Leah's Yard Sheffield: New venue's businesses including Pete McKee excited for the future

4 months ago

Business opening in Sheffield city centre's new Leah's Yard development today are very excited for the future as people are welcomed back into the historic venue for the first time in years.

The Star spoke with renowned local artist Pete McKee, who has opened a new gallery at the site, and Andrew, the owner of Sheffield Dragon hot sauce, to ask them about the optimism they have for the coming years.

Transcript

00:00Leah's Yard is a new development and an old building that was originally used by Little

00:05Mesters which are the industrious workers of Sheffield who worked in small units producing

00:12beautiful works of, not works of art, but works of industry that were to be used and manipulated by

00:20everybody in Sheffield and around the world. To be a part of that heritage and that history of

00:25the Little Mesters and the workshops and be right at the centre of where they were

00:30was a thing that I just couldn't resist and wanted to be part of that. It's really good

00:35that it's in the heart of Sheffield in the city centre that's had a real battering over

00:39the last couple of decades and hopefully people are coming back in and enjoying the spaces.

00:44There's a lot of nice green areas, there's a lot of new shops and just a lovely vibe.

00:51I'm hugely optimistic because I've got a huge sort of, I've got a huge attachment to this

00:56particular block. I actually now produce all of my products over in the kitchen at the Bland

01:04Community Foundation across the road and for my day job, even though I've got this place,

01:11I work upstairs in a manufacturing consultancy firm and the buzz around the place is just

01:18fantastic and just the way in which everyone's pulled together and helped each other get over

01:26the line over the last couple of days. Can I borrow a hammer? Can I borrow this? Do you need a lift?

01:32You know, I need five people to help me move this here and we've all been helping each other so

01:37it's been really good. It's been a real life-affirming experience and like I say,

01:43if we can't make it here, we can't make it anywhere so I'm just excited to see what the

01:48next few months bring. And we're part of that revival and so are you guys all queuing up,

01:52waiting to come in, so thank you everybody and I'd like to declare Lear's Yard is now officially open!

Leah's Yard Sheffield: New venue's businesses including Pete McKee excited for the future

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