A unique way to cure that Thursday hangover: Sheff’s new, wizard-themed cafe

Of course we had to try it out


In the wake of the devastation that coronavirus has caused in the food industry, you wouldn’t expect Broomhill’s latest cafe to be wizard themed. However, The Steel Cauldron is flying high – albeit on a broomstick.

The theme runs deep in this new fantasy hotspot, even their Facebook chatbot, Colin, is a self-proclaimed ‘Yorkshire Pixie’. The grand piano, fairy lights which extend over the ceiling from a ‘willow’ tree, and plush armchairs give The Steel Cauldron a cosy, magical feel.

This, along with a ‘Wizard’s Afternoon Tea’ certainly sounds like a unique option to cure that Thursday hangover – and Facebook agrees. Many users describe it as ‘fab’, ‘brilliant’ with ‘lovely food’, and their pictures back this up.

The Steel Cauldron is not only a cafe, but a bar too – meaning you can enjoy the atmosphere before and after your night out, for lunch, or even a few casual drinks. They also have a magician who performs tricks for punters.

Now I know what you’re thinking – it’s for kids. But, hear me out – imagine being saved from an awkward Tinder date by a literal magician who can break the ice for you? Or you know, you could just perform a disappearing act yourself.

The menu clearly takes heed from the uber-successful Harry Potter franchise, offering ‘Butterscotch Beer’ and ‘Basilisk Blood’. But the way I see it, it’s a way to enjoy the vibe of a franchise we all grew up with, which also helps to support independent businesses in our local community.

And yes, I and many other people might be deemed ‘too old’ to enjoy the wizarding world – but to be honest I don’t care. This year we have all experienced a long, long period of dealing with reality, so I wouldn’t mind a bit of escapism.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Arctic Monkeys are raffling Alex Turner’s Fender guitar to save The Leadmill

• Sheffield uni tutor warns of threat to student learning from ‘devastating’ staff cuts 

Everything you need to know about next year if you’re at Sheffield uni