Sheffield’s drinks scene is buzzing, and the Sheffield Cocktail Festival is here to celebrate it in style. With 25 bars, exclusive masterclasses and stacks of local talent all under one roof, it’s the perfect chance to sip your way through the city’s best cocktail creations. We caught up with co-founder Dani Hill to chat about what inspired the festival and how they’re hoping to make it a regular on the city’s social calendar.
What initially inspired you to create the Sheffield Cocktail Festival, and how has it evolved since its inception?
After the success of the Seven Hills Whisky Festival, we really wanted to create a cocktail festival (cocktails are more my thing, James [co-founder] likes whisky). With all three co-founders working in the industry, owning bars and working for brands, it seemed like the perfect fit and an obvious thing to do. We have so many friends who own bars in Sheffield and countless contacts in the hospitality and drinks industry – it would be crazy not to!
Sheffield has a rich food and drink culture. How does this festival reflect or celebrate the city’s unique vibe?
We’re bringing together 25 bars from across the city, and the layout will highlight different areas so attendees can discover something new. Sheffield’s bar scene is incredibly diverse, with amazing spots in the city centre, Abbeydale Road, Ecclesall Road, Kelham Island and beyond. This festival is like the easiest bar crawl you’ll ever do – all under one roof – and a celebration of Sheffield’s unique and vibrant food and drink culture.
With 25 top bars and global drinks brands involved, how did you go about curating such a diverse and impressive lineup?
This is down to the strong relationships we’ve built in the industry. With James and Morgan working for two global drinks companies and both of them owning multiple venues in Sheffield, alongside my extensive experience in event management and brand activations, it’s all come together beautifully.
What are some of the must-try cocktails or experiences at this year’s festival?
The bartenders are still curating their drinks, but we’ve got some truly exciting masterclasses lined up. For example:
Locksley Gin x StarmoreBoss: You can join Locksley Distilling Co. Ltd. and StarmoreBoss’ Jeff Boss for a one-of-a-kind masterclass diving into the creative process behind the StarmoreBoss Bloody Mary Vodka collaboration.
Northtown’s Negroni Masterclass: Hosted by Pasquale, this is an extension of his famous Negroni nights at Northtown.
Thornbridge Beer & Cocktail Masterclass: This will be perfect for anyone who loves the fusion of beer and cocktails.
We are really looking forward to Bench’s food to see what they create for the festival. Bench will be using seasonal British ingredients cooked over coal. Bullion will be there with cakes and bakes – because who doesn’t love chocolate and cocktails, right?
This festival is all about discovery – discovering new drinks and new favourite places to go. I find sometimes when I go out, we hit up the same places and drink the same drinks. The vouchers on the day are priced at £8 or 2-for-£15, which is really good value and allows people to try something new.
Where do you see the Sheffield Cocktail Festival heading in the future? Are there any plans for expansion or new elements you’d like to introduce?
We would love to make this a yearly, or even twice-yearly, event. There’s so much potential for growth, and we’re already brimming with ideas for future editions.
We’ve heard there’s an impressive SWAG bag on offer with bits from a load of brands and businesses featured at the festival. How can people go about getting one of those?
There are 25 VIP tickets available that come with skip-the-queue access, a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne, cocktail vouchers and the VIP bag. The bag is packed with miniatures, merch, fun brand swag and loads of vouchers to redeem at the bars after the event. It’s honestly worth its weight in gold!
Finally, what’s your personal go-to cocktail?
It has to be a Negroni, especially the ones from Northtown. In my opinion, they’re the best in the city!
Sheffield Cocktail Festival takes place on 17 May, 2-8pm, at The Steamworks. General entry (£25 – includes x2 cocktails) and VIP (£45 – Q jump, arrival champagne, 2x cocktails and goody bag) available by scanning QR code.
Follow @sheffield_cocktail_festival for updates.
Full ticket details at sheffieldcocktailfestival.co.uk.
