The redeveloped Grade II* Listed Leah’s Yard on Cambridge Street opened its doors to the public for the first time on Saturday, providing a contemporary city centre hub for some of Sheffield’s finest independent businesses.
Leah’s Yard’s ground floor incorporates a vibrant and diverse collection of retail and food and drink businesses, such as Hop Hideout beer emporium, La Biblioteka book shop, Roots and Blooms florist, Gravel Pit houseplants and Mesters’ Market farm shop.
Also offering a food and drink option is the Chocolate Bar, a craft chocolate café and bar concept operated by Sheffield’s acclaimed bean-to-bar chocolatiers, Bullion.
Meanwhile, the upper floors of Leah’s Yard provide a home to a network of businesses including Kelham Barber, Hatch Product Design, James Morris (freelance designer and photographer), Persephonica podcast studio, Sheffield Tribune, Sheffield Hospitals Charity and Ferrio (software company).
Iconic Sheffield artist, Pete McKee, also revealed his highly anticipated new gallery on the Cambridge Street side of the development.
Saved from Historic England’s ‘Building at Risk’ register last year, the regeneration of this former collection of small industrial workshops is seen as the jewel in the crown of the Heart of the City scheme – led by Sheffield City Council and Strategic Development Partner, Queensberry.
The opening of Leah’s Yard is seen as the final piece of the jigsaw for Heart of the City, following on from the hugely successful launch of Cambridge Street Collective food hall.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “This is a fantastic day for Sheffield. Leah’s Yard has, in the past, played a vital role in the city’s industrial past already and, following the brilliant transformation, it will once again be able to contribute to Sheffield’s future. The building has already attracted an incredible collection of businesses from right across various industries and now it has opened to the public, it will be a wonderful destination for families and visitors.
Having brought this part of the city back to life through our outstanding Heart of the Cityprogramme, Leah’s Yard represents the icing on the cake alongside Pound’s Park, Cambridge Street Collective and Elshaw House.”
Andrew Davison, Project Director at Queensberry, added: “Leah’s Yard is a completely unique development, and it is so fulfilling to see it open after all the hard work that has gone into making it happen.
This is an incredibly proud moment for the Council and Queensberry, as well as everyone else involved in the Heart of the City project. Now the people of Sheffield can enjoy this wonderful hub of creativity and culture and make it their own.”
Pete McKee previously had this to say about Leah’s Yard: “I believe in Sheffield and its ability to adapt and thrive, and the town centre is currently going through a metamorphosis. Soon, it will be free of the cocoon of scaffolding and building sites and will be able to open its wings once more. But it won’t shine like our famous steel if we don’t support it. That’s why I wanted to move to the city centre to help be a part of our beautiful city’s new beginning – where we forge our own future and don’t look to be a poor copy of ourneighbours up the M1 and over the Snake.”
