Blue Moon Cafe: Cost-of-living crisis closes one of Sheffield's best known eateries

Sheffield has been rocked by the closure of one the city’s best loved eateries after 28 years.
By David Walsh
Published 6th Jan 2023, 10:03 BST
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Blue Moon Cafe is unable to continue because ‘overheads consistently exceed our income,’ bosses say. The vegan and vegetarian venue on St James' Street, next to Sheffield Cathedral, is also a hub for artists, musicians and progressive groups and causes. It was famous for its Hommity Pie, made with cheese and potato with fresh parsley and ‘plenty of garlic’.

Posting online, the cafe said: “After serving Sheffield's vegetarian and vegan community since 1995, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Blue Moon Café.

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“The pandemic and the cost-of-living-crisis have hit everyone hard, and like many other small businesses, we now find ourselves unable to cope with the financial strain we are under.

Bill Clarke and Nick Dunhill, joint owners of the Blue Moon Cafe on Norfolk Row, Sheffield in 1997Bill Clarke and Nick Dunhill, joint owners of the Blue Moon Cafe on Norfolk Row, Sheffield in 1997
Bill Clarke and Nick Dunhill, joint owners of the Blue Moon Cafe on Norfolk Row, Sheffield in 1997

“We know that a lot of you love our café just as much as we do, and that we've been a big part of many people's lives - whether we've catered for your weddings, anniversaries and birthdays, or whether we've simply hosted your regular Thursday morning catch-ups with old friends.

“Please know that the decision to close was not taken lightly, and that we have done all we can to avoid getting to this point.

“To all our customers, employees (past and present), suppliers, artists, and regulars: thank you for making Blue Moon such a special place. We couldn't have done it without you.”

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Blue Moon Café was established in 1995 on Norfolk Row, just off Fargate. It moved to its current building, a former auction house, in 2001.

Blue Moon Cafe is unable to continue because ‘overheads consistently exceed our income’ bosses say.Blue Moon Cafe is unable to continue because ‘overheads consistently exceed our income’ bosses say.
Blue Moon Cafe is unable to continue because ‘overheads consistently exceed our income’ bosses say.

The news was met with an outpouring of dismay.

Lionel Vibrarian wrote on Facebook: “I'm so sorry to hear this as a customer of 20+ years. You're absolutely right when you say Sheffield won't be the same without you.”

Another posted: “Gutted, the Blue Moon hosted Sheffield's number one best ever notice board. Blue Moon will be missed very much.”

Ann Ellis said: “This is such sad news. The first vegetarian cafe in Sheffield. Small business going out of business at a time when the world needs to eat less meat. Thank you everyone at the Blue Moon over all these years, especially Bill Clarke you are a legend.”