Sheffield is set to welcome a new Australian-inspired cafe and coffee shop later this month, promising 'coffee that kicks and food that fuels'.
Drop Bear Coffee will come from the same husband-and-wife team behind Sheff's beloved Hygge, the Scandi-inspired cafe with sites dotted around town.
This time, Alex and Gigi are turning their sights on the cafe culture of Australia - think great coffee and beautiful but nourishing food.
Vinyls have gone up in the windows of the new Drop Bear Coffee site this week. Those passing along Howard Street will now spot a cartoon koala in a baseball cap smiling back at them.
As for the name of the new venture - it's a silly nod to the folklore hoax of a carnivorous koala bear the drops from the trees to attack people (many-a tourist visiting Australia have fallen for this one).
Drop Bear Coffee will be opening in the Strines Building before the end of this month, and they want to keep things affordable.
The team are promising 'bold, healthy, affordable food and drink, made with quality ingredients and served with personality'.
Alex said: "Our vision for Drop Bear Coffee is simple. We wanted to create a space that feels energetic, welcoming, and real, somewhere people can fuel up properly."
The official opening date for the new Drop Bear Coffee in Sheffield hasn't yet been announced, but things are shaping up nicely.
Keep an eye on their Instagram HERE for the latest.
In gutting news for the Owls, the already struggling Sheffield Wednesday FC have been informed that they could very well be starting next season with an immediate points deduction.
From bad to worse, it seems, at the moment.
Wednesdayites have been through it all over the past few years, with unpaid debts and salaries resulting in administration, sparking protests; now relegation to the third tier and the threat of complete collapse.
And as if things weren't hard enough already, Sheffield Wednesday have now been told that they will automatically be deducted 15 points from the beginning of the 2026/67 League One campaign if creditors aren't paid in full - starting with outgoing and controversial owner, Dejphon Chansiri...
BREAKING: Sheffield Wednesday look set to start life in League One next season with a 15-point deduction, because none of the bidders currently trying to buy the club is prepared to pay £15m to the outgoing owner, Dejphon Chansiri. pic.twitter.com/UoAgIMsB4p
Chansiri has loaned over £60 million to the organisation during more than 11 years in charge, but because this money was never converted into share capital, he is the entity that the club owes the biggest amount to.
Addressing supporters in a statement back in September 2023, the 57-year-old member of the millionaire family that controls the Thai Union Group, wrote: "I will not inject any more money into the club if I am being treated unfairly.
"Those fans who create trouble [for] the club and me, and believe that they are the real owner of the club, need to be responsible for the financial matters of the club from now on."
It's fair to say that relations with the fans have far from improved since then, and they've been left even more furious following this most recent development.
At present, Chansiri must be paid at least £15m (effectively almost half of the entire organisation's total purchase price at current valuation), but none of the interested bidders has ultimately been willing to do so thus far.
However, the Arise Capital Partners LLC consortium - led by David Storch and son Michael, as well as Tom Costin - has been identified as the 'preferred' party to complete a buyout.
Newcastle United Mike Ashley was also said to be in the running to take over the club, but ultimately was unprepared to settle this fee with Chansiri, and there remain doubts over whether or not Storch is willing to either.
As for the loyal Hillsborough matchgoers, they have accused the EFL of punishing them and the club rather than the ownership and wider executive board, who have overseen this turbulent period for the historic local institution.
One person wrote underneath the post in social media: "So a club gets penalised because their owner is a piece of shit, but Man City and others just get away with it, makes sense"; many others have simply added that the pending treatment is "unfair" and targets the wrong people. What do you make of it all?
Elsewhere in the Steel City, fresh hope and a new chapter are coming to the world's oldest football club as native musician Jon McClure has been confirmed as the new chairman. Find out more down below.
Featured Images — Kenneth Yarham (via Geograph)/Kivo (via Wikimedia Commons)
The Sheff
Beloved Sheffield beer shop announces closure with heartbreaking statement
Daisy Jackson
An independent beer shop that's been operating in Sheffield for more than a decade has announced its closure.
Beer Central has been keeping our city stocked with great beers from local breweries and beyond for years, operating a tiny shop at The Moor market.
While ownership switched last year, with Megan Lindop and Ross Lindsay taking over the reins from Sean Clarke, the heart of Beer Central was unchanged - proper northern beers, European bottles, and fantastic wines.
But now the pair have decided, after 'a lot of reflection and sleepless nights', to cease trading.
They wrote in a heartbreaking statement that it's been a 'genuine privilege' to run Beer Central, but that the reality of running a small business in the current economic climate has become too difficult.
Beer Central posted: "This decision has not been made lightly, and it carries a lot of sadness. What we will always be proud of is the community that formed around Beer Central."
Signing off this 'incredibly special' chapter, their statement finished: ""We may be closing, but the memories, friendships and community it created will stand everlasting. Thank you for being part of an institution."
Dozens of people have left messages of support for Beer Central, including Duration Brewing, who commented: "it’s just so tough out there. Sorry to hear and all the best for the future."
Beer Central has announced its closureBeer Central operates in The Moor market
Someone else posted: "This is so sad to hear. You were always my must visit place whenever I came to Sheffield. Will miss browsing the wonderful selection."
Another comment reads: "Gutted to read this. Always friendly staff and great selection of beers. All the best for the future x."
Beer Central's full statement reads: "This is one of the hardest things we've ever had to write.
"After a lot of reflection, sleepless nights, and some incredibly difficult decisions, we've had to accept that Beer Central has come to the end of its journey and will now cease trading.
"After continuing Sean's legacy back in September 2025, we have been truly honoured to be part of such an incredible beer community in Sheffield. Being trusted with a place that meant so much to so many has been a genuine privilege, and something we will always be proud of.
"Unfortunately, the reality of running a small independent business has become increasingly difficult, and a number of factors have brought us to a point where continuing is no longer possible. This decision has not been made lightly, and it carries a lot of sadness. What we will always be proud of is the community that formed around Beer Central.
"To staff - past and present - your contributions and hard work helped make Beer Central an institution. To our loyal customers who continued to buy from us and build those huge saves boxes with us - thank you. Your support means the world.
"To Sean - it was an honour to carry on something you worked so hard to build, that became so prominent in a thriving beer community, albeit for a short period of time.
"Beer Central has always been more than just a bottle shop. It's been a meeting place, a community hub, and a space where people who love great beer could come together. Being part of that has been incredibly special to us.
"We may be closing, but the memories, friendships and community it created will stand everlasting. Thank you for being part of an institution x."
Daisy Jackson -
23rd January 2026 
