If you’re doing uni sober, here’s the best guide for Sheffield activities without drinking

No, you don’t have to dedicate every Friday to West Street

2 months ago

Camped out in your room with severe FOMO whilst everyone gets ready for another West Street pub crawl? If that’s not your scene, Sheffield’s vibrant city has a range of fun sober-friendly activities to try with friends or even solo, proving Sheffield is more than just a clubber’s paradise come the weekend.

Whilst dedicating your life’s purpose to the vast clubbing scene Sheffield has may seem like a fun idea, it’s both mentally and physically beneficial to scale it back and try activities that are a far cry away from drunken kebab shop runs at 3am.

Whatever you’re looking for, Sheffield has to offer with hidden gems dotted around the city, you’ll be sure to find something to enjoy without the need of a drink. Let’s give our livers a break, please.

Pottery painting

Now if you can go two weeks without smashing something, unlike me, this is a great pastime. No art GCSE is needed, simply grab a pre-made ceramic and some paints and get creative – honestly the worse it looks the more laughs to go around.

Pots to Paint is a great spot to visit if you’ve got spare time between lectures or for a day trip, located just off Broomhill with plenty of cafes around for a relaxing day off. Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, this little painting nook in the heart of student living has earned its spot on my list of ‘must visits’ for sober outings.

Planet pots is also a student favourite, offering a range of ceramics from £8 for small items or splash out on large items starting at £16.

The peaks

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This wouldn’t be a Sheffield activities guide without a honourable Peak District mention. Just under an hour away from Sheffield are numerous walks and adventures to reground yourself with nature after a busy week or for a mental health break.

My top rated walk is the Chee Dale route which brings you out to some stepping stones or the Peak Circle trail. If you can’t rope one of your friends to drive there, just hop on a train to Buxton where you can explore the town’s shops and then the number 65 bus all the way to Millers Dale car park to start.

Cambridge Street Collective

If food is the way to your heart, Europe’s largest purpose built food hall is the place to be. Located in the heart of Sheffield’s city centre and offering 19 different types of cuisine, most of which are halal, from South Indian dishes to Thai street food, Cambridge Street Collective is sure to impress.

The food hall also is host to many events such as DJ nights, Japanese painting workshops or Sunday workout sessions, definitely not your run of the mill food hall. All tickets are available on the Cambridge Street Collective website.

Golf Fang

Fancy trying your hand at golf? Golf Fang is a two-storey mini golf experience with decorated rooms and immersive lighting guaranteed to bring laughs and give some interesting conversation starters.

Although it does have a built-in bar, there is no pressure to drink and many go just to enjoy the game and marvel at the various odd bits of decor.

The venue also makes that perfect date night spot wether you’re already practically married or off on a cheap Hinge first date, as student golf only costs £6.50 any time Sunday to Thursday or after 9pm on Friday and Saturday.

Candlelight concerts

If you’re lucky enough to secure tickets to one of Sheffield’s candlelight concerts, it is an absolute must. Adorned with candles and a string quartet this makes for one of the most peaceful activities. Whether you have a love for classical music or not, these events cover artists such as Coldplay, Hans Zimmer or Taylor Swift, if you want a new spin on your favourite artists.

Leah’s Yard

A recent addition to the city’s foodie scene is Leah’s Yard. Opening this August, the courtyard offers coffee shops such as Chocolate Bar, a crowd favourite for their large mugs of hot chocolate or independent fashion shops like Atelier.

The square offers plenty of other shops to check out and is conveniently located next to Cambridge Street Collective for a bit of lunch – as if you’re not already spoilt for choice.

La Biblioteka, a cosy little bookshop, is also located here making it the perfect spot to spend a few hours browsing their hundreds of titles and find a read that interests you – after grabbing an essential sweet treat at one of the bakeries of course.

Thrifting

As I’m sure you’ve already figured out, Sheffield is hands down a bargain hunters paradise. Streets from Ecclesall Road lined with charity shops, hidden thrift shop sales you can’t miss and of course Sheffield’s very own indie haven, Division Street. So if thrifting is your favourite pastime, there’s really no better place to be. What is the fleeting, hedonistic pleasure of downing bargain drinks in West Street Live, compared to the everlasting soul-satisfying contentment of a well-deserved bargain?