Here’s a list of some fun things to do in Sheffield for your next society social
There’s more to life than West Street
If you’re part of a society committee, you will know the feeling of the semester ticking away with little-to-no time to find inspiration for socials.
There tends to be an internal debate between taking your members on a night out, which is fun and all, but also wanting opportunities for people to mingle and make friends with similar interests in more intimate surroundings.
Luckily, Sheffield has so much on offer. This doesn’t have to be about spending the whole society’s budget just to come across well, some of these ideas might resemble playground activities from primary school, but it’s all in good fun. So, here’s your list of what to get up to with your society:
Get your art freak on with pottery painting
Fancy a more therapeutic and low-key group activity on a Wednesday night than getting drunk? Pottery painting is the way to go. Your members can choose from a range of funky pots to paint while socialising in a calm setting.
Bistro Bisque on Ecclesall Road is one hidden gem. It is also a licensed bar and grill, with plenty of deals, such as 10 per cent off every Wednesday with Unidays, two for £12 on cocktails or two for £1o on mocktails. A wholesome outing that won’t break people’s bank.
Host ‘booze and ball games’ at Roxy Ball Room
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If you’re thinking of something completely universal, with plenty of different options for members to enjoy, Roxy Ball Room on Charter Square is the perfect option.
This venue is student treats galore- make your society night one to remember with a bottle of prosecco for £20 to share between the group, and games offers that start from £5. Your members can show off their inner Beyonce with a bit of karaoke, play some duck pin bowling, or play tech darts to name a few things on offer.
Whether you’re a sports society, or all about bar crawls, this feels like the happy medium to keep everyone satisfied and buy that membership on the way out.
Have a good laugh (or maybe argument) with a games night
What could be easier to arrange but also a brilliant source of entertainment than a society games night?
Depending on the amount of members in your society, do this in the comfort of someone’s house, and decorate accordingly with society themed props – or even rent out a space in the uni. Both Uni of Sheffield and Hallam have large rentable spaces that would be ideal for the occasion, but just consider the presence of alcohol might not be welcome.
Spice up a game like Twister by incorporating truth or dare, so upon landing on a colour, there is a little twist (mind the pun). Just maybe try not to choose anything too outlandish or your members might not come back. Or even choose something like bingo, where the prizes are linked to your society. Who wouldn’t want a freebie, after all?
Another idea could be a quiz, where everyone has to guess member’s baby pictures, or everybody has to guess which member facts refer to. This might lead to a bit of embarrassment, but also whole new perspectives on each other.
Crown the society clown with an awards ceremony
Biggest ray of sunshine? Biggest clown? Reel off the deserved titles with a formal awards ceremony for your society. Get yourself down to Party On on Division Street to stock up on a few tacky (but necessary) crowns, organise a spread of food for the group-because we all know this is a sign of a good host, and spread the word to your members to dress up accordingly for a night of glitz and glam. It might also be fun to print out certificates for the lucky winners to remember their honourable night, and create a slideshow with reference pictures or videos of core memories.
There are plenty of options for bars with function rooms, including Revolution and Manahatta, which would mean plenty of space for a boogie, and everyone is invited. A good suggestion would be asking for any society incentives, as a lot of Sheffield bars like to give sponsorships.
Test out the group’s teamwork skills with an escape room
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There is no better way to bond than an escape room. Navigating intricate puzzles and challenges while trying not to lose it in the process.
Sheffield has multiple locations for this, a popular one being The Great Escape Game, which can be found on Vicar Lane, right near the train station. So nobody can have any excuses of this being too far away or inconvenient.
This experience is number one, multi-award winning, and there are plenty of themes to choose from, from horror to magical. Perfect for a society is a brand new room which opened on the 21st October, ‘Quest for Atlantis’, where eighteen members can go head to head in two different rooms and battle it out. There is also a big emphasis on it being ‘scare free’ for anyone who is on the faint-hearted side.
Numerous student deals are an offer too – if you take everyone out on a Wednesday, they will get a cheeky shot before the game, and another one after (if they escape before the clock runs out). You can also claim free pizza per every two people too.
Organise a good old-fashioned field trip
Societies are a brilliant way for people with similar hobbies and interests to get together, so a perfect idea is use these interests to your advantage and put them into practice. (Hallam Odyssey, you are already doing a great job at this!).
If your society is sports themed, take the group to a professional match where they can thrive in their shared love of booing and cheering in equal measure. If your society is academic based, for example, History, take your members to visit the Yorkshire National History Museum in Hillsborough, where they can share their favourite ancient relics while making lifelong buddies at the same time. And any performing arts or theatre based societies at both unis will definitely love Sheffield Theatres, and you can bond with each other by yelling “it’s behind you!”.