
Welcome to the Loop
It is Monday, 2 March. It is currently mild and cloudy in Sheffield, with a high of around 12°C expected today.
This morning, we are looking at the power cut that left thousands of homes in Sheffield and Rotherham without running water overnight, what Keir Starmer's personal visit to the Crucible actually signals about the World Snooker Championship's future, and the council's plans to reshape Leopold Street and Townhead Street. We also have news of a quieter change at the car park next to the station and a beloved Rivelin goose who needs somewhere new to call home.
WEEKLY WEATHER
🌦️ Monday is the week's warmest day at 15° but expect a shower or two (low 5°)
☀️ Tuesday and Wednesday look bright and dry (11°/4-6°)
⛅ Thursday clouds over again (13°/5°)
☁️ Friday stays overcast but dry (11°/4°)
☀️ Weekend looks pleasant with sunny spells both days (12°/5°)
SHEFFIELD NEWS
Community, Health
Power Returns, But Taps Still Running Murky
Thousands of homes lost water overnight after a pumping station failure, and the fix has come with a catch.
Water is back for thousands of homes across Sheffield and Rotherham, but Yorkshire Water is warning some residents may still see discoloured water coming through their taps. The postcodes affected include S8, S13, S25, S26, S66, S80, and S81.
The outage started late Saturday after a power failure knocked out a nearby pumping station. By 8:45pm on 1st March, Yorkshire Water confirmed supply had been restored to all customers.
The discolouration is caused by sediment being disturbed as the network refills. It's not harmful. Running your tap for a few minutes should clear it.
Bottled water stations, including the one on Stradbroke Road, are being taken down now supply is restored.
Compensation will be looked at case by case. Yorkshire Water says it will contact affected customers once the immediate response is wrapped up.
Sport, Heritage
Starmer Visits Crucible to Fight for Snooker
The Prime Minister showed up in person, which tells you something about how serious this conversation has become.
Keir Starmer visited the Crucible Theatre last Thursday, spending an hour with representatives from Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Theatres, and local partners. A No10 spokesperson said at the meeting that the PM is "passionate about protecting our sporting and cultural institutions," naming the Crucible directly.
The World Snooker Championship has been held there every year since 1977, but its current contract runs out in 2027. Debate has been growing over whether the event has outgrown the 980-capacity venue, with promoter Barry Hearn pushing for prize money increases, noting the £500,000 top prize hasn't moved since 2019.
Starmer met WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson in China in January, and his decision to visit the Crucible in person rather than send an adviser will be read as a sign that government support for keeping the championship in Sheffield may finally be coming.
Transport, Development
Council Plans to Reshape Two City Centre Streets
Leopold Street is going one-way and a pocket park is coming to Townhead Street, but roadworks will come first.
Sheffield City Council has set out plans to reshape Leopold Street and Townhead Street, with changes including making Leopold Street one-way, creating more outside space for restaurants and cafes, and improving the taxi rank, blue badge parking, and loading access into Orchard Square.
A mini pocket park will be created at the top of Townhead Street. A cycle crossing will be installed between Townhead Street and Leopold Street, and the pedestrian crossing at the tram junction will move.
The free Sheffield Connect SC1 bus will turn left off Leopold Street under the new layout, with the council promising shorter journey times.
The plans connect to work already under way on Pinstone Street and Surrey Street. A public consultation is open for residents to share their views before any building work begins.
Transport
Car Park Near Station Now Offers Free Drop-Off
The multi-storey next to Sheffield station has long been overlooked, and its operator is now trying to change that.
Q-Park has extended free parking at its 678-space Turner Street car park to 15 minutes, up from the 10 minutes it quietly offered before. The move follows changes by East Midlands Railway that removed the public drop-off area outside the station, replacing it with fewer spaces on Cross Turner Street.
To get the free 15 minutes, drivers need to download the Q-Park app and register before arriving. Without the app, charges start at £2 for half an hour.
The new layout routes station traffic in via Fornham Street rather than Turner Street, with access to the car park from Fornham and Cross Turner streets as part of a one-way system. Only black cabs can now stop in the covered area by the station doors, with taxis and private-hire vehicles using the old public set-down area.
Community, Environment
Rivelin's Famous Goose Needs a New Home
A beloved local goose was mauled by a dog last week, and the law is now standing between him and the dam he's called home for years.
A white Embden goose who has lived at Havelock Dam in Rivelin Glen for years was attacked by a dog on 25 February and is now recovering at Linjoy Wildlife Sanctuary. The good news: the bite didn't go through his hard palate. He's on antibiotics and expected to recover.
He goes by different names depending on who you ask. Fragile, Geoff, Snowy. He's known for honking across the water to greet regulars and eating porridge oats from people's hands.
Because the law prevents him from being released back at Malin Bridge, his supporters are now searching for a private pond, ideally close to S6, where he can settle and still receive visitors.
A JustGiving page for his vet bills has raised over £900 toward a £1,500 target.
NEW IN TOWN
The latest on what's opened, what's closed, and what's on its way
Wetherspoon Coming to Valley Centertainment
Wetherspoon has got the green light to take over the old Chiquito unit at Valley Centertainment, which has sat empty for two years since The Restaurant Group shut it down. The new pub will hold nearly 300 customers inside, plus a 92-seat outdoor area. No opening date has been confirmed yet, though work is expected to move quickly ahead of the summer.
East Asian Street Food Lands at Meadowhall
East Street, an East Asian-inspired street food restaurant, has opened on the Lower Level of the Oasis Dining Quarter at Meadowhall. It comes from the team behind Tampopo, who have over 25 years of restaurant experience behind them. Meadowhall's centre director has flagged it as the first of several new openings this year, so more announcements should follow.
Dave's Hot Chicken Hits Cambridge Street
The Nashville-style chicken chain backed by Drake, Usher, and Samuel L Jackson has opened in the former Ask Italian on Cambridge Street. It's been building a cult following in the US for years and only made its UK debut in November 2024, so Sheffield is getting it fairly early in its British rollout. The menu runs chicken tenders and sliders, mac and cheese, cheese fries, and shakes.
Lucy & Yak Brings Repair Hub to Sheffield
Lucy & Yak opens its fifteenth UK store in the Heart of the City on 21 March, and Sheffield gets something none of the other branches have: a dedicated Re:Yak Hub for clothing repairs, mending, customisation, and drop-in workshops. The store will also run the brand's PreLoved buyback scheme, taking back worn items to resell, repair, or recycle. Worth a visit even if you're not buying.
Barks Wine Quadruples Its Space at Leah's Yard
After less than a year in Sheffield's smallest unit at Leah's Yard, Barks Wine Shop has outgrown its original home and is moving across the courtyard to a space four times the size. Owner and sommelier Charles Cornelius closed the original shop on 28 February with a £5 glasses all day send-off, and the new spot opens on 3 April. More wine, more events, and considerably more room to browse.
Sicilian Pasta Café Heads to Crookes
The team behind Made in Sicily is opening a second sit-down venue a few doors up Crookes high street, in the former Barnardo's charity shop. Named Ciauru (Sicilian for "scent" or "fragrance"), the spot will feature four or five pasta shapes, various homemade sauces, and lasagne. The space includes around 25 covers upstairs, with vegan and gluten-free options available. They are aiming for an opening just before Easter, running 11am to 8 or 9pm for lunch and dinner.
Isabellas Closes Its Doors in Kelham Island
Isabellas, the cocktail bar and small plates restaurant in Kelham Island, has announced it is closing permanently, citing rising costs and high overheads.
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