Looking for Sheffield date ideas? Here's 25 of the best ones

Meg Senior
Nov 24
6 min read

A perhaps controversial opinion that I hold about wedding planning is that it should be fun. Not to say it won’t be stressful, at times, but ultimately planning a day to celebrate your love should feel joyful.

That’s why I weave a couple of date nights into my wedding ceremony planning process for couples. And that’s why I’m qualified, as a Sheffield wedding celebrant – you might even say I'm an expert at being in a relationship in the Steel City – to share 24 brilliant Sheffield date ideas for your next date night.

If you’re not thinking about getting married yet, or you’re already married, and still looking for date ideas in Sheffield: don’t panic! These will all work for you too; they don’t take your marital status at the door, thankfully. Phew.

To compile this incredibly scientific list, I crowdsourced ideas from chats with my couples, and included a couple of my and my husband’s favourites, too. Also, to expand on my Sheffield credentials, I’ve lived here for 10+ years now and my husband is a long-time Sheffielder – and a large part of his appeal is the wonderful city he comes from, I won’t lie.

(Note: though Sheffield date ideas for foodies is its own category below, I’ve also often suggested eateries nearby other venues in the list, because

a) I’d hate for you to go hungry and

b) food is the way to my heart, okay?)

Sheffield date ideas for arts lovers

Enjoy a bit of culture now and again? Whatever your medium, there’s a Sheffield date idea to whet your whistle. Sheffield Cathedral hosts regular candlelight concerts with a delightful strings rendition of different genres: from Coldplay to Vivaldi to Hans Zimmer to Radiohead, and they also pop up from time to time at Victoria Hall, too.

If you’re a visual art lover, there’s the Curzon Cinema, a bijoux cinema showing blockbusters and independent films in a gorgeous setting, which also has a rooftop bar. Or, why not visit the latest exhibition at Site Gallery, before popping to have lunch at their onsite cafe Kollective Kitchen?

Sheffield also gets its fair share of annual arts festivals, too. There’s the street art festival Lick Of Paint, as well as Sheffield Film Festival, and Crossed Wires for podcast lovers.

This year my husband and I went to the international documentary festival DocFest for the first time, and it was the perfect date night. We saw Move Ya Body: The Birth of House and it gave us loads to talk about for weeks after, plus an incredible soundtrack (which is maybe to be expected from a documentary about the birth of house music!)

Sheffield date ideas for outdoorsy people

Stanage Edge and Redmires Reservoir are the perfect backdrop to a walk if you enjoy feeling the sun on your skin and the wind in your hair. In summer Mr Senior and I walk up past Stanage Pole to the Edge (a great spot for an elopement by the way); we have a look out at the view, then march down for a dip in the water at Redmires. Not everyone is into open water swimming, and my husband only entertains my ridiculous hobby in the height of summer to be honest, but on a hot day this was delightful!

If you're up early enough for a sunrise trip, Mam Tor is pretty magical – take a camping stove and have breakfast while you watch the sun come up in a truly breathtaking setting, or just take a Thermos with a brew if that’s more your style.

Meg Senior | Wedding Celebrant | Sheffield date ideas for outdoorsy people | Agden Reservoir — Agden Reservoir

Or if you fancy an outdoorsy trip and tasty food combo, you could walk around Agden Reservoir and follow up with a delicious brunch at the School Rooms. Alternatively, the Botanical Gardens is beautiful throughout the year, and you can cap it off with breakfast at Joni. We actually do this semi-regularly because we live nearby so do personally recommend.

Sheffield date ideas for arts lovers who are also outdoorsy people

Ok, so this is very specific, but what if you’ve seen both of these categories so far and thought, "WELL I WANT BOTH"? Have I got news for you. Every year the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF) hosts film screenings, Q&As, and more, in a super friendly environment. You’re guaranteed to see or hear something that’ll get you thinking, and I promise you won’t get ShAFFted. (Sorry, I had to).

Sheffield date ideas for food-lovers (and drinks-lovers)

If you, or your date, is a chocolate fan like I am, then Chocolate Bar in Leah’s Yard is going to win you all the (chocolate) brownie points. In fact, I think Chocolate Bar is my and Mr Senior's favourite date recommendation.

We tried it once on the way to buy houseplants at Gravel Pit in Leah’s Yard, and we’ve been popping back frequently. They do exquisite hot and cold chocolate, you pick your percentage of chocolatiness and whether you’d like to enrich with any extra yumminess (sea salt for me, gingerbread for Mr Senior), and you choose what type of milk too. Totally personalised and all served up in a thoughtful way. Plus, their cookies are YUMMY.

Meg Senior | Wedding Celebrant | Sheffield date ideas for food lovers | Chocolate Bar Leah's Yard — Chocolate Bar

Another chocolatey hit comes in the form of the tiramisu cafe, Paradiso on Sharrow Vale Road. This is very close to us so again one that we enjoy (and, again, chocolatey… I did try and tell you).

Travel to New Zealand without even getting on a plane by heading to Tamper Coffee, where they not only do gorgeous drinks but also pretty decent lunch. And speaking of drinks, you could enjoy tea at Cambridge Street Collective and drinks on the roof top terrace, if the sun is shining!

And how could I write a list of Sheffield date ideas, and not include cocktails at Public? It’s a really unique setting with delish drinks, and a great energy. Before you poo-poo the idea, please know that it’s a converted public loo – or, as their own website says: “A Wes Anderson train carriage crowbarred in to an old bog." What’s not to love?

Sheffield date ideas for people who love activities

Of course, Sheffield has some classic fun date places: crazy golf at Golf Fang and bowling at Lane 7, or the slightly more left-field curling at Roxy Ballroom (no ice, don’t worry). You could also go for a romantic spa date at Turkish Baths 1877 for total relaxation in stunning Victorian surroundings.

This Sheffield date idea requires a couple of days’ advance notice, but is definitely worth it: The Mystery of the Golden Flamingo Club, which essentially turns the city of Sheffield into an open-air escape room. It’s a fun, totally immersive whodunnit, so you can impress your partner with your incredible cerebral abilities (or your ability to throw yourself at a task!).

Sheffield date people who love lil’ treats

Look, you deserve a lil’ treat, okay, so why not combine that with a date?

It only comes round once a year, but the Sheffield Print Fair is always a treasure trove of excellent artwork.

Sharrow Vale Market happens three times a year and is well worth a visit, but even when the market’s not on, Sharrow Vale Road is a lovely destination for trinkets (and delicious food).

And if you’re green-fingered, a flower enthusiast or a plant parent, Pollen Market is the destination. It’s a great place to buy flowers and house plants, as well as plant pots, gifts, herbs, earrings (AKA ALL THE NICE THINGS). Plus, there’s hella decent coffee and snacks, and soaking up the atmosphere is joyous too. (As a side note, it’s so cool that this part of town – now known as “Grey to Green” – has had a glow up. My husband grew up in Sheffield so when we visited, we wandered around and he told me what the area was like when he was a kid.)

So there you are: 24 exceptional Sheffield date ideas from a Sheffield enthusiast and lover of love. How many of these have you done? Have you found any new ones you didn’t know about? And, most importantly, what have I missed off? I’d love to know!

Whilst you're here pals, if you are in or will soon be in the midst of wedding planning and are looking for a Sheffield wedding celebrant, I create humanist wedding ceremonies for laidback couples who want a wedding that’s chill and fun and reflects them. Let’s chat!