There has been a lot of talk lately about 15-minute cities, but in a Sheffield suburb the idea of having (almost) everything you need close by is already a reality.
That’s according to residents of Crookes, in West Sheffield, where a thriving mix of big business and convincing has nurtured a vibrant high street. There has been a community here since the Bronze Age, and despite being swallowed up by the urban sprawl of the city, an identity remains.
The area can claim its number of famous former residents as its own and has been in and out of fashion more times than anyone can count. Despite this, Crookes remains an attractive place to be in the city, attracting a wide variety of people.
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Alan Yates, 78, moved to Crookes after growing up on the opposite side of Sheffield. He said: “It’s fantastic, it’s got everything you could need here and then it’s only a 10 minute drive into town.
“Walk 30 minutes in one direction and you are right in the center of town, 30 minutes in the other and you are well on your way to the Rivelin Valley with all the beautiful scenery. From here I can go to the Cathedral or Bradfield Church on foot, I really don’t know what more I could want.”
Alan highlights one of the many things people love about Crookes. Its proximity to the outdoors is something that draws people in and makes them want to stay.
The area remains a hub for college seniors for the time being and many are delighted by the prospect of living a city lifestyle just on the edge of the Peak District. There’s a reason the city boasts one of the highest ‘retention’ rates, for students who choose to stay and live here, out of any institution in the country.
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Elaine has lived in Crookes her entire life. She said: “I love the community here and the mix of people. Shopping here is good too, you have a variety of shops and cafes with almost everything you really need.”
“Transport links are excellent, there are buses every 15 minutes that can take you into the city. The only thing that isn’t great is the traffic, which has definitely increased over the years. It’s still lovely around here though.”
52 serves Crookes and links the area to a vital route through Broomhill and into the city itself or through Hillsborough in the other direction. Bus services have improved a lot in recent times despite the odd timetable hiccups you hear about.
The range of stores remains strong despite the loss of some names like Fulton Foods. A number of independent businesses are still going strong, including the excellent Flourish Just Natural florist and grocery store.
Even better here is the selection of cafes with a hard choice between Whaletown, Pom Kitchen and Dana. Shimmering Lisbon is also holding strong in the suburbs, as is one of Sheffield’s best restaurants at NO NAME.
Mary Burnet was not so positive about the changes that have seen the high street move to more food and drink outlets. She said: “It used to be lovely but these days it’s all cafes and takeaways. There used to be more shops which were much more useful.”
Fred, who was walking his dog Susie, is from out of the area, but said he loved to visit. He said: “I live far away but am here regularly as my daughter lives locally.
“I really like it though, the shops are great and there are a lot of good pubs too which really helps.”
It wouldn’t be Sheffield if there weren’t some good drunks around and Crookes is absolutely no different, as Fred said. The Punchbowl is an exceptional venue that has made a name for itself in the busy market as a great pub to be in.
For a variety of beers and knowledgeable bar people, it’s hard to do better than the brilliant Two Sheds. That’s not to mention local favorites like The Ball, The Masons, The Old Grindstone and Crookes Social Club.
As a measure of high street health here, they’ve even gained a wine bar. Tenaya is worth a visit with helpful and knowledgeable staff along with a lovely plonk.
Liam, 23, works for the NHS and has lived in Crookes for two years. He said: “I would say there’s nothing not to like about Crookes, that’s really something when I think about it.
“You know there are all the independent shops and businesses and that’s really nice to see. It’s not just Co-op and Sainsbury’s that could have been.
“The only thing is that it can be quite expensive to shop here. But I really don’t know where you would put a bigger supermarket and that could screw it up as well.”
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