The initial decision to move to Sheffield wasn't particularly deliberate. I had University offers from Sheffield Hallam, Lancaster and Edge Hill, Ormskirk so Sheffield really was the only option. No offence to the people of Lancaster and Ormskirk but come on, what was I thinking applying there??? 16 years on I've still not bothered to set foot in either place which speaks volumes. Regardless of circumstance, moving to Sheffield is easily the best decision I've ever made, followed by buying a copy of R.E.M.'s Out Of Time as a spotty 13 year old, resisting the temptation to migrate to London post-University and resigning from my job at Sheffield Contraception & Sexual Health Service without another job lined up.
There are a whole raft of reasons why Sheffield is a great city. Despite its industrial heritage, 61% of Sheffield's area is green space and apparently there are more than 2 million trees in the city, which gives Sheffield the highest ratio of trees to people of any city in Europe (thanks Wikipedia). We love trees. The Peak District is on our doorstep, living in the city centre doesn't cost a bomb, there are tons of cool stuff going on - @PeddlerMKT, @SharrowReels, @FestivalMind, @SensoriaFest to name a few, and there's a comforting sense of familarity, boosted by the fact that it's really easy to bump in to people you know. We love people bumping.
To illustrate the point, I've made a list of the 10 things I love the most about Sheffield. You can't go wrong with a list.
1. Sheffield people - It's not an understatement to say that Sheffielders are a friendly bunch. This was summarised to perfection by an older gentleman we got chatting to on a work's night out to Owlerton greyhound racing (chicken and chips in a basket!). Spotting the non-caucasian in the group, he proceeded to highlight that we're all cut from the same cloth by announcing "You're like me thee"
2. The Sheffield accent - There really is no better accent in my opinion. "Aye up duck", "Nah then", "Geeor", "Is tha mashin?", the list goes on
3. Sheffield Rules - Football as we know it was born in Sheffield. Nuff said
4. The Crucible - The home of snooker since 1977. Rumours of a future venue change for the World Championships better be just that, a mere rumour. After all, Ronnie loves it and he's god
5. Kelham Island - I've been fortunate enough to live within touching distance of Sheffield's real ale mile for the past 5 or so years. Award winning pubs galore, a mecca for beer tickers, attitude-free drinking and vegan pub grub. Can't go wrong
6. The Showroom - Support your local independent cinema people! If nothing else the popcorn's cheaper than at the mainstream multiplexes
7. Pulp - Different Class is definitely different class. A defining highlight of the Britpop era, it's one of my favourite albums of all time. I'm giving it a welcome spin as I type
8. Hendo's - Far superior to its more famous equivalent from Worcester. Better tasting, made in Sheffield, vegan (I'm not actually vegan by the way)
9. Cheap pints - It's not my pub of choice by a long stretch but the Brown Bear in the city centre pulls the cheapest pints going, outside of the dwindling world of working men's clubs. You can get a round in for less than a fiver, and by round I mean 3 pints. Up yours Wetherspoon's
10. Sheffield steel - In case you somehow weren't aware, stainless steel was invented in Sheffield by Harry Brearley in 1912. The world has been owing a debt of gratitude ever since
The Steel City moniker has ironically been steadily corroding since the 1980s. We all know who to blame. The steel industry has been drastically reduced but thankfully not completely eradicated. Sheffield made steel products are still synonymous with high quality so when I decided to buy a new chef's knife, Sheffield was again the only option.
I bought the knife from a Sheffield shopping institution: Atkinson's department store. Despite their best efforts to modernise, e.g. swanky new entrance, it undoubtedly feels as though time has stood still in the world of Atkinson's. You almost expect Mrs Slocombe to pop up behind the counter. Nevertheless they're still going strong and their cookware department is particularly useful. At £24.99 the chef's knife from Taylor's was a fiver cheaper than in the Sheffield Scene shop so smiles all round. Befitting as well, to buy a slice of Sheffield tradition and heritage from a shop that pre-dates stainless steel. And I am definitely unanimous in that!
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