Whilst there are countless landmarks in the city that make a stay in Sheffield accommodation worthwhile, one of the most fascinating, most popular and most unusual is also one of the youngest.
Located on Norfolk Street, the Crucible Theatre was opened in 1971 and holds the distinction of being the youngest listed building in the city.
Part of this is because of its place in the history of Sheffield theatrical tradition, being the replacement building for the Sheffield Playhouse and renowned for its exceptionally unique atmosphere and versatility for various musical and theatrical productions.
The name itself, named for the steelmaking process innovated in Sheffield by Benjamin Huntsman, represents the legacy of creative innovation that the theatre and the city represent.
However, the other major reason why the Crucible has become such a popular landmark is because it has been the home of the World Snooker Championship for nearly half a century.
First played at the venue in 1977, it has since become so interlinked with the sport that many fans simply say “Crucible” to refer to the World Snooker Championship, and despite the venue holding less than a thousand people after the two snooker tables are set up, Sheffield is awash with activity for the two weeks in spring the tournament takes place.
The venue, and Sheffield as a whole, are so connected to the World Snooker Championships that whenever discussions take place about moving it to a larger venue, the venue’s unique atmosphere, legacy and history have kept the prestigious event in Sheffield, where it will remain until 2027 at least.
It was the location of Cliff Thorburn’s maximum break in 1983, the first to be achieved at a World Championship, as well as the most famous snooker match ever played, the famous “Black Ball final” between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis, watched by 18.5m viewers, a record for a British post-midnight broadcast.
Whilst the youngest listed building in Sheffield, the Crucible has managed to cram a lot of history into just over half a century.
