A bunch of the top bookshops in Sheffield are banding together this weekend for a huge book festival.
The Sheffield Independent Book Festival (or SIBFest) will be a weekend designed for book lovers, with author talks, signings, workshops, reading rooms and more.
There'll even be a bookshop crawl encouraging people to visit Sheffield's many brilliant bookshops.
Different bookshops will be hosting their own fringe events on the first day of the festival, before loads of local businesses come together at Kelham Island for a full day of book-themed events.
SIBFest has been created by booksellers, for book lovers, with an aim to 'celebrate stories, and the shops and publishers who keep them alive'.
It's been created by the people behind local businesses like Novel (which is temporarily closed because of an issue where staff have been being harassed by a member of the public); and La Biblioteka at Leah's Yard.
Hillsborough Bookshop, a neighbourhood children's bookshop, and Juno Books, a queer independent bookshop, have also organised the event.
It will all be taking place at bookshops across the city, plus at The Victoria and The Mowbray at Kelham Island.
There'll be events at La Biblioteka at Leah's Yard for SIBFestNovel is also taking part in the Sheffield Independent Book Festival
Here, you'll find a marketplace for local bookshops and indie makers inside The Mowbray, while The Victoria will host all sorts of talks, workshops and signings.
There'll also be a Graphic Novel Reading Room, where you can relax with a good graphic novel upstairs at the Lodge at The Victoria.
And you can grab delicious food, cocktails and coffee throughout the day in both venues.
SIBFest (Sheffield Independent Book Festival) lineup
Confirmed speakers include:
Bethan Woollvin (These Are My Rocks, Robin Hood, Little Red, I Can Catch a Monster)
Steve Webb (Peng and Spanners, Spangles McNasty, Cow's Go Boo, Tanka Tanka Skunk)
Luke Barley (Ancient)
Hazel Sheffield (Frontierland)
Manya Wilkinson (Lublin, & Other Stories)
Michelle Tea (Valencia, Black Wave, Against Memoir, Little F with Cipher Press)
Kavitha Rao (Lady Doctors, Jacaranda Press)
Witches and Folklore author panel with Anna Caig (The Wise Witch of Orkney)
Molly Aitken (The Island Child and Bright, I Burn)
Sally O’Reilly (Hagtale)
SIBFest will be taking place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April across Sheffield - see the full line-up and book tickets HERE.
There's an award-winning little South African restaurant in Hillsborough that may be small in size, but the flavours coming out of the kitchen are anything but.
Tucked away in one of Sheffield’s favourite neighbourhoods, The Orange Bird has become one of the city’s biggest word-of-mouth food spots, with locals flocking there for its bold, modern South African-inspired cooking and seriously impressive braai dishes.
And if you’ve ever tried getting a reservation, you’ll already know just how in-demand this place has become.
Run by Anne Horner and Matthew Duggan-Jones, The Orange Bird has built a loyal following thanks to its vibrant menu packed with smoky, fire-cooked flavours, quality local ingredients, and dishes made for sharing around the table.
It’s warm, intimate, and exactly the sort of independent Sheffield restaurant people love discovering.
The menu is filled with dishes you’ll still be thinking about days later, from rich, tender lamb served over silky smooth hummus to wild garlic roti and caramelised aubergine that somehow steal the show just as much as the mains.
Then comes the big hitter dishes.
The peri-peri chicken, paired with curry butter chips and lime pickle mayo, is packed with bold flavour in every bite, while the braai sea bream perfectly shows off the smoky magic of cooking over fire.
The Orange Bird in Sheffield has previously been named one of the UK's top local restaurantsThey cook dishes over a typical South African braaiBraai sea bream, and peri peri chickenA spread of small plates at The Orange Bird in SheffieldSlow-cooked lamb on hummusThe Orange Bird, Sheffield menu
It’s easy to see why people keep returning to this Hillsborough favourite time and time again.
And naturally, no meal here feels complete without ordering something sweet to round off the evening.
The Orange Bird’s growing reputation has even seen it featured in The Good Food Guide’s prestigious 100 Best Local Restaurants guide in both 2023 and 2024, cementing its place as one of Sheffield’s must-visit food spots.
Honestly, spotting an orange bird might be rare, but finding this place without a waiting list could be even rarer.
If The Orange Bird isn’t already on your Sheffield food bucket list, this is definitely your sign to finally book a table.
Sheffield Food Festival to return this month celebrating 15th year in the city
Clementine Hall
One of the city's best foodie events is gearing up for its best celebration yet.
Foodies, you're going to want to keep reading.
Sheffield Food Festival will return this late May Bank Holiday Weekend, from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 May 2026.
The festival marks its 15th anniversary, so you can expect a celebration of all things food even bigger and better than ever before.
Image: Sheffield Food Festival
From local favourites to tastes from around the world, local vendors will be coming together to raise a knife and fork to Sheffield's incredible independent food scene.
The best part? It's completely free to attend and will feature over 60 different traders that are all based locally.
Sheffield Food Festival will take place in the city centre across the Peace Gardens, Millennium Square, Town Hall Square and Winter Garden.
The festival will include four key areas to visit, including the traditional street food area, an artisan market, a community hub and the main stage and bar.
Image: Sheffield Food Festival
Managing director at Swan Events, Noemi Antonelli, said: “From foodies to families, there’s something for everyone – and we’re proud to showcase the best of Sheffield’s vibrant food culture.
"This year feels especially exciting as the festival grows beyond its footprint, with other city centre locations joining the celebrations with their own activities – creating a real buzz across the city and making it a truly shared Sheffield experience.”
So grab your mates together, build up an appetite and have a taste of the incredible food that Sheffield has to offer.
Daisy Jackson -
21st April 2026 
