A bird's-eye view of Leeds, Sheffield, and Yorkshire

X

The Sheff

Inside Sheffield’s smallest bookshop hidden in the suburbs

Emily Sergeant - 5th February 2023

Novel, the pop-up bookshop, is setting up shop permanently - and not so far from the city centre either.

A local favourite that you've most probably seen out and about in Sheffield (especially if you love a good market), Novel is a teeny tiny pop-up book shop that's been bringing reading back to the forefront of our minds with hand-picked selections and beautifully covered books.

Now, the pop-up venture is finding its first permanent home inside Queen of the Suburbs Coffee Shop in Crookes, another much-loved gem of the city.

Image: Supplied

Owners Katie and Joe started the company in July, running as a pop-up book shop that sold a curated selection of their own favourite reads.

Continuing to be transparent and stocking books loved by the couple, Queen of the Suburbs will stock a selection of Novel favourites, all of which are recommended by founders Katie and Joe.

A far more personal and unique than the average high street bookstore, expect to see contemporary releases as well as some of the most 'inspiring, innovative, and thought-provoking books out there'.

Image: Supplied

Katie Haughey, from Novel, said: “Novel is a place where book-lovers can come by and grab a coffee whilst chatting about their favourite books as well as browse for the next book on their hitlist. We are super excited to have found a more permanent space within Queen of the Suburbs, and can’t wait to welcome our first customers this week.”

Open every Thursday to Saturday from 7.30am during the week and 9am on Saturdays until 3pm, you can find out everything you need to know about Novel by popping over to Crookes or visit the dedicated website here.

Find Novel inside Queen of the Suburbs at 207 School Rd, Sheffield S10 1GN.

Feature Image - The Sheff

The Sheff

Sheffield amongst nine areas to be long listed for UK City of Culture 2029

Clementine Hall

It's big news for Sheffield as the city has officially been long listed to become the UK City of Culture in 2029.

It’s one of just nine places across the country to make the cut, alongside the likes of Blackpool, Portsmouth and Wrexham.

Winning the title could bring huge investment to Sheffield, thousands of visitors, and a massive spotlight on everything that makes our city special - and let’s be honest, Sheffield’s got plenty to shout about.

From music and film to art and grassroots creativity, culture runs right through this city, and it would be a huge achievement to receive this title.

So, what happens now? Each arena will now receive £60,000 to develop a full application with the aim to build a vibrant cultural programme by 2028.

The nine confirmed long listed locations are: Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "For far too long, opportunity has not been shared equally across the country. The UK City of Culture and new UK Town of Culture competitions recognise the enormous contributions made by communities all over the UK who are all part of the story of who we are as a nation.

"I look forward to seeing what the nine long listed places have in store as they progress in the competition. I also urge any towns thinking about entering the UK Town of Culture competition to seize this opportunity and get involved. It’s a chance to show the country what makes them unique and shine a spotlight on their cultural offer, enriching the lives of local people."

Go on Sheffield, we're rooting for you big time. We can't think of a city more worthy.

Read more: Public transport across South Yorkshire to be rebranded as the South Yorkshire People’s Network

Featured image - The Sheff

The Sheff

TV presenter’s rant pointing out double-standard over Sheffield Wednesday punishment goes viral

A TV presenter and Sheffield Wednesday supporter's speech about the perceived double standard concerning another pending points deduction at her club compared to the punishment of Premier League clubs is trending online.

Many believe she's pretty bang on the money, to be fair.

Wednesdayite Sophy Ridge, who hosts a regular Sky News show with fellow presenter Wilfred Frost, recently took the opportunity to indulge in some understandable fan frustration during a show this week.

Admittedly, getting on her soapbox a bit - and for good reason - the Richmond-born Owls fan simply shed light on the contradictory nature of Sheffield Wednesday's penalty set for the next season over financial violations when compared to top-flight offenders.

Went on a bit of a rant on telly comparing how Chelsea & Sheffield Wednesday have been dealt with#swfc

pic.twitter.com/AeHhlwNRtH
— Sophy Ridge (@SophyRidgeSky) March 17, 2026

Citing both Manchester City (with their estimated 115-130 charges still no closer to being resolved) and now Chelsea as being the most recently accused of breaking regulations, she argued that there's a significant difference between penalties teams are being slapped with - or in some cases, still avoiding.

For instance, while the Man City saga first broke back in February 2023 and relates to alleged breaches dating all the way back to 2009, they are yet to be confirmed as guilty, at least not in any public announcement.

As for the West London club, Chelsea have only just been hit with a fine, albeit a Premier League record sum of approximately £10.75 million, as well as a 12-month transfer ban, though it has already been suspended for two years.

This is due to them having made undisclosed payments to agents, players and various other individuals during the Roman Abramovich ownership era.

Meanwhile, for anyone who hasn't been following the huge furore among the long-suffering Sheffield fanbase, Wednesday fans, players, and footballing staff are the ones being penalised for what many believe is nothing more than 'improper' and 'irresponsible' management of the club at an executive level.

For context, they are currently set to start the next 2026/27 campaign in the EFL's third tier with a 15-point handicap, which could very well spell yet another disaster year, with Ridge adding: "How attractive is that [a club sale] going to be for an owner that might be looking at back-to-back relegations?"

https://thehootleeds.com/the-sheff/sheffield-wednesday-could-be-set-for-a-starting-points-deduction-next-season/

Sadly, it seems that its matchgoers and other die-hards are the ones set to pay the price this time, as they often have been; according to the sports journalist, that's often the case further down the pyramid.

For instance, Todd Boehly's Chelsea organisation seem to have been let off the hook regarding any setback in the standings due to their cooperation with the profit and sustainability (PSR) investigation, and because their offence pre-dates the modern PSR guidelines era.

In fact, Chelsea were actually said to have voluntarily reported themselves regarding historic offences within youth football, which also seems to have afforded them some leniency.

Put simply, she believes it's unfair for the soon-to-be League One side to face such harsh terms and a fee just a few million shy of the figure they've been told they 'must' pay outgoing owners, Dejphon Chansiri, while Chelsea face "no sanctions despite the fact this [illegal spending] clearly would have given them a sporting advantage" in the past.

What do you make of the whole saga, and do you think there's a difference in how so-called 'bigger' clubs are treated compared to those in lower divisions?

Read more:

Featured Images — Sky News (screenshot)/Daniel Bagshaw (via Wikimedia Commons)