June's Pop-Up Lunches

From 8:30am every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday our Baristas serve award winning Dark Peak locally roasted at Smith St alongside freshly baked pastries, with independent traders serving lunches from 12 til 2pm;

Tues 2nd: South Asian thali: 7 complementary flavours by Roshni Kitchen

Wed 3rd: Bengali thali by womens' collective Ammi's Kitchen - read their story here

Thurs 4th: World street food (V & Ve) by Icarus and Apollo

Tues 9th: South Asian thali: 7 complementary flavours by Roshni Kitchen

Wed 10th: Authentic Sri Lankan by award winning social enterprise Ammi's Kitchen

Thurs 11th: Absolutely delicious (it's true!) Black Heritage Food by Urban Fusion

Tues 16th: Traditional South Asian by women's social enterprise Roshni Kitchen

Wed 17th: Authentic Iraqi thali by local non-profit Ammi's Kitchen

Thurs 18: Black Heritage Cuisine at it's best by Urban Fusion

Tues 23rd: Vibrant, flavourful dishes (V & Ve) by Icarus and Apollo

Wed 24th: Punjabi thali by womens' social enterprise Ammi's Kitchen

Thurs 25th: Authentic African flavours, handmade with love by Mina Cuisine

Tues 30th: Traditional thali of 7 complimentary flavours by Roshni Kitchen

Ella from Urban Fusion - always brings the deliciousness!

Wild swimming near Sheffield: Top spots ranked by our members

Written by Ali, a co-worker at Union St.

One of the great joys of Sheffield is its easy access to the outdoors, and an evening plunge after a day at Union Street is more than a realistic prospect. So with summer looming, our co-working members recently came together to pick their favourite wild swimming spots.

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Where are the best places to wild swim near Sheffield?

We’ve ordered these top picks by driving time from Union Street (though many are easily accessible on public transport, and by bike):

1. Rivelin Valley: A waterfall plunge pool in the city 

Travel time: 16 minutes from Union Street

It’s hard to believe the Rivelin plunge pool, at the foot of a perfectly formed waterfall in ancient woodland, is less than a 20 minute walk from the western suburbs of Sheffield.

It can get popular in the warmer months, but with its overhanging jumping-off rock and an easy exit downstream it’s not hard to see why. Spots like this are exactly why Sheffield is The Outdoor City. 

The Rivelin Valley Trail. Image credit: Welcome to Sheffield

2. Redmires Reservoir: Sunbathers and swimmers

Travel time: 22 mins from Union Street

Not strictly legal but, given the hundreds who head here on a sunny summer’s day to lay out their towels and sip a cider, clearly tolerated. It’s a man-made reservoir so walk down to the water’s edge and into the water, though watch your step as it can be slippery. The water levels can get very low in a dry year.

Bonus: for a much quieter, wilder – and harder to find – open-water swimming spot, head north of the reservoir along an access track until you find ‘the spooky house’.

Redmires Reservoir. Image credit: Welcome to Yorkshire

3. Padley Gorge: Sheffield-by-the-Sea

Travel time: 22 mins from Union Street

Bringing kids with you? Head to Padley Gorge, so popular with local families that it’s earned the nickname Sheffield-by-the-Sea. You’ll find beautiful ancient woodland, great views, and a shallow river perfect for paddling (with criss-crossing footbridges).

Just a 15 minute walk from the Longshaw National Trust cafe too.Union St member Bruno says: “There’s loads of parking, and even an ice cream van. It’s lovely up there”.

Longshaw Estate & Padley Gorge. Image credit: Visit Peak District & Derbyshire

4. Hathersage Lido: An open-air, heated pool

Travel time: 27 mins from Union Street

If you prefer your swim spots more chlorinated, head to the iconic Hathersage lido. Open all year round, the heated pool offers fabulous views of the surrounding hills as you swim. It’s a short walk from Hathersage station, which itself is only a 15-20 minute train journey from the centre of Sheffield.

Image credit: Hathersage Swimming Pool

5. Barbrook: A quieter spot, with a great walk too

Travel time: 27 mins from Union Street

Get away from the crowds, even on a sunny day. Park up on the A621 and walk the flat 15-minute trail to get to this mostly secluded spot. You’ll probably have the whole of the moors to yourself. Make a point of visiting the nearby stone circle too, just a few hundred metres south-east.

Alex says: “Usually really quiet as it’s a little less accessible because there’s a short walk”.

6. Rother Valley Country Park: Total wipeout time

Travel time: 30 mins from Union Street

Okay, it’s more of a water sports destination than strictly swimming. But you can take to the lake in sailing boats, paddle boards, canoes, pedal boats and rowing boats. There’s even wakeboarding and you can test your total wipeout skills in the inflatable water park. What’s not to love?

7. Dale Dyke Reservoir: The King in the North 

Travel time: 32 mins from Union Street

More reservoir swimming, but a little further out from Sheffield and therefore mostly devoid of people entirely. Tree-lined on three sides and accessible by footpath, with the perfect post-swim pint available at The Strines Inn around the corner.

Will says: “Everyone in Sheffield goes west to the Peaks, but there’s loads of stuff north of Sheffield that’s completely quiet in comparison”.

8. River Derwent at Chatsworth House: Regal riverside swimming

Travel time: 218 bus from Sheffield. 38 mins.

I don’t remember wild swimming featuring in any Jane Austen novel, but head to the inspiration for Pride and Prejudice these days and you’ll find families lining the banks of the Derwent. It can be busy, but combine it with a day exploring the Estate and it’s hard to beat.

9. The Slippery Stones: Why people move to Sheffield

Travel time: 40 mins from Union Street

On a weekend, this fairytale spot across from a cobbled bridge is a good five-mile walk in both directions. During weekdays, however, the gates are opened and you can drive to within half a mile or so. It’s best accessed by bike at any time of the week, as there’s a fantastic reservoir loop to complete. Swimming in a river in the middle of a National Park, after a day’s work, is what draws so many people to Sheffield in the first place. You can’t beat it!

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At Union St, coworking isn’t only about work.

Union Street has several social groups heading out into the Peaks after work. Hiking, running and swimming. So if you fancy meeting like-minded coworkers, book a call with Matt to hear more about Union Street.

Book a callback

Coworking FAQs

Questions about coworking at Union St? We might have the answer below. If not, just book a call with Matt and he’ll be able to answer anything else.

How long is the taster day and free trial?

The taster day can be a full day, a quick ten-minute tour, or anything in between – it’s up to you! We’d generally recommend coming in for whatever a normal working day looks like for you.

The free trial is two weeks long, and can start on a day that you choose. You can cancel it at any time, free of charge.

When are you open?

Co-working at Union St opens at 8am and closes at 6.30pm every weekday. We’re closed on weekends and on bank holidays.

The cafe downstairs is open from 8:30am to 3pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Do I need to stick to the same day every week?

No, you can come in any day you like – and it can be different from week to week. You won’t need to tell anyone in advance, and there’s no booking system. Just come in when you feel like it!

I didn’t use all my days this week. Can I use them next week instead?

If you’re going on holiday, or away for a time, you can use your days the week before or the week after. Please just give Matt a quick heads-up though so he knows that’s your plan.

Can I just pay-as-I-go instead? And only pay for the days I use?

Sorry, no. We don’t have a pay-as-you-go system because Union St wouldn’t be financially viable without paid memberships.

Is it hotdesking, or can I have the same desk each day?

Our main co-working floor is hot-desking, but you can rent a dedicated desk space on the top floor if you’d like the same desk every day.

What happens if I have a meeting, or need to take a call?

We have nine phone booths and two meeting rooms across our various floors. If you know you have a meeting in advance, you can book one of the meeting rooms for free. Whilst you can’t book the phone booths, there is almost always one available for you to use. If not, you're welcome to make calls from the desks on the 1st floor, and from the cafe.

Do you have screens I can use?

Yes. There is a ‘screens shelf’ so help yourself. Obviously there’s a finite amount, so feel

free to bring your own – you can store it on the shelf whilst you’re not here. Just put a post-it note on your screen saying if other members can – or can’t – borrow it when you’re not in.

Could I bring a friend or a guest for a day?

If you have a friend or guest visiting for a day then sure, you can bring them for free – but please let Matt know in advance, and we’d really appreciate it if they bought a coffee or two. If your friend is trying Union St out with a view to maybe joining, please encourage them to book a trial day, so we can meet them and explain how thing work. Is you guest a client? Don’t forget that as a member you can book meeting rooms for free for up to 2 hours per day.

How does the Getting Involved scheme work? And what does it really mean?

Don’t worry, there’s no enforced group yoga. We wanted to do things differently, and try to build a genuine community. And offering a 50% refund if you ‘get involved’ is a really great way of making that happen. Read this quick article all about the scheme and how it works.

Do I have to get involved?

No, we recognise that some people are juggling kids, businesses and so on. There’s

absolutely no obligation to get involved. About a third of people do the scheme, which is designed to be easy and flexible.

When is the Direct Debit payment made?

By default, the first Direct Debit is made the day after the end of your two-week free trial. But you can change this! It can be any day of the month you like, just let us know what’s best.

Do I get any perks as a member?

Apart from the warm, fuzzy feeling of community, wellbeing and productivity, you mean? As a member you’ll also get £1 off coffees and lunches in the cafe downstairs. And of course, for up to 2 hours per day you can book meeting rooms for free too.

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Interested in finding out more? You can book the best time for chat on the phone or a Tour of the facilities (which includes free coffee) and a free taster day via this link here.

Book a tour with Matt