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Sheffield artists wanted to help put their stamp on huge new neighbourhood

Your chance to leave your mark

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 11th September 2026

Sheffield artists are being given the chance to leave a permanent mark on one of the city’s biggest new developments.

Capital&Centric is calling on local creatives to help bring its new Fitzwilliam neighbourhood in Mesters’ Village to life – and one lucky artist will ultimately see their work commissioned as part of the finished scheme.

The developer is particularly keen to hear from street artists in Sheffield, asking creatives to send over their portfolios for a chance to take part.

Four artists will be shortlisted and paid to develop their ideas, before one is chosen to create the final piece.

Capital&Centric announced the opportunity on social media, saying: “If you’re an artist in Sheffield who wants to leave their mark on the city, then you’re gonna want to listen to this.

"We’re building Fitzwilliam, a brand-new neighbourhood in Mesters’ Village Sheffield, and we want local artists to put their stamp on it. 

"DM us your portfolio, we’ll then shortlist four artists, pay you to sketch out your idea, and then one of you will be commissioned when the building’s done. 

"So if you’re a street artist in Sheffield, or know one, share this, tag them, and get involved."

The call-out comes as plans for Fitzwilliam move forward, with the new neighbourhood set to bring 192 rental homes to the site between Sheffield city centre and Kelham Island.

Construction is expected to get underway in early 2027, with the first residents due to move into Fitzwilliam from spring 2029.

The development will feature two six-storey buildings containing the new homes, with the architecture designed to reflect Sheffield’s industrial heritage.

https://www.tiktok.com/@capitalcentric/video/7684153566646357280?_r=1&_t=ZN-99djj185hd0

Brick and black steel will feature heavily in the scheme, while residents will have access to a range of shared facilities designed to make the development feel more like a neighbourhood than a collection of apartments.

These will include communal lounges, co-working spaces, a landscaped courtyard and a rooftop terrace offering views across Sheffield.

There will also be space at ground-floor level for an independent café-bar.

Read more: Cornerstone Coffee to open new café and bakery just metres from the Peace Gardens

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The Sheff

Cornerstone Coffee to open new café and bakery just metres from the Peace Gardens

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Cornerstone is opening a new cafe and bakery in Sheffield

Sheffield coffee and food brand Cornerstone is set to open a new specialty coffee shop and bakery in the heart of the city centre this winter.

The independent business has announced plans for a fourth site at 52A Pinstone Street, in the former Toni & Guy unit, just moments from the Peace Gardens and Sheffield Town Hall.

The new venue will be an extension of what Cornerstone has already established at Dyson Place in Sharrow Vale and at The Hive, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, where it operates Cornerstone Coffee and Cornerstone Gelato.

Founders Richard and Michael Massarella say the new opening will bring the Cornerstone experience into the city centre, with a particular focus on coffee, freshly baked goods and relaxed café culture.

They said: "Simple things, done well. That's all it's ever been. Food, drink, people."

The pair say they have been interested in the Pinstone Street space for some time, and are keen to become part of the wider redevelopment of Sheffield city centre.

They also want the new café to capture something of the relaxed European café culture they love - people spilling out onto pavements, meeting friends, enjoying coffee and pastries, and taking their time.

Plans include outdoor seating, making use of Pinstone Street's transformation into a pedestrian-friendly route connecting Fargate with The Moor.

They said: "We've done Dyson Place - sitting down, sharing food, everyone round a table. Now we want to show our other experiences and memories of summers in Sardinia, strolling the streets with sandwiches, pastries and gelato, taking it all in."

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Coffee will come from North Star Coffee Roasters, with Cornerstone serving its house espresso using beans roasted in Yorkshire.

The centrepiece of the café will be a large counter filled with freshly made food and baked goods. Cornerstone plans to offer pastries and bakes from its own kitchen alongside products from selected independent bakeries across Sheffield.

There will also be focaccia sandwiches, salads, and savoury light lunch options, prepared fresh each morning.

The menu is deliberately intended to change regularly, with the team promising a counter that feels different from one visit to the next. And for those with room after lunch, there may even be gelato.

The interior is being designed by Studio Jim, with a scheme that combines light oak, sage green gloss tiles, mustard-coloured banquettes and opal globe lighting.

The counter will extend towards the front glazing, creating the impression that the café's food and drink offering is flowing out onto the street.

While the new venue will have its own identity, Cornerstone says it will remain recognisably part of the brand.

With its new city centre location, the team hopes to create somewhere that works equally well for a morning coffee and pastry, a quick lunch, or a slower afternoon spent sitting with friends.

Read more: You can get your hands dirty at this tiny ceramics studio in Sheffield

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The Sheff

O2 Academy Sheffield confirms grand reopening plans

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Finally, one of Sheffield's leading music venues has revealed its reopening plans, almost three years after closing due to safety concerns.

Extensive work has been ongoing at the O2 Academy Sheffield, and after a brief teaser yesterday, they've now announced that their return is imminent.

Today, the Academy Music Group has announced the venue will reopen for live music and amazing nightlife events early next year.

There's been substantial investment into remedial works since the venue was temporarily closed in September 2023, including the installation of a new roof, air-conditioning and extensive works to service areas in both the main room and O2 Academy2.

When the doors reopen, our ears will be blessed with a new L-Acoustics K3 loudspeaker system, one of the world's most recognisable sound systems.

The O2 Academy Sheffield has an incredible history since its launch as Top Rank Suite in 1968, that includes hosting iconic gigs from The Police, The Clash, Joy Division and David Bowie, before rebranding to dance institution the Roxy Disco, which dominated the club scene and became the region’s biggest nightspot in the eighties and nineties.

The venue was acquired by AMG and reopened in 2008 following an extensive refurbishment and an opening week that highlighted the great and the good of South Yorkshire.

Reverend & The Makers and The Human League were among the first acts to take to the stage, with other notable shows including Elbow, The Prodigy, Kasabian, Self Esteem, The Streets, Bring Me The Horizon, The Killers, Wolf Alice, Stormzy, Milburn and The Black Keys.

Liam Boylan, CEO, Academy Music Group, said: "AMG is the backbone of the UK touring circuit, and O2 Academy Sheffield is an important venue in the region and one that promoters and artists will have missed being able to include on their routing whilst it has been closed.

"Our venue estate has not been complete without this landmark building and it’s wonderful to be able to announce its return to the group."

John Hughes, Managing Director of Adlib, said: "We're delighted to be working with the AMG team on this landmark venue in Sheffield. Having welcomed legendary artists to the stage, it has a brilliant musical heritage that we’re helping to carry forward.

"By integrating new audio and lighting systems in collaboration with our partners L-Acoustics and DiGiCo, we're ensuring the venue is ready for the demands of today's productions, while giving artists, engineers and audiences a great experience."

Justin Smith, Divisional Manager, Academy Music Group, said: “Having worked at the venue since opening night almost two decades ago, the wider team and I can’t wait to get artists back on our stage and welcome loyal customers through the doors again.

“We have invested in some fantastic improvements including updating the audio capabilities at the venue. We want artists who return to play here to have access to the best technical equipment and ensure our audience is given the very best live experience. Our programme, as ever, is varied and the new L-Acoustics system really delivers across different genres and event types”.

O2 Academy Sheffield will reopen in February 2027.

Read more: Incredible new images show plans for Sheffield Ski Village transformation

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