Popular Sheffield cafe mentioned in Pulp's Wickerman song is given 25 year lease

Sheffield Council has leased a popular beauty spot site to a family-run cafe for the next 25 years.
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Nicholas Dunn, the owner of Forge Dam Cafe, in Fulwood, was almost born in the cottage next door to the 100-year-old ‘Sheffield institution’ that is known to be frequented by local musician Richard Hawley and is mentioned in Pulp’s ‘Wickerman’ song.

The council approved a decision to lease the property to Mr Dunn for a further 25 years in a recent cabinet meeting.

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Councillor Mary Lea, cabinet member for culture, parks and leisure, said: “Thanks to the team for moving this forward with the better parks proposals which is about bringing income into the parks.

Nick Dunn, the owner of the Forge Dam Café, Fulwood.Nick Dunn, the owner of the Forge Dam Café, Fulwood.
Nick Dunn, the owner of the Forge Dam Café, Fulwood.

“Our income has gone down over the past 10 years so this development and the better parks policy is helping to bring income and we will be seeing more of these projects over the coming year as they come to fruition.

“Despite Covid we have continued to work on all of these proposals and business cases that have come in.

“We should all get out and visit the cafe when we get a chance when restrictions are removed again. Congratulations everybody, it’s good news.”

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Councillor Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment, added: “I just want to thank the officers and Mary for supporting small businesses. It’s great to see this small business.

“Extending it for 25 years gives it that assurity that the business needs and supports the park users.

“Hopefully when the restrictions open we can go outdoors and enjoy a nice drink or food or just a visit to the park. So it’s fantastic news and it’s great to see small businesses being supported by the council.”

The cafe was originally Walkley Methodist Hall before it was dismantled and brought down the valley in the 1930s.

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In a report council officers said the cafe makes a significant contribution to Forge Dam’s role as an active park and its facilities help make the green space more widely accessible to the public.

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