As it’s the sustainability issue, Jill Theobald takes a tour of some of the Sheffield City Region’s eateries which offer the discerning diner plenty of appetising options – and serve up plenty of sides of volunteering, repurposing, charitable, and environmental credentials, too – for a feel-good eating treat!
Venue: Blend Kitchen
Address: 18 Pinstone Street Sheffield S1 2HN
Contact Number: 07983 518060
Opening Times: Tuesday to Saturday 9am – 3pm (closed Sunday / Monday)
Social Media: facebook = @blendcookeatshare Twitter = @BlendSheffield www.blendcookeatshare.com
About:
Blend Kitchen opened as a cafe, restaurant and events space on Pinstone Street Sheffield in July 2018. It is a social enterprise with a vision to use cuisine and hospitality to enhance people’s lives. It is a modern cafe/bar serving an all-day menu under the ethos of “seasonally influenced, locally sourced, globally inspired.”
Blend’s mission is to create spaces where an inclusive, empathetic, non-stigmatising and non-threatening culture are the norm. Blend believe we are more the same than we are different, and by bringing groups together that normally would not co-exist, can create positive change for all involved. To use the medium of food and hospitality to bring people together to develop new skills, build relationships and improve health and wellbeing.
The unique venue uses hospitality, cuisine, arts and training to enhance the lives of the people of Sheffield and as a catalyst to improve the health, skills, employment opportunities and cohesion of local communities. Blend is true community hub that unites people of all backgrounds via great hospitality in a safe, welcoming environment where prejudices and preconceptions are left at the door.
Venue: The Holt
Address: 156 Arundel Street, Sheffield, S1 4RE
Contact: info@thefoodworks.org
Opening Times: Monthly three-course bistro events, 6.30pm onwards
Social Media: Twitter/Facebook/Instagram @thefoodworksshf
About:
Food Works is Sheffield’s leading force in the fight against food waste, intercepting and repurposing more than seven tonnes of food waste every week through a cafe and supermarket where you ‘pay as you feel’, a catering business, schools project and green box scheme.
Food Works have now also partnered with The Holt to bring monthly three course bistro events, following seasonal themes to deliver delicious dishes from surplus ingredients. Think relaxed candle- lit atmosphere, an option to bring your own drinks, and creative food, all followed by Smith Street Coffee or Birdhouse Tea.
Venue: Blueberry Café, Castleton Visitor Centre
Address: Buxton Road, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WP
Contact Number: 01433 620020
Opening Times:
Monday 10am–4:30pm
Tuesday 10am–4:30pm
Wednesday 10am–4:30pm
Thursday 10am–4:30pm
Friday 10am–4:30pm
Saturday 10am–4:30pm
Sunday 10am–4:30pm
Social Media: Facebook @BlueberryCafeCastleton
About:
Blueberry Cafe is situated inside Castleton’s Visitor Centre, in the heart of the stunning Peak District and welcomes everyone including dogs with well-behaved owners and muddy boots.
The cafe menu offers a taste of the Peak District with a selection of hot homemade dishes including Peak District Burger, homemade soups, sandwiches, salads, lighter bites, homemade cakes, freshly ground coffees and loose-leaf local teas.
Blueberry Cafe is accredited with the Environmental Quality Mark which shows the café’s ongoing commitment to promoting the Peak District and also protecting the local environment. All takeaway disposables are compostable, and the café no longer stocks plastic straws.
Venue: Hidden Gem Café
Address: The Bents Green, Ringinglow Road, Sheffield S11 7TB
Contact Number: 0114 262 0094
Opening Times:
Monday 9am–4pm
Tuesday 9am–4pm
Wednesday 9am–4pm
Thursday 9am–4pm
Friday 9am–4pm
Saturday 9am–4pm
Sunday Closed
Social Media: Facebook @hiddengemcafe Twitter @workltd Instagram @hiddengemcafe
About: Hidden Gem is run by WORK Ltd a local charity that offers people with learning disabilities a chance to develop life skills which helps to build confidence and self-esteem to reach their full potential.
Approaching its 20th year, WORK Ltd has its Centre, and bijoux gift shop as well as the bistro café, staffed by its talented students.
The weekday menu regularly changes to take advantage of the seasonal local produce but includes a mix of breakfast and lunch meals and great selections of cakes, all freshly prepared on site every day.
Venue: Hygge Café
Address: 18 A High Street, Rotherham S60 1PP
Contact Number: 0330 202 0571
Opening Times: Monday 8am–4pm
Tuesday 8am–4pm
Wednesday 8am–4pm
Thursday 8am–7pm
Friday 8am–4pm
Saturday 9am–3pm
Sunday Closed
Social Media: Instagram @hygge_at_rise/
About: Named after the Norwegian word for cosiness and comfort and associated with feelings of contentment and wellness Hygge is a new café/social space in Rotherham town centre offering a warm and inviting environment to meet up with family and friends, work meetings or just some me-time with a nice cup of freshly ground ethical North Star coffee. Hygge is part of the charity Rotherham Rise which since 1978 has provided support to women, men and children affected by domestic abuse and child exploitation. Be inspired by the mid-century décor, enjoy the comforting vibes with the added benefit that you are supporting a local registered charity, with all the profits supporting vulnerable people affected by abuse.
Venue: Fusion Café
Address: 74 Arundel Street, Sheffield S1 2NS
Contact Number: 0114 252 5974
Opening Times:
Monday 9:30am–3:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am–3:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am–3:30pm
Thursday 9:30am–2:30pm
Friday 9:30am–3:30pm
Saturday 9:30am–3:30pm
Sunday Closed
Social Media: Facebook @Fusion Organic Cafe, Sheffield Twitter @fusioncafesheff
About:
Fusion café is a social enterprise by Freeman College, which is part of Ruskin Mill Trust – the UK wide charity specialising in educational and residential provision for young people with learning disabilities and difficulties.
Fusion is an integral element in the curriculum and students have a hands-on experience of the whole cycle of food production and service, from seed to table.
Wherever possible, the café uses locally sourced ingredients, much of which students grow on Freeman College’s own horticultural sites and farms. You may even find salad bags or vegetables and fruit for sale in the café which their Biodynamic Land Manger Pieter has delivered.
Its experiential curriculum combines practical skills with therapeutic education, tailored to the individual student, such as practical work on the land and in workshops, as well as the bakery and in the café.
Venue: Billy’s Hill Fine Foods
Address: Hilltop Farm, Wombwell S73 0PZ
Contact Number: 01226 754744
Opening Times:
Monday 9am–5pm
Tuesday 9am–5pm
Wednesday 9am–5pm
Thursday 9am–5pm
Friday 9am–5pm
Saturday 9am–5pm
Sunday Closed
Social Media: Facebook @billyshillfinefoods
About: Billy’s Hill specialty grocery store, shopping and retail and coffee shop and café have been selling their home-grown beef and locally sourced lamb and pork, as well as dry cured bacon, hams and sausage since 2007. The onsite bakery is where they make their award-winning meat and pork pies, making bread the “old fashioned way” and all made on-site using traditional methods for the very best in local produce.
