Today Do What You Love’s Senior Editor shares what she loves most about her home city…
Picture courtesy of Sheffield City council
We all have an affinity with the place we call home. For me that place is Sheffield. It has a special place in my heart because it’s where I went to university and found my independence; it’s where I accepted my first job as a magazine editor; it’s where I made friends for life and met my husband; and it’s where we bought our first home and welcomed our gorgeous little boy into the world. I’ve lived in Sheffield for 10 years so it’s part of my story and it’s given me lots of happy memories.
Part of the reason I’ve stayed here so long is that it offers the best of both worlds: the buzz and excitement of modern city life with the laid-back feel of a friendly village steeped in craftsmanship, history and heritage. There’s a pulsating grassroots creative arts community, a harmonious multicultural population, a cool mix of Victorian and modern architecture, a plethora of independent shops, striking public art, stylish restaurants, coffee shops galore, the best pubs in Britain, secret parties, urban farms and Supertrams! It’s a city packed with people who want to make a difference, and it’s brimming with possibilities.
10 reasons why I love Sheffield…
1. It just made history with Tour de France 2014: The world’s biggest single sporting event swept through the city at the weekend putting Sheffield on the map and proving that it really isn’t that “grim up north”! The second stage of the tour finished here on Sunday and spectators come out in their hundreds of thousands to line the streets and play their part in the celebrations. Anyone who had never heard of Yorkshire or who didn’t know how beautiful it is certainly will now!
Here they come whizzing down Church Street in Oughtibridge at the bottom of Jawbone Hill – one of the steepest climbs of the race. https://vimeo.com/100258594 Credit Rachel Thornhill.
2. It’s the greenest city in Europe. Boasting more than 200 parks, woodlands and gardens – and over 2.5 million trees! Open spaces are a great source of inspiration for everyone and walking through the Botanical Gardens makes me feel so happy and energised.
Inspired: school pupils have been creating surface pattern design & displaying their work in Botanical Gardens
3. It’s the only city with a registered trademark – ‘Made in Sheffield’ continues to be a seal of world-class quality.
4. It’s heaven for foodies… hearty meat and potato pie, mushy peas, gravy, mint sauce, Yorkshire Puds, Yorkshire crisps, Bassett’s Liquorice Allsorts – Sheffield is home to lots of the foods we love. My personal favourite… Our Cow Molly ice-cream!
Our Cow Molly ice-cream is made on a small family-run dairy farm in Dungworth
5. Henderson’s Relish – it’s a culinary institution: known locally as ‘Hendo’s’, ‘Hendies’ ‘Enderson’s’ or ‘Relish’ is a spicy, fruity condiment invented by Henry Henderson in 1885 and made in Sheffield ever since. It’s strong, it’s northern and it makes any meal taste better.
6. It has its very own hall of fame: Olympic Gold Medallist Jessica Ennis CBE hails from the city, as does Sean Bean, Michael Palin, Helen Sharman, Michael Vaughan and Seb Coe. Sheffield also has a legendary music scene and exports include the Arctic Monkeys, Def Leppard, Human League, and two Cockers (that’s Joe and Jarvis).
7. It’s built over seven hills so you keep fit without even trying! Plus with one third of the Peak District National Park in its boundary, it’s easy to make the most of the great outdoors and enjoy truly breathtaking scenery.
Picture courtesy of nationalparks.gov.uk
8. It’s a cultural hub: The Crucible, The Lyceum and the Crucible Studio form the largest regional theatre complex outside London. And the Crucible plays host to the most important event in professional snooker.
Picture courtesy of Sheffield Theatres
9. It has champion sports facilities: Sheffield was Britain’s first National City of Sport and boasts some of the best international sports venues in the country. Ponds Forge International Centre houses Olympic standard competition and diving pools and Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena is a multi-purpose indoor entertainment centre and home to ice hockey team Sheffield Steelers and basketball team Sheffield Sharks. Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday promote the city in the football league.
10. It genuinely does have The Full Monty! Who can forget the city’s undying link to 1997’s hilarious and heartfelt movie about six out of work Sheffield steelworkers who take the world by storm! Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWZBdTCsRCY
The film made it to the West End stage last year and it was choreographed by the talented Neil Bettles, founder of theatre company ThickSkin, who just so happens to be the star of tomorrow’s Big DWYL Interview – don’t miss it!
What do you love about the place you call home? Why is it so special to you? What or who inspires you most?
– Rachel
