15 October 2025
Exposed Magazine
Photo Credit: Marc Barker
Nestled inside the Krynkl building in Shalesmoor, 53 Degrees Norse is far from your average tasting menu spot. With its strobe lights, heavily graffitied walls and thumping drum & bass soundtrack, the space feels more like a Berlin club than a fine dining restaurant. But that’s exactly the point.
“I didn’t want to work somewhere where my creativity was blocked,” says Ashley Bagshaw, the restaurant’s head chef and owner. “I’ve done the years in traditional kitchens, but I wanted to do something different. This is who I am.”
The name – a nod to the coordinates of Sheffield and a callback to Ashley’s earlier pop-up days under 53 Degrees North – represents a rebrand and rebirth. After a stint at Steel Yard, the restaurant moved to a new site in Krynkl and reimagined the space entirely.
Graffitied walls, disco balls and banging playlists: this is ‘rave dining’ in Sheffield
The experience is designed to be immersive from start to finish – lighting changes with the courses, surround sound envelops the room and, on some evenings, disco lights and ABBA come on for the dessert courses. “We want people to feel like this is their night out, not just a meal. It’s a nightclub with food.”
And the food? Playful, bold and boundary-pushing dishes with Scandi and Asian influences. Ashley has no interest in playing it safe. “We’ve done a dish where it’s mullet with Thai green curry and Haribo ice cream,” he laughs. “Individually it sounds odd – but together, it works. It messes with your senses.”
The menu changes monthly and often features unexpected combinations and nostalgic nods. A recent dessert disguised as a Jammy Dodger turned out to be made with cheese. UFO sherbet sweets and foam bananas make surprise appearances. “People might say, ‘It’s about playing with people’s perceptions,’” Ashley explains. “That’s the point – your brain is telling you it shouldn’t work. But it does.”
Looks like Jammy Ds are back on the menu, kids!
One of the restaurant’s most talked-about courses is ‘Lick It Up’ – where guests are encouraged to eat straight off the plate with their tongue or scoop up food with their hands. “Everyone’s done it. If the food’s that good, why not?” he shrugs.
Despite the playful energy and bold menu, affordability is a key part of the ethos. The 13–15 course tasting menu comes in at a price designed to be accessible. “I could charge a hundred quid, easy,” Ashley says. “But that’s not the point. I don’t want to charge people a fortune here in Sheffield. I want this to be a regular thing that people can afford – not just a once-a-year treat.”
53 Degrees Norse has been turning heads with its high-energy and well-priced tasting menus
Service follows the same philosophy. No scripted spiels, no hovering waiters and zero snobbery. “I want people to feel like they’re coming to a mate’s house,” Ashley says. “No one’s judging your outfit or your wine knowledge. Everyone’s equal when they walk through the door. That’s how it should be.”
That local approach extends behind the scenes too. Almost everything in the venue is handmade and sourced from South Yorkshire – from the ceramics and menu holders to the beer from Triple Point and even the locally produced artwork covering the walls.
Dessert: Beetroot – Burnt Hay – Sorrel – Verbena
When it comes to the food, sustainability is key. “We use everything – leftover trimmings become meat for another dish, even oyster shells go to a ceramicist to make plates. Nothing gets wasted.” The ethos, he adds, is simple: “flavour first, no fuss and a bit of fun.”
Ashley is clear about what 53 Degrees Norse isn’t – it’s not fine dining, not formal and definitely not for those wanting a quiet night out. But for those ready to be challenged, entertained and well-fed, it’s a breath of fresh air in the city’s food scene.
November’s menu dropping soon, with December bookings now live.
“I’m not chasing Michelin stars,” he says. “I just want people to come in, have a laugh, eat something mad and leave buzzing.”
53degreesnorse.co.uk // @53degreesnorse