Tales of the Music Halls and Nightlife of West Bar

The Music Hall walk around the Castlegate and West bar area returns for 2026, having evolved over several years in which it has adapted to the different annual themes of Sheffield Heritage Open Days. Castlegate has also developed through the extension of the Grey to Green spaces and the gradual opening up of the river Sheaf. In addition to stories of Music halls it now includes circus and fairground and other nightlife.

In tune with the current theme of Everyday Histories, and using fresh material, it investigates the links between Sheffield’s industries and entertainment. This highlights the social importance of post work relaxation and the birth of music hall through the songs of migrant workers. Many artistes started in heavy trades, and the initial audience came from a working-class background in the days when wages were often paid in the pub.

The walk/talk will also look at the difficult and financially precarious working conditions, the number of halls that burnt to the ground and the constant struggles against the legitimate theatre trade and also the disapproving clergy. The entertainers had to adapt, bringing a number of interesting characters into the limelight. The ever inventive Thomas Youdan, whose other passion was football, the antics of the Man Monkey, Harvey Teasdale and Pablo Fanque, the circus impresario who found fame many years later by a mention in Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Timings

Thursday 17 September:

1800-1930

Location & directions

Lyceum Theatre (main entrance), Tudor Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2LA

Directions:

Meet opposite the Main Entrance of the Lyceum Theatre Tudor Square S1 2LA. A linear walk ending at West Bar S3 8PT.

Contact on day:

Chris Reece

Telephone number:

+447891974298

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Places must be prebooked

Booking contact name:

Chris Reece

Booking email:

[email protected]

Accessibility details

The event is accessible for wheelchair users, though there are some cobblestones and a fairly steep hill back to the city centre. The distance is about 1.6 miles 90 minutes. Open air and enclosed Pay car-parks. Some Blue badge spaces. Bus & tram stops are 3 minutes walk from Tudor Square and five minutes from the end of the walk.

Additional information

Cafes & bars at start and pubs at end Toilets at start and finish of walk, including accessible toilets & baby-changing facilities. Due to the content this would not be appropriate for children.

Max number of people:

20

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)

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