More than three years after it closed down for good following the Covid lockdowns, The Wig and Pen on Campo Lane is now under new ownership and has finally reopened its doors.
The popular and historic boozer, whose building dates back to the 19th century and backs onto the picturesque Paradise Square, has been taken over by Chris Harris, who boasts 15 years of experience in hospitality.
With a slight name change to The Beaten Track at The Wig and Pen, and a subtle refurb, the site began its new life as a cocktail bar just over three weeks ago, offering two cocktails for just £10, as well as coffees and a selection of craft beers.
“I’ve been renovating it for the last 11 weeks or so, trying to make it a comfortable, relaxing space,” explains Chris. “It was kind of a bit of a dust ball and a little bit rundown, but I’ve been turning it into what is primarily a cocktail bar, with a broad scope for a bit of everything.
“We’re doing two cocktails for £10, but not just two woo woos for a tenner—proper, good-quality cocktails.
“I think we miss a bit more of a calm bar where it’s not packed in with music pumping so no one can talk to you. I want it to be a place where you can come and have a chat and relax.”
Food is set to be provided by Shoot the Bull, whom you might recognise from the city centre food hall, Sheffield Plate. They will be providing pizzas, nibbles, and bar snacks to accompany the classic cocktail menu.
Chris said: “They’re an independent business selling food in here. I’m not exactly sure what their whole plans are, but they’re going to be doing pizzas and nibbles. I describe my vision for what they’re doing as more like incidental food, where you come in, you decide you want to get something, you maybe share a pizza, you maybe share some nibbles.”
The location and history have been an important part of Chris’s decision to take on the venue, and this also prompted the tweak to the name.
“The Beaten Track is just a little bit out of the way. Even though it’s dead in the city centre, right behind the cathedral, it’s kind of a little Bermuda Triangle in Sheffield.
“I love this area around Paradise Square. It’s kind of like Sheffield’s Shambles around here. You get a lot of people walking through. There’s plenty of foot traffic, but it’s a little bit out of the way from your normal routes through town.
“You still hear the city, but it’s kind of like its own little pocket. The place has a lot of history, but it’s not necessarily the same place it once was, and the area has changed; it’s not primarily lawyers and journalists around here now, so I don’t need to keep it what it was, as a place where secrets were told.
“It can be an inclusive space, catering to everyone. It’s right behind one of the city’s most iconic buildings, and hopefully, with the regeneration of Castlegate, it puts this area on the map a bit more, and people begin braving it down here more as well.”
Chris has worked in hospitality for the past 15 years, primarily for Ego Mediterranean, but decided now was the time to go out on his own.
“I was working all the hours and had saved up a bit, so I thought I’d try and do the same but for myself, and take a punt on it.
“I’m getting to the age where if I didn’t do it now, I would probably never do it, so I spent a year and a bit looking for venues, and this was just sitting here, and no one seemed interested in it.
“It just kind of got forgotten because of Covid, but I’d walked past it plenty of times, and I wanted a place in town; I wanted a bar that I could mold into whatever I wanted and create a community around that, so it fit the bill.
“It’s been a rollercoaster, but it’s going well so far.”
The Beaten Track at The Wig and Pen is open from Monday – Thursday 12 – 11pm and Friday and Saturday from 12pm – 1am.
@thebeatentracksheff
