ChatGPT has taken over our lives, but can it plan a decent night out?
Visit the Yellow Arch music studio in Sheffield(Image: Open Heritage Days)
What makes a great Sheffield night out? A proper pie with some Henderson’s Relish. An old-school boozer down in Kelham Island. Having one too many in West Street Live. Who knows? But we thought we’d ask the all-knowing, definitely-never-wrong ChatGPT to see what it suggested to do for the best night out in Sheffield.
For full transparency, this was the prompt I provided ChatGPT: “Can you plan me the best night out in Sheffield?” This was what it came up.
Start with drinks / dinner & a warm-up
Bungalows & Bears
- A cosy but cool bar to begin the night — former fire-station turned pub/bar with live music or DJ sets on many nights.
- Great for easing into the evening with drinks, chatting and maybe a bit of live music without the pressure of full-on clubbing.
If you want something more food + cocktails + atmosphere:
Picture House Social
- This venue offers drinks, pizzas, games (ping-pong, etc.) and a relaxed vibe — a good choice if you don’t want to jump straight into heavy nightlife.
Picture House Social has a dedicated ping pong hall(Image: Tripadvisor)My Thoughts
Bungalows & Bears is a great choice, especially if you want to start your night out in town. A staple of the Sheffield nightlife scene, the bar, which now features augmented reality darts in the back, often has live music, a decent drinks selection, and an all-round decent atmosphere.
This is where the praise for ChatGPT ends, however. While Picture House Social was a lovely venue, and the ideal place to begin a pub crawl into town, it has now closed and has been replaced by Abbeydale Ballroom. I went to the new venue for the first time last weekend. It had a good array of seating, various different rooms, and anywhere that has Asahi on tap is a winner for me. But it’s not called Picture House Social anymore, and you won’t find any ping-pong.
Then — live music or early-night atmosphere
Yellow Arch Studios
A well-regarded spot for live music — ideal for catching something interesting before clubs.
My Thoughts
Not much detail here from ChatGPT, but an excellent choice nonetheless. Yellow Arch Studios is a phenomenal live music venue, and has been central to Sheffield’s rich music history. There are quality artists and bands playing every weekend, and you can rarely go wrong going here.
However, I’m not sure how much travelling AI has done across Sheffield. To go from Bungalows & Bears to Yellow Arch Studios and back into town isn’t perhaps the most sensible route. And the less said about travelling from Picture House Social the better.
Corporation nightclub on Milton Street in Sheffield City Centre(Image: Google images)Finish off with dancing / club vibe
Corporation (Corp)
- Big multi-floor club with a mix of music genres — pop, indie, dance etc. Great for a full-on night out with dancing, drinks and lots of energy.
If you prefer electronic / house / techno:
Tank
Known for house / techno / bass-heavy nights — a go-to if that’s the kind of music you’re after.
My Thoughts
A night out in Corp – every basic Sheffielder has been there. The sticky floors. Falling down the stairs. Blue pints. It is an initiation for every late-teen. And Tank, admittedly not my scene, has been a long-running nightclub in Sheffield for many years. Hugely popular, and a good choice for those into house and techno.
I was, admittedly, a little surprised West Street Live was not included here. However, ChatGPT did pretty well with these suggestions.
Kelham Island TavernAlternative vibes & “chill-to-late” options
If you’re not after heavy clubbing or want a more relaxed but still fun night:
- Mix and match pubs/bars around streets like West Street, Division Street or Kelham Island — each has its own vibe, from student-friendly bars to artsy, independent pubs.
- Or head to a venue like Picture House Social for games/food + drinks rather than dancefloors.
My Thoughts
ChatGPT cannot let the Picture House Social thing go. I’m also not sure I would say West Street or Division Street are “chill” vibes, even if there are some more relaxed pubs and bars on those streets. Kelham Island, however, is a top-drawer night out. Classic boozers, excellent drinks, lovely food, and a great atmosphere. Now that is a Sheffield outing!
Some practical tips for a smooth night out
- Stick around the same areas (city centre + Kelham) so you don’t waste time travelling — many venues will be walkable if you pick a good cluster.
- Keep your ID and a bit of cash/card on you — a fair few places may ask.
- If you’re with friends, mix different vibes: a relaxed start — live music/food — clubbing — that way everyone gets a bit of what they like.
My Thoughts
Certainly, some good tips here from ChatGPT, but it has failed to follow its own rules. Trekking from Picture House Social to Yellow Arch Studios doesn’t really work, does it now?
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