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.
A new study has named Sheffield as one of the best cities for independent bakeries.
If there's one thing we're good at in Sheffield, it's baking (and eating).
You really can't walk far in the city without stumbling upon a fantastic bakery, selling everything from fresh sourdough loaves and chewy cookies to plump donuts and flakey croissants.
Tonco Bakery on Sharrow Vale, Bakers Yard in Kelham, Forge Bakehouse on Abbeydale Road - we really are spoilt for choice, and that's only scratching the surface.
Images: The Sheff
And it's not just us who think so, as a new analysis from specialist insurer Hiscox discovered the leading cities in the UK for independent bakeries with Sheffield coming up trumps.
To identify the findings, Hiscox analysed OpenStreetMap bakery data and calculated the number of independent bakeries per 100,000 residents in each city.
The Steel City was found to have 12 independent bakeries per 100,000 residents, putting it level with Manchester and behind only Brighton, Newcastle and Edinburgh.
The leading cities in the UK for independent bakeries are:
Brighton (22)
Newcastle (16)
Edinburgh (16)
Sheffield (12)
Manchester (12)
Bristol (9)
Glasgow (9)
Cardiff (8)
Bradford (8)
Belfast (7)
Nick Thornhill, Direct and Partnerships Director at Hiscox UK, says: "It's great to see independent bakeries flourishing across so many UK cities. Whether it’s a fresh sourdough loaf on the way home or making a regular stop at a local bakery that’s become part of the community, consumers are increasingly seeking out high-quality, locally made products.
"However, strong demand is only part of the picture. As bakeries grow, owners also need to consider factors such as staffing, equipment, supply chains and cashflow management to ensure that growth is sustainable over the long term."
Beloved New Zealand-inspired cafe Tamper is opening another Sheffield site
Clementine Hall
One of Sheffield's best independent cafes is opening another site in a prime location.
Founded in 2011 by Natalie and Jon Perry, Tamper set out to bring a slice of Kiwi cafe culture to Sheffield.
Inspired by time spent in Auckland, the pair wanted to replicate the same community feeling felt in New Zealand over great coffee, food and hospitality.
Located on Arundel Street in the city centre, Tamper offers fresh seasonal food in a quirky, laid back atmosphere. And not to forget, the incredible coffee.
Not just that, they also serve a selection of wine and beer, making it the perfect catch up with mates for lunch and not just breakfast.
Dishes include the Kiwi Breakfast featuring Yorkshire sausages and lime corn ribs, chicken and waffles and the stacked corn fritters drizzled with hot honey.
This isn't your average brunch spot, that's for sure.
It's been a staple for Sheffield city dwellers for over a decade now, and Tamper is now setting their sites on a second site on none other than Ecclesall Road.
Sharing the news to Instagram, the team posted a short clip of the new site with text stating: "Coming soon. Ecclesall Road."
Of course, in true Sheffied fashion, fans of Tamper are flocking to the comments to express their excitement. And we couldn't agree more.
That's all the limited information we've got for now, but we'll keep you updated as and when we find out about the specific location or opening date.
But for now, pop into their site on Arundel Street to see what's in store - because there's a lot to get excited about.
Daisy Jackson -
8th September 2026 
