Forge Dam Cafe

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Forge Dam Café in Fulwood, on the outskirts of Sheffield, is a great place for a weekend breakfast on any day of the week. Open seven days from 9.30ish – 5ish you can eat your fill of traditional or vegetarian café fare including a full English or vegetarian breakfast, omelettes, hot sandwiches or jacket potatoes. Plenty of tasty cake and locally made ice cream also available.



The café is a Sheffield institution and locals still remember the recent (let's say within the last five years or so) change to include 'posh coffee' on the menu. No traditional milky instant coffee in polystyrene cups anymore but you can still get Horlicks, as well as a proper Yorkshire brew of tea.

It's as rough and ready as a park café ought to be. No scrimping on the portions or the cleanliness but no fuss about your muddy boots either. Local amateur artists show their pictures on the walls and the café supports the Friends of the Porter Valley, a local conservation charity. Dogs are not allowed in the café building itself but there are plenty of seats outside, now with a covered area for shelter in inclement weather.

Forge Dam is a rest stop on the 14 mile Sheffield Round Walk but is probably more commonly frequented by those on a shorter pilgrimage. Local dog-walkers, people whose over-indulgence the night before means they require fresh air and a fry up, and families with children for whom the nearby playground is a major draw. Of course there's also the dam itself for entertainment – ducks and pondweed and the opportunity to launch a model boat if you're that way inclined.



You can park on the road nearby if you need to and there are public toilets in a separate building which provide for necessity but aren't a particular highlight of the visit. They do the job so to speak.

This is an all season café and I'd equally recommend a summer's afternoon enjoying an ice cream outside by the river or a winter one inside on the comfy sofas with a toasted teacake. The outdoor shelter makes the latter an even more attractive proposition when it snows: now there's protection from the 'avalanche on your head' experience I've had when closing the door too sharply behind me when leaving!



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