Why Sheffield should think of itself as the street food capital of the country as informal dining booms

Through the rise of popular food halls, Sheffield has become a prime spot for dining out when you just can’t decide what to eat.

It seems as though around every corner lies a street food vendor offering a bite of delicious food for you to enjoy.

With Cambridge Street Collective, the largest purpose-built food hall in Europe, in the city centre and Cutlery Works down in Kelham Island, there’s a wide a wide range of cuisines for all on offer, meaning friends and families no longer need to compromise on their cravings.

There’s also Sheffield Plate, located in Orchard Square, that offers six street food vendors, two bars and an event space.

You could say that Sheffield is the street food capital of the country, such is the choice available.

Sheffield is home to the iconic Peddler Market, which opened over ten years ago and has expanded its horizons since to something much bigger since then.

When it opened in 2012, it was literally a horse box turned into a mobile bar. From then, it grew into the monthly street food market we know and love, and established its home at 92 Burton Road in Neepsend.

12 years on from when it began, it now exists as a monthly music festival, with food still being a central factor to its success.

But the trend was firmly set in motion and seemingly, once the good people of Sheffield had experienced street food in this informal way, they were hooked.

Recently, the finals of The British Street Food Awards took place at Peddler. Unfortunately, Sheffield’s food halls, Cutlery Works and Cambridge Street Collective, did not win the ‘Best Food Hall’ category, breaking their four year winning streak.

Despite this loss, both food halls seem to be packed day and night every week. So how much emphasis should we place on recognition when our eyes tell us these places are well used?

Andy, Head of Operations at Blend Family who run the aforementioned food halls, gave an insight into why he thinks Sheffield is a great place for food halls.

“I think it does so well because we (Blend Family) particularly, we centre everything around community. It’s not just about people coming in, trying different food and then leaving. Everything's centred around events and giving back to the community.

“We do classes, all non-profit and then the proceeds go to charity. We send a lot of food to S6 food banks so I think creating a space that is very event driven for families and for everybody. I think that’s why it does well, its got a bit of everything.”

Sheffield is home to many diverse communities, so having a wide range of food options means no one is excluded from enjoying an evening out with friends.

The street food market can be viewed as “up-and-coming” in some parts of the country, but Sheffield has an undeniably mainstream feel about it, taking it from niche and novelty to genuine eating option for many. Throw into the mix Sheffielders’ love for sharing and informality, and you can see why food halls are going through a boom time.

Not every food hall that opens its doors works, though. Sheffield has previously had Department, formerly known as Kommune, which was located at Castle House on Angel Street, an all day food hall that served breakfast, lunch and dinner, but this was closed down in 2025.

So it’s safe to say Sheffield has its fair share of food halls and street vendors, where every corner seems to offer a new treat to delight your taste buds.

Blend Family is the company that operates Cambridge Street Collective and Cutlery Works, but they also have spaces in Manchester, London and Birmingham.

When asked about whether they have plans to open more, Andy revealed some exciting future plans.

He said: “The next site for us will be Elephant Exchange which is in Elephant & Castle in London, I’m really excited about that. We also have Nottingham in the first quarter of next year.

“I think it’s a very young and fast growing market and will continue to grow. They just offer something for everybody, gone are the days where you have to sit and think oh where shall we go and eat today.”

Cutlery Works is the first food hall the Blend Family opened back in 2018 and is a cornerstone for Sheffield’s food scene. Andy admitted he has a “soft spot” for it, adding: “I remember going in Cutlery Works the day it opened on the VIP night, I snuck in and they had a wine bar upstairs at the time and it was incredible.

“That was when food halls were kind of just becoming really popular and I was probably in there everyday.”

What makes these sites work so well are their adaptability as a venue, going from a thriving workspace in the day to hosting events in the evening, it gives people the opportunity to socialise and connect in the same spaces.

Is Sheffield the street food capital?

Sheffield Star reporter Casey Peyton on Sheffield’s food hall scene...

Personally, I am a big foodie. I love trying out new delicacies and experiencing new flavours, and I think Sheffield has everything to offer.

A passerby outside of Cambridge Street Collective told me: “Sheffield has amazing food, and the food halls means it has amazing options,” which I completely agree with.

It’s a view that Roger Loyd-Jones, from Sheffield, who was enjoying the outdoor seating area outside the venue agreed with.

He said: “I think its made a major difference to the cities ambience. The fact that its got something like this, this has helped to make it more viable and attracts young people to the city as well as a much broader demographic.”

Students will also get the chance to experience Sheffield’s food scene, as Cutlery Works and Cambridge Street Collective are offering a range of deals, giving freshers the perfect excuse to explore the venues.

At Cambridge Street Collective, students can enjoy 10% off at the bar every Sunday to Thursday, simply by showing a valid student ID, and at Cutlery Works, students get 20% off at the bar on 19 and 20 September, followed by 10% off at the bar every Sunday to Thursday.

Despite the Sheffield food halls not winning at The British Street Food Awards (Alfred Works won for the category ‘Best food hall’, which is Blend Family’s site in Birmingham), it’s clear that with the number, and the sheer scale of the food halls on offer, the people of Sheffield have embraced them.

The nominations highlight their continued impact on the UK’s food hall landscape and its commitment to bringing independent food businesses and local communities together.

That’s why Sheffield should be considered as the street food capital of the country.

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