Sheffield set to sizzle in hottest weekend of year

From spending time in the Peak District to enjoying a cold drink outside a pub, people are planning to make the most of the hottest weekend of the year – with temperatures set to hit 23C on Sunday.

Patricia Hardy, 59, her daughter Carly, 26, and granddaughter Laila, three, were yesterday enjoying the sun in the Peace Gardens.

“We will probably go to Matlock,” said Patricia, of Manor. “My son has just passed his driving test and bought a car, so we are making the most of it.

“Or we will go to Clifton Park in Rotherham. It’s lovely, really beautiful. There’s something for everyone.”

The family had never stopped at the Peace Gardens before and were enjoying their day.

“It’s nice for the kids,” said Patricia. “It’s a good atmosphere.”

Sheffield Hallam University students Robert Richardson, 19, and Amber Greasby, 20, were enjoying an ice cream in the Peace Gardens.

Amber said Sheffield had plenty of beer gardens to enjoy the sunshine in.

“I like to go to the Forum, and Devonshire Green,” she said. “Sheffield is not bad when the sun is out. It’s better than most places.”

Linda Chilton, 64, from Sheffield, said she was going on a cruise to the Canary Islands this weekend, where temperatures could reach 29C but tries to make the most of the hot weather when she is at home.

“If I was in Sheffield I would probably be having a stroll around Rother Valley,” she said. “I go round there a lot, and all up to Chatsworth.

“It’s nice to get out and about when the weather is good. Sheffield is great for that kind of activity.”

Plenty of people were sunbathing and enjoying a drink or an ice cream on Devonshire Green yesterday.

University of Sheffield student Phoebe Fuller, 22, from Broomhill, said: “My plan for the weekend is pretty much just to chill out.

“On Sunday I’m going to try to go round the shops if the weather is nice. Me and my boyfriend might go to Derbyshire for a walk.

“I love the sun. We don’t get enough of it so as soon as it comes out I try to get out.”

She added: “I really like Sheffield in the sun. There’s plenty of green space to sit and chill out, and it’s not far from the Peak District.”

Anna Charlton, 36, from Fulwood, said: “I’m just going to do some gardening. I like to spend a lot of time there, but it’s had nothing done to it over the winter so it needs a full attack.

“Just coming into the city in the sun is nice. There are a lot of places to sit, such as here in Devonshire Green, the Peace Gardens and Leopold Square.”

And Sheffield Hallam University student Yasmina Carlton, 20, enjoying a drink outside the Forum bar, was looking further ahead than the weekend.

“I’ll be revising,” she said. “I’ve got my final exam on Tuesday. I’ve been looking at the forecast for next week and it’s looking good. Hopefully it stays like this.”

The weather is forecast to get steadily warmer this weekend, rising from a top temperature of 18C today up to 20C tomorrow and potentially 23C on Sunday. Temperatures will remain high for the start of next week before cooling to about 16C by Friday.