Proof (Formerly Novel)

Address: 221 School Rd, Sheffield S10 1GN 

Opening Hours: 12pm - 10.30pm Friday/Saturday

Instagram: @proofsheffield

After the tragic closure of Novel early this year, we three English Literature grads were absolutely delighted that the business was opening back up again-- with a slight rebrand. Rather than a day time coffee shop, Proof boasts late evening opening hours and a range of beers, wines, and IPAs (as well as being open in the day on Friday/Saturday for coffee, too!) Paired with an excellently cultivated selection of fiction and non-fiction titles, it’s a great spot to peruse books and relax with friends. 

Poppy:

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Product: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love this place! I’m so glad it opened back up again after an extended closure. I think the range of books on offer are always so excellent (and I’m pretty much guaranteed to buy one every time I’m in). Even though glasses of wine only come in a small size, there’s a really fun selection of them available, including specials so you can explore something a little different. I also love how busy it has been over the last few weeks. It lends a real sense of community to this little pocket of Crookes, one that helps give the area more of that true Sheffield warmth. 

Georgia:

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Product: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

So glad to see Proof back up and running – the book bar concept is so unique to Sheffield and such a dream for pretentious English students. The store itself is super cute and cozy, although I wish they’d utilise the upstairs space to create more seating as it gets very crowded during the limited opening hours. However, the staff and owners remain extremely friendly even at its busiest times, and they’ve always got a second to say hello or ask you about your day. The wine they have on offer is excellent. I wish they had a bit more variety in sizing and spritz options, but I understand that they’re just starting out and there may be more choices in future.  

Grace:

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Product: ⭐⭐⭐

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Proof has such high potential as a business model and I am so excited to see what the team does next! As a long-time customer of both Novel and Cloud, and as a Crookes local, I’m confident that this will become a fantastic local bar. Due to its limited opening hours, it can get busy, with guests spilling out onto the street outside, which can get overwhelming, but this is something that I’m sure will lessen over time as the buzz of a new business wears off, as they transition into longer opening hours. The wine selection is, while good quality, limited, and would benefit from offering different options when it comes to the wine itself, but also customisation of glass size, offering ice, and stocking soda/lemonade for a wine spritz would elevate the experience even further (though, that might just be my unrefined palette!) All in all, though, Proof is an affordable and charming small business that I can only imagine will grow.