Looking at Orchard Square today its hard to imagine that this was once Sheffield's flagship shopping centre. That's not to say that there is anything wrong with this place its just that more than two decades on it now looks pretty much like hundreds of other generic indoor shopping centres and if one arrived blindfold it would be difficult to determine immediately in which city, in which part of the world one was. That is unless you just happened to be stood in the open air courtyard under its clock tower.
So having described Orchard Square as nondescript I now retract this statement a little by adding that it has the most amazing clock tower as it focal point. The clock stands in the middle of its paved courtyard and every half hour when it chimes it turns into a mesmerising exhibit for a few brief seconds. As the clock strikes the two swing doors below the clock face open like a gigantic cuckoo-clock and out comes the almost life-size figurines of a man and a woman known affectionately within the city as "Fred and Elsie". Elsie is operating one of those hand operated clothes drying machines known as a mangle, whilst Fred is hammering on a forge. This whole display lasts only about 30 seconds but it never fails to stop everybody in their tracks. I have seen it dozens of time but if I just happen to pass by on the hour or half hour then I still cannot fail to stop and watch.
Orchard square is the most central of Sheffield's shopping centre. It is only relatively small with around 20 different shops and 5 different eateries but its location means that it connects the main pedestrianised areas of the city centre with Fargate and other popular areas. It was officially opened in 1987 by the late Emelyn Hughes and takes its name from Orchard Lane, which runs along the rear of the complex and The Orchard public house, a well known pub that now lies within the complex, but has been strangely renamed The Hogshead.
The shops that can be found within the complex include a large record store that was originally Virgin, currently Zavvi but who knows what it will be in the months to come. There are also herbalists, various small boutiques, and a large Waterstones book shop but it is a TK Max store that dominates the complex. Covering an area of area 15,000 square feet of retail place across two floors this is the chain stores only branch in Sheffield.
Orchard Square is fully accessible by disabled visitors and there are toilet facilities with baby change units. Many of the shops have two levels, with a lower floor underground but all have escalators and lifts for wheelchair users and pushchairs. It is open daily from 9am until 5.30pm (Monday to Saturday) and from 11am until 5pm (Sunday).
Orchard Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FB
Tel. 0114 275 999
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