Hunter’s Bar, Sheffield
Creative TouristOn 31 October 1884, the gatekeeper at Hunter’s Bar toll-house requested the city’s last ever toll from a passing traveller on Ecclesall Road. Just for good measure, a crowd of locals seized the toll gate, lifted it from its hinges and dumped it in a nearby field – the gateposts can still be spotted in the middle of the Hunter’s Bar roundabout. Now, some of Sheffield’s best pubs, independent shops and cafés lie along the first mile or so Ecclesall Road – as well as charity shops kept well stocked by the area’s relatively affluent residents.
On Ecclesall Road, you’ll find Cocoa Wonderland – serving everything from indulgent hot chocolates to handmade truffles, while Pollards has been roasting coffee in Sheffield since 1879. Don’t miss Seven Hills Bakery, the modern design wares of Ora Gallery or the antique furniture at Gilbert and Sons on nearby Sharrow Vale Road. For a drink, you can’t beat The Lescar, named after the 16th-century water wheel that once powered a cutlers on the site. Additionally, The Beer House is worth hunting out too; a toasty two-roomed micropub in the winter with tables for outside for summer evenings.
Some lovely eateries like The Mediterranean and Ashoka (recently named as one of Britain’s best curry restaurants), and daytime cafes, like Made by Jonty, can be found alongside a few relatively cheap but tasty takeaways – the Greedy Greek Deli and Two Steps chip shop being a couple of the best. Leading off from Hunter’s Bar is Endcliffe Park, a vast area of sprawling woodland, streams, fields and a café that’s unbeatable for summer breakfasts.
