- What's New
10 October 2024
Exposed Magazine
At the beginning of this year, Sheffield’s events scene welcomed a fresh addition in The Steamworks, a dynamic 11,000 sq ft venue nestled in the bubbling Little Sheffield area between London Road and Bramall Lane. Co-founded by Susie Foulerton and Louise Glover, the space is not only providing a fresh take on the city’s cultural landscape but helping to revitalise a historic area in the process.
Occupying a former steelworks, the venue has evolved from an empty shell into a lively social hub, building a reputation for hosting a wide range of events in its industrial surrounds. Susie recalls: “It was standing empty when it first came on our radar, and we quickly saw the potential. Way before, it was a well-known steam joiner’s yard. The person who owned it built a lot of the big houses in Nether Edge, so that’s where the name came from.
Since its first street food market back in January, The Steamworks has gone on to host an array of occasions, ranging from their popular night market socials and indie wedding fairs to silent discos and exhibitions of all types. Susie notes: “The range of events we’re getting is unreal… everything from live comedy to boxing to retro football shirt showcases. We want to be seen as a cultural hub for the area, a place committed to hosting a broad range of events.”
As much as the 500-cap space hosts its own events, it is equally a hireable venue, with its versatility drawing interest from both local and national organisers. “We do our own events, but ultimately it’s a hire space,” Susie explains. “One of our biggest to date was the Open House poster convention for Vice Press. We had a queue up the road from 6am for that. That’s now found its home here, and it’s great having those kinds of events celebrating local creatives.”
Situated between the ever-bustling London Road and emerging hotspots like New Era Square and Stag Works, The Steamworks sits at the heart of an up-and-coming part of the city. “There’s a nice feel to the Little Sheffield area, and there’s plenty of history too. Just next door to us there’s Portland Works, a famous listed building housing artists and craftspeople. It’s a cool place to be and has potential to grow.”
“The range of events we’re getting is unreal… everything from live comedy to boxing to retro football shirt showcases.”
It was the food markets that first put The Steamworks on the map, offering something different to the city’s centre’s south side. However, with the number of food halls and street food markets in Sheffield at an increasingly healthy number, the team is shifting their focus to carve a niche. “We’ll still be doing our night market socials, but we’re now concentrating more on themed nights, live music and fresh ideas. We did a world carnival weekender in August, which went really well, so we’re going to focus more on those kinds of themed events.”
The upcoming calendar reflects this shift, with an exciting October lined up. “October is jam-packed,” says Susie. “We’ve got Seven Hills Whiskey Festival, an indie market, a mid-century market and a vintage fashion event with rare finds and premium true vintage from the 60s and 70s. We’re also hosting a sex-positive market, Hex, one of only a few venues in the country to do so.” Coming into spooky season, the venue will transform into an immersive cinema space for Halloween, featuring curated horror nights and quizzes alongside a themed Night Social Market. “We’ve got Korean horror, Japanese horror and a nostalgic night with films like The Lost Boys and The Craft,” she adds.
As well as all the events you could shake a stick at, the building houses rentable studio space upstairs, home to creative businesses like sustainable clothing brand Retribe and retro football shirt collector Granny’s Attic Football. “There’s a really nice mix of people here. We’ve got Blurb tattoo studios, Clapping Seoul food traders and a podcast studio. There’s a studio space currently up for rent too.”
With a strong commitment to inclusivity, The Steamworks keeps its prices affordable for all. “We’re never an expensive place to come and visit. None of our ticket prices are high, and our food and drink prices are mid-range. We want to be accessible to everyone, and that’s reflected in the wide range of ages that come along to the events. Keeping that broad appeal is something we really work hard at.”
Beyond the events and the creative studio space, Susie points out something crucial about The Steamworks: it’s one of the few women-owned and run venues in the city. “After 20 years in hospitality, I feel there’s a real lack of women-owned, women-run venues in Sheffield,” she notes. “So we’re hugely proud to count ourselves amongst the very small number of women-owned venues here.”
Find out more about The Steamworks’ diverse events and creative spaces at thesteamworks.co.uk.
WHERE
111 Randall Street
Little Sheffield
S2 4SJ
VENUE HIRE/STUDIO ENQUIRIES
hello@thesteamworks.co.uk
SOCIALS
@the_steamworks
