We are 12 months on from our last visit to Sheffield. October 2020 and the country was at a turning point. TFB was still experimenting with the Tiers for Fears plan based on geography. South Yorkshire would soon join others in the Tier 3, closing all but essential retail and pubs. Christmas would eventually be literally scrapped. The vibrant area around Eccleshall Road was bizarrely quiet. The optimism that with an area full of student life was strangely absent 2021 and it was good to see it was back to something more akin to normal. The side streets still showed numerous To Let signs on the terraced properties, but there was plenty of footfall.
The Other Half suggested a coffee intake on parking up, but a close examination showed that the footfall recovery too late to offer a reprieve for the Cafe Nero near the Marks & Spencer foodhall. Closed down and gone. This had potentially more impact than last year, due to the inclusion of our four As new dog owners, we are literally adjusting our spending habits to support businesses that will cater for all the family. There is no show without
punch or in this case, our Vera. A quick hunt for a website promoting dog friendly Sheffield soon revealed a good few alternatives to save the day. I read that a figure approaching 30% of all households in the UK now have a canine, so it will be interesting to see how the adapt to a whole new raft of pet owners out and lockdowns. We were declined entry a well known charity bookshop the other day, but with open arms at a Waterstones 2 doors away. You can understand that food shops have some obvious legal and health and safety guidance, but is a small Norfolk Terrier really so threatening to a 2nd hand book? I think not! The dog friendly symbols were fortunately on display at the unsurpassed, up market off licence, otherwise known as Craft & Berry. A wide selection of craft ales, local beers and artisan gin great you on the inside. I admit to a weakness for all things Abbeydale and Bradfield. Who would pass on a Farmers Blonde? A cheeky purchase or three was made to savour later. The gin was left for others to enjoy. Dont walk past Number
The Other Half remains ever so impressed with the range of independent shops thriving here. How many other provincial roads can boast a specialist Scandi Baby Store? Snugg. The area is a haven for local Sheffield produce, whether it be cards or steel. There is a pride in the names. Sheffield Makers. The Famous Sheffield Shop. Vera on the other hand was keen to sample the pork pies on display in a local deli. She sat in the doorway and put on her I am ever so cute, theyre starving me face for the shop assistants. Ever hopeful. We moved on, but she remembered the smell and would repeat the trick on our reverse walk. We passed takeaways catering to the late night students and an eatery with a Michelin star. The first phase of Eccleshall Road ends at Hunters Bar. The roundabout was originally the site of a toll house to collect the taxes on those using the road from Sheffield to Chapel le Frith. Last orders were called on the tolls on 31 October 1884. Vera had been patiently wandering up to this point and putting into practice all things learned at
dog school. Kerb. Stop. Sit. Wait for to move on. She very much sees the poi t of employing her new found skills in a real world setting, but revels in being at the lower end of the ranking in the classroom setting. She leaves the glory to the Cockapoo and Labradoodle types. The last time I recall being at Hunters Bar was 25 years ago on the Lisburn Road in Belfast. On a side note, l see that has now turned from a pub into a 600 capacity venue and been Cuckoo. This Hunters Bar is the entrance to Endcliffe Park - an area of woodland and parkland, which follows the course of Porter Brook. The park opened in 1887 to coincide with the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria.
