| With more and more venues vying to attract LGBT+ patrons, the Sheffield gay scene is very much alive and kicking. Whether you want a raucous night out or a more refined drink with friends and new acquaintances you can find the perfect bar or club in this attractive part of South Yorkshire. | |
City Centre (c) Marketing Sheffield
| England's fourth largest city is famous for having prospered because of its steel industry. Although Sheffield suffered industrial decline in the 1980s, and nowadays the industry is less noticeable than it once was, the economy is still worth over £7 billion a year. As well as steel and cutlery, Sheffield also produces confectionery and is home to the Basset factory where the Jelly Baby was born. |
| It's also where Liquorice Allsorts are made. Apparently the assortment of sweets came about by accident in 1842 when a salesman knocked over a tray of samples. The largest employers are now all public sector: the two universities, NHS, and national and local government employees. Private fee-paying international students are also a major source of income to the local economy through the universities. | |
| Sheffield is also home to the most advanced urban tramway system in the country, boasts the most visited shopping mall in Europe, Meadowhall, and houses the National Centre for Popular Music. The Sheffield Supertram opened in 1994 and runs from Sheffield City Centre north-west to the University of Sheffield and Hillsborough; north-east to Meadowhall; and south-east to Herdings Park. |
 City Centre (c) Marketing Sheffield |
GAY SCENEUp until recently Sheffield only had a couple of dedicated gay venues with the shining star being Dempsey's Bar which certainly knows how to keep punters happy with music every night, and cocktails such as Mai Tais on the menu. Dempsey's is still the most popular venue on the Sheffield gay scene and you should find drinking here a fun and friendly experience. The bar downstairs is open during the day and in the evening this is where the karaoke and quizzes take place. However to get into the club upstairs you will need to be a member if you don't want to be handing over a note or two at the door.Dempsey's is part of The Gay Quarter which includes a small collection of LGBT+ venues at the bottom of the Moor. They are independent operators who want to create an inclusive safe space for the LGBT+ community and their friends. BarCode features drag, outdoor seating and friendly bar staff. They host a range of music evenings inluding a 90's night and Bump & Grind, with Ms. Carriage, their regular hostess, who looks after cheesy hits, chart, house, and questionable humour.
If you are after an evening at the baths then The Boiler Room has all the amenities needed, including 3 cubicles with glory holes. There's a jacuzzi and steam room in the basement, and
upstairs you'll find both a sauna and dark sauna. There's a few private rooms and video viewing area with sofas.
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Sheffield benefits from a loud and proud selection of special events and activities for people across the LGBT+ spectrum, particularly
in June and July during the celebrations of Pride.
If you think of inclusive spaces, a church is unlikely to spring to mind. Church: Temple of Fun however is a vegan bar and restaurant in Kelham Island that has LGBT+ flags and posters plastered across its venue. Even in Church, you can celebrate being gay! |
 One of many Herd of Sheffield exhibits created by local people during a competition organised by BBC Radio Sheffield Photo: Andrew Tryon CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons |
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In a former cutlery works in Shalesmoor, Gut Level reminds people that Sheffield is not only the great exporter of steel but also electronic and dance music.
They provide a platform to underrepresented members of our LGBT+ community, particularly women and non-binary people, who do not feel seen in the more
mainstream LGBT+ late-night spaces.
The Leadmill has long been a welcoming place for people LGBT+ entertainment with comedians, drag performances and queer nights such as No Shade, and The Furnace which is located in the city centre has the LGBT+ community behind some of its most popular drag and cabaret themed events, with some great food and drink served up alongside talented performers. The Foundry Studio & Fusion is a 3 room club, music and event space inside the University of Sheffield Students' Union. They have regular club nights like Grapefruit, which is the LGBT+ special night plus many other festivals, gigs and events. GAY PRIDEIn 2024 Sheffield has once again found itself being the largest city in the UK without a Pride event. Their last one, the biggest the city has ever hosted, drew 16,000 people to Endcliffe Park in 2018 before Pride in Sheffield collapsed in acrimony as a result of a decision by the organisers to ban political activists and declare the event to be a celebration and not a protest. | |
| It means that once again in 2024 the only LGBT+ day event celebration in the city centre is Pinknic, an LGBT+ family event staged in the Peace Gardens in Pinstone Street on 13th June from 11am. Pinknic has general and gay themed stalls, music, dancing and fun for all your family and friends. They encourage you to bring a picnic to the event to celebrate being LGBT+. |
 Pinknic in the Peace Gardens (c) Pinknic |
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Revised June 2024. |