will re-open on Wednesday 8 July Let’s be honest ……. things are going to be a bit different for a little while

Our bartenders will be back and ready to prepare you their tasty exotic cocktails, and we’ll have our full signature selection of wines from around the world. Not forgetting our 220 strong, award winning rum selection available for you all to enjoy.

Table Service Table service for drinks will be available in both our cocktail bar downstairs and also

Before being able to return to normal ,

upstairs in the restaurant (after food service

we are all going to have to wait until

from 11pm). It will also be possible to

restrictions are lifted and it is safe to do so.

pre-book tables, which we do recommend,

Fingers crossed, this will hopefully be sooner

particularly for Fridays and Saturdays.

rather than later! Until then, here’s what you

We will be unable to serve over the bar

can expect when you next visit us:

i.e. so called “vertical drinking”.

Tapas & Drinks

Drinks-To-Go

We can once again cook, and serve you, a

In the hope that the lovely weather

selection of over 40 mouth watering dishes

continues, we will also now be offering a

from our unique, extensive and authentic

take away service for drinks for customers

tapas menu.

to enjoy either on Cubana’s outdoor terrace or outside in Leopold Square.

Call 01142 760475 FIND US AT... UNIT 4 LEOPOLD SQUARE, SHEFFIELD S1 2JG

TA PAS

R E STAU R A N T

&

CUBAN

BAR

TA PAS

R E STAU R A N T

&

CUBAN

BAR

A WARM WELCOME BACK To CUBANA! Live Music, DJs & Dancing

Bookings

Like all venues, unfortunately, we are not currently permitted to host live music whether that’s the bigger bands or solo artists. We can assure you, just as soon as we can bring live

For bookings or any enquiries, please complete the enquiry form on the following booking request link: http://cubanatapasbar.co.uk/request.php

music back we will do so once again every night of the week.

We will also have to go without our resident Latin DJs playing on the weekends and sadly, there’ll be no dancing or dance classes for a little while.

or call us on 0114 2760475 Monday to Saturday between 11am-6pm

Opening Times Our NEW opening times will be as follows:

Cubana vibes You can be certain of one thing - we’ll do our utmost to continue to provide Sheffield with the signature Cubana experience and keep the good vibes flowing; something we’ve always aimed to do since first opening almost twenty years ago down on Trippet Lane.

What will never change is the warm and friendly Latino welcome you’ve come to expect from our fantastic Cubana team. We’ll treat you like a member of the family and take good care of you in our unique Cubana style.

Muchas gracias to all our customers for your continued and loyal support

Wednesdays & Thursdays

4pm – 11.30pm

Friday & Saturdays Sundays

Midday – Late Midday – 11.30pm

Last orders for tapas in the upstairs restaurant will be: Wednesday, Thursday & Sundays Fridays & Saturdays

9.45pm 10.30pm

Please note for the time being, we will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

CUBANATAPASBAR.CO.UK call: 01142 760475

We look forward to welcome you back!

C U B A N ATA P A S B A R . C O . U K Find out what’s happening on our Facebook page

www.facebook/cubanatapasbar

Screen Partitions.

You can now request a vehicle with a protective screen partition.

Select ‘Vehicle with Screen Partition’ from the vehicle options when booking on the app.

j u ly 2 0 2 0 january 2020

24 14: AFTER THE FIRE Jake Pearson takes a stroll down Sharrowvale Road in a short story imagining life after lockdown.

unlocking Sheffield Carnall’s baCk with another the latestChristmas news From the steel CraCker City’s inDepenDents

22: COVER STORY

DoC/Fest // honeyblooD // migration matters // blaCkwaters // simon reeve // exposeD awarDs

With Sheffield just re-opened after lockdown, we speak to some of the key business owners around the city to see how the last four months have affected them, and what might be in store for the future. We hear from the likes of The Leadmill, Code, Freshmans, Kelham Arcade and many more...

expmagsheFF exposedmagsheFF

PHIL TURNER (MD) PHIL@EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

NICK HALLAM (SALES DIRECTOR) NICK@EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ELLIOT LUCAS ELOISE FEILDEN CAL REID DANIEL HALL-TURNER

COVER IMAGE MARC BARKER

THE BUSINESS STUFF

We spoke to Sheffield bar owner James O’Hara, gaffer of the team behind Public, The Great Gatsby and Picture House Social, about the difficulties facing the city’s independent venues during the coronavirus outbreak.

Sheffield Theatres CEO Dan Bates talks about the potential of audiences returning to The Crucible and details some exciting plans in the works to bring live performances back to the city.

If you pickcharity up this mag, please hospital takeFollow with you us andon dispose of it accordingly. Or file it with the rest in your Exposed Magazine collection at home. We know you’ve got one!

TOP BRASS

24: SOBERING THOUGHTS

40: THE SHOW MUST GO ON

proudly public service supporting proudly the childrens supporting announcement! hospital charity the childrens

EXPOSED IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY

BY BLIND MICE MEDIA LTD UNIT 1B 2 KELHAM SQUARE KELHAM RIVERSIDE SHEFFIELD S3 8SD

40

48

THE VIEWS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF BLIND MICE MEDIA LTD AND WHILE EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE INFORMATION THROUGHOUT EXPOSED IS CORRECT, CHANGES PRIOR TO DISTRIBUTION MAY TAKE PLACE WHICH CAN AFFECT THE ACCURACY OF COPY, THEREFORE BLIND MICE MEDIA LTD CANNOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTRIBUTORS’ VIEWS OR SPECIFIC ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS.

48: JARV… IS We could all do with a bit of distraction, and with franky impeccable timing Jarvis Cocker makes his return with Beyond the Pale – his first release in almost a decade. Aaron Jackson tells us if it’s worth the wait…

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 7

HoliDeh! The only part of

TM

your body that can safely go abroad right now are your taste buds. Treat them to the holiday of a lifetime :) Xx

Ashoka We sell #ReytGoodCurreh Currently takeaway and delivery only www.ashoka1967.com

UPFRONT: KICK OFF

Image: Marc Barker

WE GO AGAIN!

As you can see, your friendly neighbourhood Exposed Magazine is back in print and, after a few months of going digital, we’re bloody glad to be back an’ all. We’re going to continue to do what we’ve always done and that’s champion the independents of this city. We’ve dedicated a big portion of this issue to the businesses who are open for business as of the start of this month. Remember to stay safe and adhere to those all important rules.

WASH YER HANDS

Whether you’re coming in on public transport or car, it’s still just as vital to keep those hands clean. There’s plenty of sanitiser kicking about so just remember to scrub ‘em nice and clean.

KEEP THESE IN MIND!

SOCIAL DISTANCING It doesn’t matter if social distancing is not officially the law anymore, it’s STILL just as important. Keep thi hands to thisen, yeah?

RESPECT THE QUEUE! The council has been working with local businesses to help signpost and install one way systems in places like the Moor, Fargate and inside businesses across the city centre. Stay aware!

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 9

BLACK LIVES MATTER

Photographer Dan Hall-Turner captured these powerful images last month as around 2000 protesters gathered on Devonshire Green to support the worldwide black community and protest against systemic oppression in the wake of the death of George Floyd, killed after a police officer knelt on his neck during an arrest in the US. The Sheffield rally was one of many peaceful protests which took place across the country and passed without incident according to South Yorkshire police.

10 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

UPFRONT

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 11

Image: Craig Fleming

UPFRONT

RAISE A GLASS TO THE NEW

The Wick at Both Ends to reopen under new management this month West Street boozer Wick at Both Ends has been snapped up over lockdown by a new management team in a cool half a million pound deal.

The previous owners of the bar, which has been bought by Emerald Late Bars and Restaurants, announced the change on Facebook.

“The Wick sadly will not be reopening as you know it, we

would like to thank all of our customers and staff past and present for such a great time over the years.

“We look forward to seeing you on the other side of the bar of many of our fine city’s independent pubs and bars.”

The Wick is set to reopen on 4th July after a period of closure during lockdown. facebook.com/TheWickAtBothEnds

FREE CHEERS FOR SHEFFIELD Sheffield Theatres gives the city cause for hope Sheffield Theatres has launched FREE CHEERS FOR SHEFFIELD, an online programme that will celebrate the Theatres’ greatest moments, continue its dementia friendly programme and support children and young people with creative activities and educational resources.

Robert Hastie, artistic director of Sheffield Theatres said: “Theatre is what we do, not just the buildings where we do it. With Free Cheers we’re reaching beyond our walls to celebrate the joy and the sense of community that theatre gives us.

I’m excited to be reuniting actors to reminisce about their performances and to talk about the difference theatre makes to people’s lives and to society. I’m also looking forward to continuing to connect to people living with dementia and reaching out to those who are isolated and lonely in our communities. Free Cheers will help us to wrap our arms around some of those who need us most.”

The Free Cheers programme will include recorded and live performances of musical numbers from stand-out productions including Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Guys and Dolls and The Wizard of Oz; an exclusive live performance by Richard Hawley and insights from artists including Hiran Abeysekera, Mina Anwar, Ben Batt, Lolita Chakrabarti, Jonathan Hyde, Lesley Nicol, and legendary pantomime Dame, Damian Williams.

The Bank cohort of writers will be creating a series of shorts which will be produced, directed and performed online by local artists, including Nadia Emam, John Rwothomack, Elin Schofield and Hassun El-Zafar. The Theatres also continue to make plans for outdoor Shakespeare performances in the city’s green spaces later this summer with Shakespeare to Sheffield, subject to Government advice.

READY, SET…

Showroom Cinema eyes September opening date With lockdown measures being eased steadily as we enter the summer months, more and more of Sheffield’s independents are setting their own roadmaps out of lockdown.

Whilst the hospitality industry has been working tirelessly to adapt to takeout and delivery rules, there still remains a big part of Sheffield’s make up that has had to stay closed. Institutions like the Leadmill, the Crucible Theatre and the Showroom Cinema have had to close up all together and rely on the good will of the people of the Steel City to bide their time.

showroomworkstation.org.uk 12 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Confirmation is still to come for gig-goers and theatre-lovers but at least for now, the Showroom’s CEO Ian Wild has provided a much welcomed update on the future of the cinema. “We’ve been working hard devising seating plans, queuing systems and additional staffing rotas to increase cleaning routines. However, until we are sure we can operate safely, not only within the Govern-

ment guidelines, but also to a standard that we are confident will keep everyone visiting and working in the building safely, our doors will sadly remain closed. We also need to make sure that when we open, we remain open. The costs to implement everything we want and need, are currently beyond our means. The last few months have hit us hard, and over the next few weeks we will be taking time to review our offer and operating costs.

“At the moment, we have pencilled midSeptember as a date to re-open, and are in discussions with film distributors to make sure we have some fantastic films to show.

We pride ourselves on being an independent cinema, bringing you the best indie films from around the world, and we don’t want this to change. We can’t put into words how grateful we are of the support we’ve received.

Every nice message, membership upgrade, and donation is helping us to remain positive and look forwards.”

CELEBR ATING A BIRTHDAY DURING LOCKDOWN? **

WHEN DINING IN A PARTY OF 4 OR MORE IN THE RESTAURANT *The reservations team will be in touch once we reopen for business to confirm your booking and deposit payment. ** Members only. Birthdays which fall during the lockdown period from and including 01.03.2020 will be honoured on a date of your choice before 30th November when the premises re-open (not available on special dinner or event nights). Offer only available on prebooked Dine in Style packages and ‘free birthday meal’ must be mentioned at the time of booking. Sides and supplements chargeable. Birthdays during December will be honoured in January.

Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.

We are currently taking online Restaurant, Christmas and New Year bookings for up to 30 people, with no deposits required until we are open for business as usual* N A P O L E O N S C A S I N O & R E S TA U R A N T 1 7 L I V E S E Y S T R EE T, S H EF F I EL D, S 6 2 B L 0114 285 5566 Terms and conditions apply to all offers and promotions.

SHEFFIELD@NAPOLEONS-C A SINOS .CO.UK

w w w.n a p ol eon s-c a sino s.c o.uk /SHEF F IEL D

18+

After the Fire Jake Pearson takes a walk down Sharrowvale Road…

Joe pulled his car into a space, got out and headed towards the café. The café had only been serving coffee for a while now but Joe had heard that the kitchen had reopened and they were once again serving food. Joe went inside, ordered a coffee and took the menu to a table outside. The day was warm and the sun was glistening on the tops of the glass tables outside and Joe thought about how nice it was to be outside again. The road was not unduly busy, but there were more people walking than there had been in recent times. It seemed we were past the worst of it now.

The waitress came out and brought over Joe’s coffee along with a pot of brown sugar. Joe wasn’t overly keen on brown sugar so he asked if they had any white. It was a strange idiosyncrasy that Joe had. He was well aware that the taste between the two was scarcely detectable, and of course brown sugar the more natural of the two, but there was something comforting and reminiscent about plain white sugar that Joe did not want to let go of.

The waitress reappeared with three sachets of white sugar and Joe thanked her for them and ordered a full English. When the waitress had gone back inside Joe emptied two of the sugar sachets into his coffee and stirred it back and forth. He 14 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

had heard somewhere that stirring back and forth dissolves the sugar better than stirring clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Joe pulled out a notepad and began to write.

He was fond of this road and every now and then he would look up from his notepad and take in his surroundings. There was a Greek restaurant directly opposite that made the most wonderful lemon chicken and a little further on was a Mexican restaurant that Joe was particularly fond of. A small woman walked past Joe and smiled before continuing up the road. She was an elderly lady with a small dog, a terrier of some sort, and Joe was once again happy to be outside.

The waitress, who wore a bright red apron over a red and white striped shirt, brought out Joe’s breakfast. She wore bright red lipstick and had her dark blonde hair pulled back and tied up. She looked like an ice-cream lady at the pictures in the olden days, or at least what Joe imagined they looked like. The waitress smiled at Joe as she laid his plate on the shining glass table and Joe smiled back and said “Thank you”. She turned and went back inside while Joe cut off a piece of bacon and put it in his mouth. It tasted wonderful. Joe cut off another piece of bacon and used it to piece the yolk

UPFRONT: A SHEFFIELD SHORT

of the fried egg. The egg burst and yolk ran out over Joe’s plate.

Joe was hungry and it hadn’t taken him long to eat the whole thing, mopping up the combination of egg yolk and baked beans with a slice of toast. The waitress came back outside and took his plate and Joe ordered another coffee. He wanted to ask the waitress her name but was aware of coming off as presumptuous and pushy. He was sure plenty of men would ask her her name throughout the course of the day.

Joe reopened his notebook and continued to write as he drank his second cup of coffee which the waitress had brought out with one sugar sachet, which meant she had taken note of how many sugars Joe had used in his first cup. “Perhaps I should ask her name”, Joe thought, but instead he continued writing.

After Joe had finished his coffee he decided the best thing would be a small walk. He took his cup inside and paid his bill at the counter. The waitress was seeing to another table, which stirred in Joe a small feeling of embarrassment.

He had thought that perhaps the waitress was waiting only on him, and the sight of her taking orders from another person was very much a betrayal. Joe took his change from the waiter, with whom he had settled his bill, and left the café.

Joe tried to clear his head of the waitress with a walk. He stuck his head inside the butchers as he passed before walking past the fishmongers, a couple of Italian restaurants and a shop selling trinkets.

Joe reached the top of the road and went in the bookshop. He wasn’t looking for anything in particular; he just liked bookshops. His first port of call in any bookshop was always to look for a Hemingway, though he had read them all, just to see if this particular bookshop had any in. Usually they had one or two, usually For Whom The Bell Tolls, but he could not find any here. He browsed the shelf of classics, taking down a Tolstoy before thinking better of it. He wanted to buy something but there was nothing that particularly stood out to him, so he returned to War and Peace and took it over to the counter, he had after all never gotten round to reading it.

Joe purchased the book and left the shop. He was still thinking about the waitress and walked back towards the café. He had to walk that way back to his car anyway. He passed the trinkets shop, the restaurants, the fishmongers and the butchers, this time without even registering them. He stopped just before he reached the café and stood outside the barbers next door for a minute or so. He had decided to go back in, order another coffee, and ask the waitress her name, but just as Joe moved his right leg the café door opened and the waitress walked out arm in arm with a man. It was the waiter Joe had settled his bill with.

The waitress noticed Joe standing there and smiled at him, and as she did Joe noticed she was wearing a name badge. “Annie”, he thought, “that’s a nice name”, as she and the waiter crossed the road and headed towards the park. Joe got in his car and sat there for a minute before turning the engine on and driving home.

Photography by Marc Barker

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 15

reopening Friday 10th July. a taste of Yorkshire 0114 270 6160 silversmiths-restaurant.com 111 Arundel St, Sheffield S1 2NT 16 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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To bo call 0 ok a booth 114 24 or ema 9 8151 il info@f irepit .rocks 138 West St, Sheffield S1

www.firepit.rocks 18 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

SUBURBIA

Welcome To Surburbia

Here are some photos taken from ‘SUBURBIA’, a photo essay by Anthony Chatburn documenting the wealth disparity between the adjacent inner city suburbs of Sharrow and Nether Edge.

The two areas are separated by one road, Sharrow Lane, and by merely turning a corner you can often find some of the city’s most expensive properties situated a stones’ throw away from one of the most deprived wards in Sheffield. And so it has remained for almost 200 years.

“I’d been wanting to put my work out more physically for a while now – in some form more tangible than a one-off print series,” said Anthony of the project. “But when the pandemic and lockdown happened it just took away a lot of the plans with it. I came up with the idea after wanting to document this neighbourhood more since I moved here a year ago because I was struck by the massive wealth disparity if the area.”

All copies of the zine have sold out, with all of the profits going to the Jubilee Food Bank, which provides vital community services in and around the Shirecliffe area.

See more of Anthony’s work on Instagram @ anthony_chatburn WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 19

OPEN FOR TAKEAWAY OR DELIVERY OPEN FOR TAKEAWAY OR DELIVERY WITH WITH

Now open with all government guidelines in place 15% discount on collections and 15% discount on collections and 25%NHS discount for NHS staffON on collections 10% DISCOUNT DINING IN 25% available. discount NHS www.urbanchoola.co.uk staff on collections Online Ordering Visitfor our website for more info Online Ordering available. Visit our website www.urbanchoola.co.uk for more info

842 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, S11 8TD Weds – Sun 5pm – 9pm 842 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, S11 8TD Weds – Sun 5pm – 9pm

Jameson’s In A Box menus consisting of: Breakfast hampers / Celebration hampers / Bagels / Sandwiches / Toasties / Afternoon teas / Homemade scones / cakes / Hot & cold drinks / Speciality teas and coffees / Build your own picnic / Bespoke celebration cakes / Cheesecakes to order / Bespoke party hampers

Now available on citygrab and for takeaway. Pre-orders welcomed.

Opening days: Thursday - Sunday Opening Times: 11am-4pm Coming soon... ‘Pie Day’ Friday and Sunday roast sandwich boxes..... watch this space!!

JAMESON’S ABBEYDALE ROAD, 332 ABBEYDALE ROAD, SHEFFIELD, S7 1FN EMAIL: EMQUIRE@JAMESONSTEAROOMS.CO.UK | TEL: 0114 255 1159 | WEB: WWW.JAEMSONSTEAROOMS.CO.UK FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE LATEST UP-DATES if

UNLOCKING

SHEFFIELD

After months in lockdown, Sheffield is finally re-open for business. We spoke to some of those most affected about what the new normal might look like...

Pictures: Marc Barker

After months of being closed to the public, Sheffield’s city centre has slowly begun to stir once more as a number of independent businesses open up and begin adjusting to the restrictions imposed upon us all by the coronavirus outbreak.

For this month’s issue of Exposed, we spoke to local people working in a variety of industries affected by the global pandemic - from bars and nightclubs to theatres and breweries - in an attempt to piece together a clearer view of what the ‘new normal’ is shaping up like for some of the Steel City’s favourite institutions.

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WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 23

THE GREAT GATSBY lifted. The Abbeydale Brewery owned pub cited skyhigh rates, an uncertain future facing the hospitality industry and a general reduction of footfall in the past few years as factors all contributing towards the decision.

These are issues O’Hara and his colleagues are all too familiar with, claiming that last year was financially the toughest they’ve faced across their establishments and unless calls for a rent freeze or ‘National Timeout’ are heeded by the government, whole communities of independent businesses that primarily serve the local economy and provide identity and variety to cities such as Sheffield could be wiped out.

“The rent model in this country has needed looking at for ages,” he adds. “Most rents are incredibly overinflated, the risk is always attached to the tenants, and this situation has shown it up for exactly that. Say for example we’re closed for four months, which is looking likely, the National Timeout proposal would allow us to pause the rent for that period and spread it

“I HOPE THIS CITY CAN GET BEHIND INDEPENDENTS, EVEN MORE SO THAN USUAL” With July 4th being heralded as the date when many of Britain’s pubs and bars will finally reopen their doors following three months of forced closure, you might be forgiven for thinking that people will soon be able to pick up where they left off with regards to visiting their favourite city centre haunts.

Unfortunately, the sad reality could see a number of independent businesses in Sheffield forced to shut up shop for good due to a brewing storm of accumulated rent bills, difficult trading conditions during the ongoing pandemic and spacing issues with the current social distancing guidance.

Popular Division Street hangout The Great Gatsby is one spot particularly at risk, with owner James O’Hara claiming that the expense of paying backlogged rent racked up during the closure period to their landlord – a large pubco with almost 400 bars and pubs up and down the country – in order to reopen would make the business unviable.

“We’ve had some very difficult conversations with landlords that are ongoing,” says O’Hara, co-owner of The Rockingham Group who also own Sheffield venues Picture House Social, Public and Ambulo. “They are all very different landlords in fairness, but unless the government bring in some new legislation, or by some miracle pubcos decide to be nice, the Gatsby will probably be a business that won’t come back. That said, whatever the situation and hurdles put in front of us we will try every avenue and every trick in the book to get the bar back open.”

It’s a bleak message for the city’s independent pub scene, and something recently forced into sharper focus with the news that longstanding real ale and craft beer haven The Devonshire Cat won’t be reopening once restrictions are 24 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

over the rest of the lease. The reality is, with the furlough scheme running for another few months, there’s no incentive to get into the risky business of reopening because, put simply, we’d lose less money by staying closed.”

With the large chain groups of the industry aiming for reopening in less than two weeks, he claims that “sitting back and learning from the big boys’ mistakes” will be a popular strategy for businesses unable to afford the risk of reopening too early.

However, on a slightly more positive note, he stresses that the current predicament is “not necessarily a one-size-fits-all scenario” and that some local bars and restaurants, particularly those with spacious outside areas, could see a upturn in business through a combination of summertime weather and thirsty punters looking to make amends for lost drinking time.

Tough times are undoubtedly on the horizon for independent businesses throughout the country, but O’Hara claims that on a local level, Sheffielders can provide their support and will be doing his bit to remind people of that once the drinks start flowing again.

“I hope this city can get behind independents, even more so than usual. Go to the Dorothy Pax, Picture House Social, Forum, or any independents with big outside areas. Give your money to those who are employing people from the city and will be spending their money in the city. Don’t give anything to that complete bellend from Spoons who wouldn’t pay half of his staff anyway – and you can quote me on that.”

“

DON’T GIVE ANYTHING TO THAT COMPLETE BELLEND FROM SPOONS WHO WOULDN’T PAY HALF OF HIS STAFF ANYWAY

UNLOCKING SHEFFIELD

”

9000+

proprietors lease premises from one of the UK’s major pub companies, or “pubcos” Picture: India Hobson WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 25

THE LEADMILL

LIVE AFTER LOCKDOWN Sam Feeley, promoter at The Leadmill, talks us through how the famous venue is coping during the pandemic and whether socially distanced gigs could actually work.

Hey Sam, how has lockdown been both for you personally and as part of the wider Leadmill team?

I think I could sum it up as challenging.

Obviously there are the fears and uncertainty about the future, which I think most people are feeling, but the thing for us has been trying to challenge ourselves creatively to still provide entertainment for people and try to keep some cash flowing in the business to ensure our future.

It’s a hugely difficult and confusing time for the live events industry. Have there been any discussions with regards to how the venue could start hosting live shows again? Could you tell us a bit about these potential avenues?

We’ve explored a few different methods, but with the social distancing rules in place our capacity would be reduced to around 48, which isn’t really viable. The other issue we face is whether the public would be willing to buy tickets to an event in an enclosed space at the minute.

In your opinion, could socially distanced gigs actually work?

No, not really; not as a business and that aside, as a gig-goer myself, I don’t think it works. Part of the enjoyment of gigs is getting involved, throwing yourself about and really getting into the music, which just isn’t something that can be achieved with social distancing. Imagine how bizarre it would be stood two metres from your mate having a pint, watching a band.

Until things become a little clearer, how can people support The Leadmill during these testing times?

We’ve been really fortunate so far to receive so many kind donations and while we under-

1.1bn

In 2019 the live music industry was worth £1.1bn to the UK economy.

UNLOCKING SHEFFIELD

stand this is a tricky time for everyone, we are certainly still welcoming those donations via our crowdfunder and our website. We also have plenty of merch available on there too, including the last few bits of original dancefloor!

To finish on a positive note, this year marks the 40th year anniversary of this iconic venue. Can you tell us a bit about what The Leadmill means to you and take us through a few of your favourite moments over the years?

The Leadmill means a hell of a lot to me, as I’m sure it does to many in our city. Even before I worked here, I’ve always thought of it as a true beacon of Sheffield culture.

I always manage to say something different whenever anyone asks me this question purely because there are so many good memories.

Bombay Bicycle Club’s live return last year was really special, and even though it’s not actually at Leadmill, watching out on a crowd of 7,500 people singing along to George Ezra at Don Valley was a real proud point for me. Our team put so much into those events and it was the kind of event I’d always dreamed of doing, and a dream I had never expected to achieve.

On the club side of things, Club Tropicana was a real winner for me. Having that idea come through and go on to be such a successful night was fantastic. There is something really special about having a daft idea and then seeing people take to it so well.

There’s nothing quite like watching 1,000 people lose it to Hall & Oates. leadmill.co.uk // crowdfunder.co.uk/ saveourvenuesleadmill

26 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN

PHOTO: OWEN RICHARDS

Picture: Marc Barker

THE FROG AND PARROT

Nick Simmonite, manager at legendary city centre drinking hole The Frog and Parrot, also acts as chairman for Unight, a Sheffield-based night-time community group. Eloise Feilden caught up with him in advance of the reopening of many hospitality businesses on July 4 to talk about what changes he foresees in the industry as we move towards re-starting the nightlife economy.

“We started Unight over a decade ago now, and it is a collection of all the major operators in the city centre that are open in the evening,” says Nick. “Big players including those such as Corporation, Tank, Leadmill and the like.” He is keen to stress that as a not-for-profit organisation, Unight represents the whole night-time community and not just the economy. “For example, we have partners that we work with in this organisation that include street pastors,” he explains. “We’ve had some great support from the church in the past, and we aim to continue that. It’s all about positive actions that we can bring to share best practice amongst our group, taking a real affirmative step towards providing a safe, enjoyable, vibrant night out for our guests from Sheffield and beyond. While you might think we are competitors, and although I guess we are, it’s about growing the economy – to grow the pie rather than carve it up between us. We work closely with All Bar None and Sheffield Licence Watch as well as South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield City Council. It might on the face of it look like a ragtag bunch of operators, but we’re all committed to making sure that we present an absolutely cracking offer to our guests.”

The conversation moves towards a reflection on the current crisis, and Nick tells me of the ways in which the lockdown has affected Unight’s practices in helping the community. As manager of the Frog and Parrot on Division Street, Nick has found the group to be a great sounding board for individual operators to come together and help each other through this. A need for security was one of the first issues to come up as the lockdown began, which has since been provided by Unight’s membership base. “To

supplement police patrols we’ve been keeping a watchful eye on a number of premises; that was a nice public initiative that really gave some assurance that our businesses were safe. We are also gifted to have John Gaunt Solicitors, who are the premier licencing specialists in the country, and have been providing guidance to us since our inception over ten years ago. They’ve had a lead on government guidance and have been able to keep us in the loop in that respect and help us pick through the very wordy government documents that have been published. As operators on the floor we can interpret that more easily in order to take the steps that need to be taken across the bartending community.”

The government guidelines that have been put in place for businesses getting ready to reopen on the July 4 focus on a necessary increase in sanitisation in order to reduce the spread of the virus. Nick tells me that when it comes to his team at the Frog and Parrot, they have retained good practice in this area due to previous campaigns surrounding freshers’ flu and the winter vomiting bug. As he puts it, “We’re just going to be doing a bit more of that now, and putting WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 27

However, Nick does offer some positives in explaining how as we move further into the summer months the effect that Coronavirus continues to have on our lives, and specifically on our ability to travel, could benefit the night-time economy in ways that we may not have expected. “The night-time scene in Sheffield has historically always been a little bit dark during the summer.

Tramlines was created to fill the void of there being no students and everyone away on holiday, and was originally pitched on the weekend prior to payday in July, the worst weekend of the summer for the hospitality industry. We’ve got an opportunity now to encourage people who aren’t going abroad and are staying in the UK to feel at home in Sheffield city centre. The city has always been warm and welcoming, probably the friendliest city on the planet and certainly the biggest village in the world, and I hope we can make people comfortable coming back into town. Some of our customer base are only just getting used to taking steps outside as lockdown measures ease, and we hope that they’ll take those steps into our homes in the city centre and be reassured that we’ve got it covered.”

Picture: Marc Barker

some reassuring messages out to our customers that we’ve got it covered.” With the increase in sanitisation, however, comes a rise in additional costs to businesses and operators as a result of the need for more staff members. Establishments may be forced to up their staff levels to keep up with the need for extra cleanliness, and additionally in order to provide table service as a means of reducing infection rates.

UNLOCKING SHEFFIELD

One thing that Nick does feel concerned over is the live music scene here in Sheffield, something that has remained a vital part of the city’s identity for years. “I get the science

behind it: if people have to raise their voice or get closer to each other that increases the risk of transmission, so let’s remove that as a possibility. It’s disappointing, and has and will continue to have a real effect on musicians and artists nationwide. Sheffield has a good clutch of those in the industry – not just bands but lighting technicians, sound engineers and promoters as well. There’s a good number of people in this city that make a living from the live scene, and that is going to have to be absent for now. All we can say of this moment is best not screw it up, best keep safe, and let’s make sure that we push through this next few months and make sure our teams and guests are well looked after, so we can look forward to the live scene coming back.” unightsheffield.org

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ABBEYDALE BREWERY

Staying Hoptimistic The Devonshire Cat on Wellington Street became one of the first city centre pubs to close in part due to the effect of coronavirus. It’s not likely to be the last. We spoke to Abbeydale Brewery’s Laura Rangeley to see the reasons behind the decision to call time on a Sheffield institution...

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Picture: Maddy Wood

After making the hugely difficult decision to close its flagship city centre venue The Devonshire Cat, Sheffield institution Abbeydale Brewery are adapting to a newly-shaped landscape when it comes producing some of the city’s favourite beers and running popular Fulwood community hub The Rising Sun. As with many businesses associated with the hospitality industry, the closure of pubs and bars back in March meant the brewery had to adapt – namely by expanding their online shop operation and selling direct to the public. Unsurprisingly, with a new canning line containing local favourites such as Moonshine, Heathen and Heresy, the delivery service was a hit.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the public,” Abbeydale Brewery’s Laura Rangeley told us. “The response we’ve had to our online shop has literally enabled staff to keep coming in and kept a smile on our faces. We want people to know how much we value that – but also, we want people to show support by using their local pubs when they reopen.”

With the economic damage a global pandemic brings all too easy to foresee, it became inevitable that some of our pubs wouldn’t be returning.

Even so, when the brewery announced that they wouldn’t be reopening The Devonshire Cat – a constant fixture on the city’s drinking scene for almost two decades – the news was met with plenty of shock and sadness from the Sheffield public.

Laura explains it was an incredibly difficult decision for the team at Abbeydale to make, but after taking into account what had been a difficult couple of years of trading for the venue combined with the forced closure and an uncertain future ahead, it made the decision a necessary one for the longer-term survival of the business. Now they are focusing on supporting staff from the closed venue as well as they can, getting production back up at the brewery and preparing their other pub, The Rising Sun, for a safe reopening in July.

She explained the contributing factors behind the closure in a little more detail. “The whole team across the board is absolutely gutted. It’s a place where we from the brewery would head to on a Friday for a good few pints – a fantastic venue and one we will really miss.”

“Being a city centre pub, the overheads for the Devonshire Cat such as its rateable value are really high and meant we weren’t able to benefit from the government grants. Unfortunately, with the way things are at the moment and the city centre being much quieter, we were forced to make that tough decision.”

There is hope on the horizon, though. The brewery took a calculated risk in scaling up production ahead of the announcement announcing the reopening of pubs and restaurants. As such, they are now in a good position to ensure demand can be met for their main products and are now ready to support their pub customers. The Rising Sun will be re-opening on the fourth of July and plans have been drawn up to keep customers and staff safe during opening hours.

“Fingers crossed, we believe that the brewery is in as strong of a position as possible in the current circumstances. We’re also hopeful that The Rising Sun will have a good chance moving forward; it has a good local following and has always been supported by the community. We’ll be utilising its outdoor space and offering a booking system. We’ll have to learn and find out more about what people are looking for, so it’s the kind of the thing all pubs will have to remain flexible with when it comes to moving forward.” abbeydalebrewery.co.uk WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 31

KELHAM ARCADE We won’t be able to wash hair either, and we will be wearing visors, gloves – the works. It’s definitely going to be very different.

On a brighter note, we hear there is a new tenant joining in July. What can you tell us about that?

Yeah we’ve had billie from @glossnailsbybillie and her team join the Arcade. She’s the newest addition after Andy from Reyt Good Illustration.

We’re all really excited to get back open and trading again. We’ve got some really talented strong business in the building and everyone is raring to go. The building has had a makeover, with a full paint job top to bottom, and also a new outdoor area at the back. We’re looking forward to getting back to it! We’ve got one vacant room upstairs so if anyone out there wants to join, just shoot us a message. kelhamarcade.uk

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DOWN AT THE ARCADE Burton Road’s small but perfectly formed independent hub is ready to return, sporting a fancy new look and a couple of fresh tenants. We spoke to owner Lawrence Wheen about what’s new at Kelham Arcade.

For those not yet in the know, tell us what Kelham Arcade is all about.

Kelham Arcade is a small hub for creative businesses; the idea is for each business to promote themselves and the other businesses around them. It’s kind of like a collective I guess, and we’re all about promoting creative and independent talent across a range of disciplines.

Tell us a bit about how the last few months have been from a businesss owner’s perspective?

Well, quite daunting to be honest. There have been a few lows as running a small business can be uncertain at the best of times. I’ve tried to take positives from a bad situation, worked on some new idea and repainted the building ready for reopening. I’m looking forward to getting going again now.

What sorts of procedures have been put in place leading towards reopening?

Obviously we will follow government guidelines in regards to social distancing. We’ve got custom floor stickers and signage made from FYI, a Sheffield-based design company just up the road from the Arcade. Small things help, so everything will be marked out, all communal areas will be properly sanitised, etc. You know, the new normal and all that.

With regards to Kelham Barber, what do the social distancing measures mean for haircuts?

There are a lot of changes in the barbershop. For example, clients will be advised not to show up until their appointment time. We’re quite lucky as our shop is quite spacious so we can have customers waiting spaced out at two metres if needs be. We can only offer haircuts now, which for us is a big hit to business as a large part of what we do is hot towel beard trims with a haircut.

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COW

PHOTO: OWEN RICHARDS

“I THINK EVERYONE WILL GET USED TO IT, BUT IT JUST FEELS A BIT ALIEN RIGHT NOW” A week after non-essential stores reopened to the Sheffield public, we spoke to Lucy Murray, manager of popular vintage haven COW, to see how the experience of browsing for new garms has been forced to change during the pandemic.

Hi Lucy, how’s the lockdown experience been for yourself and the rest of COW team here in Sheff?

I think we’ve all been really bored to be honest!

We’ve all been going through phases. The first few weeks everyone was like “I’m going to start running”, then there was a bit of a reading phase, then a creative few weeks knitting and painting etc. It has been difficult to find things to fill the time and some of our staff are students as well, so that’s been quite stressful – as if uni wasn’t stressful enough already! But I think everyone’s glad to be back in some way.

How have things changed now the store is back open?

We’re now more conscious of how many customers are allowed in the store at any given time as the shop is quite small. We also have a stricter and more frequent cleaning routine on the shop floor, making sure door handles and the surfaces are repeatedly being wiped down. We’ve also got a screen for the till and masks and gloves for all staff members! Because supermarkets have been open we’ve kind of been following suit with what they’ve been doing the past few months.

This being your first week back, how has the response from customers been?

It’s been so lovely to see all our customers again!

We’re lucky that all the customers have really been respecting the new rules such as fitting rooms

2.9m

people were employed in the UK’s retail industry as of last year

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being closed and our new return policies.

Are there any specific challenges to this new form of retail experience? Alternatively, does it bring with it any potential positives?

I think the challenge is that it all feels a bit impersonal talking behind masks and screens, because we have such a good relationship with our customers. But I think this will come with time! I think everyone will get used to it, but it just feels a bit alien right now. In a positive sense we’re all much more tuned into how to keep customers and staff safe with cleaning and just being conscious of what things we come into contact with.

Finally, what summer styles can we expect to see stocked up and in store over the coming months?

All pastel everything! Our amazing seamstress has made some of our gorgeous rework styles in pastel coloured Ralph Lauren shirts, which are really light and summery. We’ve also just made some tie-dye bleached shirts that I think will be really popular this summer.

Rework aside, we also have tonnes of ‘basic’ summer necessities like men’s and women’s shorts, t-shirts and lightweight raincoats – because you just cant trust Yorkshire weather!

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freshen UP 34 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

FRESHMANS

Reduced numbers, video shopping calls, personal appointments, and a new website – it’s all change down at Sheffield’s original vintage store Freshmans, but owner Louisa Frogatt is relishing the challenge.

Can you tell us a bit about the changes implemented at Freshmans before reopening?

It was a difficult one because I originally did a complete turnaround in the shop. I moved the entire store around and it just didn’t look like us anymore, so I decided to move it back and focus on numbers instead. I’m restricting how many are coming in, so there’s only six that can come in at any one time.

We’re pushing for people to sanitise when entering and leaving the store. We do pride ourselves on a personable shopping experience and we don’t want to lose that too much, so social distancing and restricting numbers seems the best way to do it.

How have you been finding this ‘new normal’ in the store?

It is starting to become a bit more natural, yeah. I can keep on top of the cleaning and the six people rule makes things easier to manage and keeps it all safer. Will I change the rules even if the lockdown is eased further and allows for it? Probably not as it stands. In fact, the changes have actually made it quite pleasant in some ways. With fewer people in we can get around a bit easier and make sure everyone’s happy. I’m also offering one-on-one appointments to people who might be a bit scared of shopping with others.

What were your main concerns with reopening and how did you get around those?

I knew I could provide a safe environment, but I was concerned with how a lot of the students aren’t here, we’ve got no festivals, and a lot of stock is geared towards Sheffield events like Tramlines and Club Tropicana at The Leadmill and festival season in general. In terms of getting around those it’s about offering the customers an incentive, a way of thanking them for coming back in again, so we’ve gone into sale on that stock. We’re still 80% down at least on the amount of people coming into town, but it’s positive in a sense because the people that are making the effort are coming in because they primarily want to shop.

You have a loyal customer base at Freshmans. How did you manage to keep those relationships going through the lockdown?

Literally just by chatting to people on Instagram and staying in touch, not just about the business side of things but also about general day-to-day stuff.

I wasn’t the shopkeeper during that period; I was the mum at home trying to deal with everything as many other people were. I think this lockdown makes you realise that the people who work in the shops you use every week, or those in pubs and the bars you go to, you realise it’s a deeper relationship that just a customer/worker thing. I felt really blessed when some regulars told me the first place they came when revisiting town was Freshmans. That really got me.

How might the next few months pan out for retail do you think?

I think when non-essential retail first reopened, it was almost like something to do and a novelty for people who’d been cooped up for so long. However, I do think that will die down and we will see a tough few months. However, you’ve got to stay positive and I’m hoping that the good relationships with our customers will see us through in that respect.

Talking about moving forward, you’ve also just launched a website recently?

Yeah, we launched that the other week – freshmansvintagestore.com – and have started putting products online. It’s a little bit slow at the moment because we are known first and foremost as a store to visit in Sheffield, but it’s great to see us on a website and hopefully that’ll grow in time. There’s also a click & collect service plus a local delivery service, so that could be beneficial for people who might not want to come into or spend much time in town.

I’ve even been doing video calls with people unable to come into the store where I’ll ask they’re looking for and show them what we’ve got in. It’s about adapting and going the extra mile really. @freshmansvintagestore. facebook.com Freshmans-Vintage-Store-Sheffield WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 35

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DANCING AND DISINFECTING?

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CODE

With restaurants and pubs under strict social distancing guidelines only recently receiving the go-ahead by the UK government, a return for bustling nightclub floors and busy bars seems a long time away as things stand. But is there cause to be optimistic? Elliot Lucas spoke to Simon Tomlinson, a member of the team who brought CODE, Molly Malone’s and the soon-to-open Mr Wilson’s to the Steel City’s party scene, about how things are looking for the city’s late-night social scene.

I know you’re planning on opening a new venue called Mr.Wilson’s. Is that still going ahead?

Yeah, it will be on West Street. We’re hoping to have it open by the end of August. It’s going to be a two-floor venue, a really high-spec cocktail bar at ground level. The finish in there will be like no other bar in the city. Hopefully when you’re in there it won’t even feel like you’re on West Street at all; in fact, it won’t even feel like you’re in Sheffield. Downstairs, we’re going for something like a 1920’s style speakeasy bar. It will be more intimate, and the music won’t be extremely loud down there. It will be somewhere you can meet up with friends or take partners on a date. Obviously West Street on a Saturday night gets really busy, so hopefully it’ll provide somewhere to get away from all the madness.

The speakeasy vibe is one very much in demand these days.

Right! And traditionally if you’re a VIP in a club, that means a booth overlooking the dancefloor with bottles of spirits with sparklers in them, etc. I think when you get to be around my age, you want to be treated like a VIP, but you don’t necessarily want sparklers and all that show-offy stuff. We’ll treat every customer who goes there like a VIP, just without all the noise.

Makes sense as I guess you’ve got CODE which is great for the big clubbing nights, then Molly Malone’s as a bit of a party bar, and now this venture which feels a bit more exclusive.

Yeah, well CODE has been very successful, which we’re happy with. We’ve become the main club for Hallam students, and that’s fantastic. Molly Malone’s, on the other hand, is somewhere where you can have fun whether you’re 18 or 80, singing the Irish classics at the top of your lungs and having a messy night. And of course, Mr. Wilson’s is more about having a relaxed, sophisticated type of night. It’s like Ecclesall road was 10 years ago.

Do you need social distancing to end before you can reopen Code, or you do have a plan to implement it in the club?

We’ll probably be reopening towards September, but there’s been no guidance from the government yet on nightclubs.

Say that the government allows nightclubs to reopen, but on the condition that social distancing at one-metre is observed.

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Would that be realistic?

It’s difficult really. The most important thing for us is the safety of our staff and customers. Obviously we want to open, but we also have to be realistic about what the experience of the club would be like. How good of a night the customer can have is the most important thing to us. Which is why I think with one-metre social distancing, I don’t think any clubs can re-open. It’s extremely difficult to police social distancing in that kind of environment. Whereas in bars, with customers being seated and table service, it’s a lot more achievable.

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Do you think there will be less clubs on the scene by the time things re-open? I’m sure many will struggle to pay the bills with no customers.

It’s been quite weird actually. Corporation, our competitors but also our friends, have been quite active in lobbying for more support from the government. When they initially brought the business grants in, it was based on the rateable value of the venue itself, which obviously excluded nightclubs.

We’ve been very fortunate with Code. We’ve been extremely busy and because we’ve got different venues as well, the club’s in quite a healthy state. We’re ready to open as soon as we’re given the green light. But some clubs will definitely struggle if the restrictions remain in place for a few months.

So overall, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the clubbing scene after lockdown?

I’m optimistic! I’m 30 myself, and it’s been a bit of a weird 15 years for clubs in Sheffield.

But they’ve always bounced back no matter what’s happened. As long as customers feel safe going into a club, I think we’ll bounce back extremely strongly.

Look at what’s happened as lockdown has been eased in different sectors, such as when shops were allowed to open; there could have been an argument there that not many people would want to go to the shops, because they’ve had twelve weeks to buy stuff online, but every time something has been eased they’ve been extremely busy. I don’t see why it would be any different for clubs and bars.

£66bn

The night-time economy is the UK’s fifthbiggest industry, accounting for 8% of the UK’s employment

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SHEFFIELD THEATRES

Pictures: Johan Persson

at. We have been working hand-in-hand with the DCMS and the Arts Council England to explore options for some more support. There are emergency funds being made available and we’re waiting on the outcome of that.”

So, if the people can’t come inside the theatres for live performances, what could be the answer? Bringing the theatres outside, of course. Planning is already underway by the team on pop-up Shakespeare performances to take place in open air spaces, which would be free for local audiences to attend.

“We thought that if people can’t come to us, we should come to the people. I think we’ll be looking at these outdoor performances to launch in late-August/ early-September perhaps, but again this would be dependent on government advice at the time.”

Despite challenges to overcome and adaptations to be made, Dan assures us that Sheffield Theatres will be back, announcing that in the meantime they will soon

THE SHOW MUST GO ON After a whirlwind few years that brought a slew of award-winning productions to their Crucible, Lyceum and Studio venues, the stages at Sheffield Theatres have fallen silent for the longest period in their history, much to the dismay of culture lovers throughout the region.

After closing the curtains mid-March and having no option but to furlough the majority of their workforce, a smaller team has remained active in safeguarding the future of the largest theatre complex outside of London and more recently exploring ways in which they can begin entertaining audiences again.

“We want to be back and on our stages as soon as possible,” Sheffield Theatres CEO Dan Bates assured us when we spoke last month. “But the main thing is listening to government advice and making audiences feel safe and comfortable about coming back to us.”

The most recent advice from Number 10 – an announcement that theatres and concert halls could re-open on July 4th but couldn’t host live performances – had caused some controversy in the industry, especially with many organisations receiving little funding during the lockdown and some having to resort to extreme measures such as redundancies to stay afloat.

Explaining that 89% of Sheffield Theatres’ income comes from their audiences, Dan uses the analogy of “trying to play cricket without a ball” to describe indoor theatre without live performances, and even if that guidance soon changes, there’s the issue of current social distancing measures reducing the capacity of The Crucible from 1,000 to 115 at two metres or circa 250 at one metre.

“That naturally makes things tricky, but then again, not everyone comes to theatre in single groups, so there are lots of adaptations which we are looking 40 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

be launching “Free Cheers for Sheffield” – an online programme to keep audiences entertained and rewarded for their loyalty.

“There’s not a week that goes by where we don’t hear from someone disappointed that they were meant to be seeing something this week. Some people have been putting their tickets onto a box office credit to use in the future, so there’s such a great loyalty to Sheffield Theatres, and we really appreciate it. The important message here is that we will be back, and over the next few weeks we’ll be speaking with our audiences and making our plans as clear as we can.”

Find the latest updates and Free Cheers for Sheffield programme online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

“

WE WILL BE BACK, AND ... WE’LL BE SPEAKING WITH OUR AUDIENCES AND MAKING OUR PLANS AS CLEAR AS WE CAN.

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Picture: Johan Persson

”

GRAB A LOCAL BITE Support Sheffield independents by ordering with the City Grab app. Here are five recent additions to whet your appetite…

Tamper Sellers Wheel This popular brunch spot and much-loved city centre venue brings a slice of kiwi café culture to the Steel City. Their menu has you covered with everything from breakfast burgers and their lauded rejuvenator salads to salt beef toasties and freshly baked treats from the Depot Bakery.

Wing Kings Quite simply the finest wings you’ll find in Sheffield. The brainchild of ex-pro basketball player Olu Babalola, the recipe uses a secret seasoning mix passed down through generations for over 100 years. Grab a 20 wings meal with a couple of sides and see what all the fuss is about.

Butcher & Catch A popular Broomhill restaurant specialising in local, seasonal Yorkshire ingredients to create modern British dishes, here you can order everything from fresh mussels and roasted seabass to hefty steak burgers and lamb rump. Comfort food at its finest.

La Mama One of the city’s finest tapas restaurants, inspired by Chilean cuisine and a wide selection of options across meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. Select a few each, add some sides and get stuck in!

John’s Van Expert butty purveyor and all-round Steel City institution, John’s Van serves up fast, freshly prepared hot and cold food at fair prices. Opt for one of the spothitting all-day breakfast sarnies, or go big with one of the guilty pleasure burgers.

Download City Grab on the App Store and Google Play Store.

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OPEN

for

business

HE for iTally e m i t c s OUGH , espie N e E cide r e n t h l o t u a c t c ’s diffi es ouopeningSO Herep ened . d It’s abusiness o C n I e . a r NDEM ho’v months A w indIeen your g P s L e A c EW wh h a GLOB the plae ast F l t o i h t w tout t over u s o r Urban Pizza Co. h o s do Made from two shipping containers and part of their

the Steelworks development in Kelham Island, this rustic pizzeria officially opened on the night lockdown was announced. Despite such unfortunate timing, they are now keeping themselves afloat on a deliveries-only basis. Once it’s safe enough out there, Urban Pizza can promise music, live events and outdoor cinema, but in the meantime keep an eye on their socials for the latest development and grab a delicious takeaway. urbanpizzaco.co.uk

North Town Deli

Opening in May, this Italian deli was forced to alter its plans for a grand opening as a dine-in restaurant.

Instead, you can order online for collection, or you can get a Friday-night feat bundle delivered to your door through the CityGrab app. northtown.store

Nam Song

Nam Song is a multiple award-winning coffee house and restaurant inspired by Vietnamese street food and culture. You may already know about their Broomhill site – a bright orange building decorated on the interior with gorgeous, multi-coloured Vietnamese style lamplights. However, a second site at Dyson Place was due to open before all this started.

For now, the second site has opened quietly, midlockdown, and will be offering takeouts and table bookings making use of its lovely outdoor area. namsong.co.uk

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Pellizco

Formerly known as Pinch N’ Pull, these travelling vendors fill Sheffield’s bellies with Mexican and Mexican fusionbased cuisine. They are known primarily for their street food offerings and cater for weddings and events. After a total rebranding effort complete with a new, redesigned horsebox to serve food from, Pellizco have now moved into a brand new space at Steelyard Kelham. Pay ‘em a visit or order your choice of wraps, tacos and patties via the City Grab app. pellizco.co.uk

Fool’s Gold

No gimmicks, just fresh ingredients and high-quality pizzas. Inspired by New York’s pizzerias, Fools Gold opened its doors in February, only to close them again in March. If you like the idea of New York style pizzas available on your doorstep, give them a visit as soon they reopen. Or purchase a gift card now that will be redeemable as soon as they reopen. @foolsgoldpizza

Sidney&Matilda

STILL TO COME

By day, an art gallery. At other times they host club nights, live music, live comedy, dance performances and more.

They also have a nice dim lit bar with craft beer to relax in. Another case of unfortunate timing as they opened just before lockdown. When they are up and running again – as they’ve announced they plan to be – be sure to get yourself down to Rivelin Works and check it out. @sidneyandmatilda

Heart of the City II

Sheffield City Council has a masterplan to rejuvenate Sheffield’s city centre. Alongside strategic development partner Queensberry, the plan is to attract jobs and investment with proposals for premium retail brands, office spaces, restaurants and bars simultaneously creating around 500 construction jobs through its execution.

The plan was forged before lockdown and is unrelated to it, but hopefully it will go someway towards mitigating the economic damage and job losses that are likely to hit Sheffield. heartofcity2.com

STILL TO COME

Heist Brewing co.

On a West street that is packed with raucous crowds and rowdy students on a Saturday night, Mr. Wilson’s will be a refuge for the adults who want to have a good time, but still be able to hear each other speak. At ground level, you can expect a high-spec cocktail bar that feels like nowhere else in the city. On the floor below, a 1920’s style speakeasy, described by the owner as ‘intimate’ and ‘somewhere you can meet up with friends or take partners on a date’. The venue will be run by the founders of ‘Code’ and ‘Molly Malone’s’ so you can rest assured they know how to throw a party.

This bar and burger joint is originally from Clowne, Derbyshire. They recently decided to relocate to Neepsend Lane, here in Sheffield, but their plans were scuppered by covid, and they have still yet to open their doors to customers. Once open fully, you can expect 30 craft beer lines, a bar space that houses gaming, and a sit-down burger joint.

The bar is owned by good Samaritans too. Already they have donated over £600 to the NHS with the takings from an auction. And now they are participating in a global brewery campaign called All Together, which generates vouchers, experiences and tours around a number of bars, coffee shops and restaurants for NHS staff in Sheffield to enjoy when lockdown ends. Cracking idea, that.

@MrWilsonsUK

heistbrewco.com

Mr.Wilson’s

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LET’S KEEP ON TOP OF IT The numbers may be dropping but Sheffield City Council would like to remind us all of our duty to remain vigilant in protecting ourselves and each other from COVID-19.

As we begin to ease lockdown measures we must remember this is not over, the virus continues to grow across the world. Whilst numbers of deaths and cases around us reduce it is not doing so at the desired rate and it certainly hasn’t gone away.

We cannot behave like everything is fine. If we do it will lead to an increase in cases and lockdown measures will be reintroduced.

Please adhere to and keep the following guidance in mind as we move forwards.

Don’t be a contact The test and trace service is working well but it does not control the virus – how you behave does. If you are contacted you must self-isolate for 14 days, and the only way to avoid being a contact is to adhere to the guidance below: Keep your distance • Wash your hands or use 70%+ hand gel • Face coverings in enclosed indoor spaces (where you can’t continue distancing) • Continue to work from home wherever possible Opportunities for transmission of Covid-19 increase in certain situations. Put simply they are the 3 C’s: • • •

Crowded gatherings Confined spaces Close contact

More than one of these conditions at the same time increases the risk of transmission.

The message is simple: as lockdown eases the risks remain. What you do makes a difference. It is your responsibility to protect yourself, your friends and your family.

Make smart choices; if the weather is hot and you are heading to a public setting such as a beach or park, the likelihood is there will be hundreds of people (which reduces the opportunity to adhere to guidance).

If you are contacted by test and trace • Stay at home if you have symptoms – even if mild (this is the thing that makes the most difference).

• Isolate if you are advised to by NHS Test and Trace or the local public health team – again this reduces the risk of spreading the virus to loved ones.

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go out despite being told to self-isolate, we know the vast majority of people have mild to moderate symptoms, but there are a significant number of people out there who are more likely to have very severe illness.

Isolating doesn’t mean nipping for a walk or to the shops; you must stay in at home.

Astonishingly we know that 50% of people with symptoms don’t stay at home.

This is the single most important think you can do. Get tested early. Book a test at gov.uk/ coronavirus, even if your symptoms are mild and nothing to worry about; this wouldn’t be the case for your elderly relatives and you put those at risk by not getting tested.

Finally, whilst we recognise we can’t live in lockdown forever this virus unfortunately is here to stay. We anticipate it will still be circulating well into 2021, so it is going to be a long haul which is why we all need to play our part in sticking to the guidance to ensure we can recover socially and economically.

UNLOCKING SHEFFIELD

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PICK ’N’ MIX

MUSIC: REVIEW

Jarv Is...

Beyond the Pale WORDS: AARON JACKSON Aaron Jackson reviews Beyond the Pale by JARV IS…, the first piece of new music released by Intake’s finest musical export in over ten years.

It is perhaps pertinent that Beyond the Pale has arrived right at the trough between the peak of the first and imminent second wave of COVID. Jarvis Cocker always did have an impeccable sense of timing. As the hazy memories of the Indian summer of lockdown fade and the harsh clouds of economic collapse gather we could all do with some distraction and entertainment.

Enter Jarvis. Ably assisted by Serafina Steer (harp, keyboards, vocals), Emma Smith (violin, guitar vocals), Andrew McKinney (bass, vocals), Jason Buckle (synthesiser & electronic treatments) and Adam Betts (drums, percussion, vocals), the result is Beyond the Pale, a seven-track album that demands and repays repeated listening.

By contrast, Cocker’s love of the narrative thread is evident. From the difficulties of personal growth (‘Must I Evolve?’) to dancing alone at home while the object of your affection is out on the town (‘House Music All Night Long’) to the sinister risks of visiting places in the age of terrorism and global pandemics (‘Sometimes I Am Pharaoh’) there is always a punchline to the set-up. These are not Dylan Thomas’s great lines in search of a poem. These are great lines inexorably building to points not simply well-made, but well-made with wit, élan, and quite brilliant turns of phrase. There are too many to pick out: I don’t want to dance with the devil, but do you mind if I tap my foot? (‘Am I Missing Something?’); I can resist gentrification but I cannot resist temptation (‘Swanky Modes’); and the quite wonderful I was born in the middle of the second verse, all my life I’ve tried to sing along, I’m not quite sure of all the words, but I haven’t got a clue just who wrote the song, ‘Children of the Echo’s’ mordant reference to the echo chamber world of algorithms we live in. How can we know who we are and where we’re going when all we are endlessly fed back is ourselves and the past? There are puns, call-backs and cultural declensions and subversions in excelsis and abundance – all of them operating at a level other artists would kill for.

Of course, none of this would count if the tunes weren’t also fantastic. While their peers uniformly trudge back to musical conservatism in search of lost glories, Cocker et al effortlessly surf the interface between the energy of live performance and the possibilities offered by electronic programming and digital flexibility. There are melodies, arrangements and hooks here as strong, inventive and brilliant as any that Cocker was remembered for and lauded in his imperial phase – this is music for Friday night and Sunday morning; for the individual and the collective; for the heart and the head. Give it a chance and you’ll still be listening and hearing new things years from now. Highly recommended.

Beyond the Pale is released July 17th via Rough Trade Records.

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PHOTO: EDDIE WHELAN

Pulp’s melodic sense was well-served by Cocker’s eye for a line and telling vignette. On Beyond The Pale, however, he outdoes himself. He writes from the same linguistic place as Cohen and Dylan – obvious influences – but where they have a tendency to self-absorbed abstraction, perhaps because they lack true personal roots in America’s wide-open spaces and boundless possibilities, Cocker has always dealt in ‘mundane reality’, befitting a son of South Yorks. While Dylan’s latest has, rightly, been Pulp’s melodic sense was wellthe laconic wit, dry asides, wry served by Cocker’s eye for a line and lauded, humour and sly allusions tend to telling vignette. On Beyond The Pale, tumble out without a connecting thread or satisfying resolution. however, he outdoes himself.

FI L M

THE MOLLY MAGUIRES

The Big Five-0

Fifty years on, Cal Reid looks back on some of the defining movies of the 1970s...

1970 marked the end of an era for the classic Hollywood system. Westerns, big-budget musicals and widescreen war films that had dominated the boxoffice during 50s and 60s were no longer bankable.

To make matters worse, many were expensive productions and most were fated to become box-office failures. Vietnam, the Cold War and the Civil Rights movement had created a strong divide in the United States, and left many disillusioned with traditional American values that were perpetuated on screen.

Films like The Chase; Bonnie and Clyde, The Wild Bunch, The Graduate and Easy Rider represented both revisionist exercises in tried-and-true genres and offered stories about wayward youth not presented in Hollywood before. A new breed of film star was emerging in the forms of Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman and Clint Eastwood.

With the studios panicking, they were left with little choice but to put their faith in young and vibrant directors who could tap into the audience needs of the new decade. The New Hollywood which had been born in the late-60s was getting into full swing. 50 years on, we look back at a small collection of the defining and the obscure from 1970.

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Martin Ritt’s revolutionary drama about Irish coal miners, stars Richard Harris and Sean Connery as undercover policeman and social activist respectively.

An interesting and often forgotten film set in Pennsylvania 1876, the main joy here is watching the two leads play off one another. Harris was always the better actor than Connery by a considerable stretch, with the latter often struggling to hold his own when not playing Bond, unless complimented by another performer to up his game.

The pair portray Irish immigrants who essentially want the same life of prosperity in their new homeland, but find themselves on opposing sides of the law. As usual, Martin Ritt delivers the same sensitive and intense human drama present in his other films like Hud and Hombre.

FILM

DARKER THAN AMBER

TORA! TORA! TORA!

Based on the thriller by John D. MacDonald, the always-brilliant and under appreciated Rod Taylor stars as Travis McGee, an unconventional private eye operating out of his houseboat in Florida. The plot is classic neo-noir, and is notable for the fact that there are no copies available on VHS or DVD, but it is available to watch in full on YouTube.

The film is most famous for a brutal fight scene between Taylor and bodybuilding actor William Smith. To give you an idea of how violent this fight scene was at the time, Bruce Lee selected its director Robert Clouse to helm Enter the Dragon based on his direction of said fight scene.

When the cameras rolled, Taylor and Smith exchanged real blows and reportedly ended up with several broken bones.

A thrilling epic of a war film on the surface, something which initially appeared to be the sort of thing no longer profitable at the time. There is a distinct difference, however, between the dark and scrupulous feel to this picture and the far more embellished traditional war films of the period.

This docudrama depicts the events leading up to December 7th 1941, the fateful attack on Pearl Harbour. Deliberately avoiding big stars in the cast, instead utilising well-trained actors in the roles of both the American and Japanese commanders, the film presents a matter-of-fact and somewhat impartial depiction of the fateful day.

When we finally reach the climatic aerial attack, the action is simply jaw-dropping in its spectacle.

TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA It wouldn’t be a true 70s list without a good slice of Clint Eastwood!

Despite his success in True Grit, many of cowboy-king John Wayne’s productions at the time were perfunctory, sad-old-fart westerns such as Chisum and Rio Lobo.

Eastwood was very much in the process of usurping Wayne’s throne coming off the back of the Dollars films and Hang ‘Em High. This hard-hitting picture takes Eastwood’s iconic loner persona and places it in an epic setting with large-scale battle sequences and explosions, alongside a steely Shirley McClain as the titular Sister Sara.

Directed by frequent Eastwood collaborator Don Siegel before teaming up for Dirty Harry the following year. That one didn’t do badly either.

M*A*S*H Very bold and actually quite subversive for its time, especially in a country still recovering from damage inflicted by a bloody and socially divisive war, Robert Altman’s satirical attack on the conflict in Vietnam is overshadowed somewhat by the equally brilliant television show of the same name.

But the genius that made the latter so successful is all too present in the theatrical original. It offers a brilliant blend of drama, humour and pathos and is excellently carried by a cast led by Donald Sutherland and Elliot Gould. M*A*S*H remains a hilarious and subtle comment on war with its wit still as sharp as it was in 1970, and dryer than one of Hawkeye’s martinis!

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THE GREEDY GREEK DELI & GREEK DELI DIRECT The Greedy Greek Deli team would like to say a big “THANK YOU” to all our customers for their continued support through this very difficult time. We would also like to “welcome” all new customers who have discovered our delicious food as a result of Lockdown. We are open for delivery or collection 7 days a week, please see our website for full details you can order on line via our app, via just-eat or by calling the shop on 0114 2667719

The Greedy Greek Deli & Greek Deli Direct 418-420 Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield, S11 8ZP

Working with Just-Eat for home delivery or download our App www.greekdelidirect.co.uk www.thegreedygreekdeli.co.uk

DO Y O U R BIT !

PLAY YOUR PART Whilst some parts of Sheffield are getting back to normal, there are still some who are suffering hugely as a result of the coronavirus.

Venues, vulnerable people, rough sleepers - here’s some ways you can help if you’re in a position to do so.

Save our venues!

The Leadmill, Corporation and the Abbeydale Picture House have just been listed by the Music Venues Trust as ‘at risk’ venues, warning that the beloved venues could no longer be with us very soon. Simply, we can’t let institutions like those die. They are the very fabric of the city. With no income over the last few months and very little, if any, help from the government. This is where we come in. A crowdfunder has been set up (crowdfunder.co.uk/saveourvenuesleadmill) to help with costs over the next period as the UK begins to unlock. Any donations will be used to help cover the following immediate costs: - Staff that are unable to furloughed who are desperately trying to keep the venue alive and kicking for the future.

- Financial help for freelance DJs/engineers/ crews.

- Rent that we are unable to get a holiday period from via the landlord.

- Essential running costs that are a legal/safety requirement.

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help the people S6 Foodbank In the first two weeks of the pandemic, the S6 Foodbank saw an increase of 81% of those in need of help. Before this, the Trussell Trust, the network that manages the S6 Foodbank and plenty others around the UK, reported that nearly 100,000 food parcels were given out in the Yorkshire area and that 1 in 5 people in this country live under the poverty line.

Now, more than ever, they need your help. sheffields6.foodbank.org.uk Sheffield Flourish If you need to seek help, or want to help mental health charities, like Sheffield Flourish, now is the time. During the lockdown period, it’s likely that someone you know has been struggling - don’t be afraid to reach out and point them in the right direction. Donate or speak to someone here: sheffieldflourish.co.uk

Sheff Citizens

Citizens Advice Sheffield Citizens Advice is the city’s leading provider of advice services and advocacy services.

They help about 25,000 people a year, offering confidential services that are independent, impartial and free.

- Advice Line - 03444 113 111 (Mon to Fri, 10am-4pm). The first point of contact for people across the city to access advice from CAS. - Help To Claim Helpline - 0800 144 8 444 (Mon to Fri, 8am-6pm). For help and support with Universal Credit claims.

- Consumer Service Helpline - 0800 04 05 06 (Mon to Fri, 9am-5pm). For help with consumer rights including energy supplies.

The Citizens Advice Sheffield website is regularly updated and so residents can access up-to-date information about the charity’s services. citizensadvicesheffield.org.uk

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