I grew up in Pitsmoor, Sheffield which was often viewed as one of the “roughest areas” of the city, synonymous with crime. Our area's redeeming feature to outsiders was the famous The Kashmir Curry Centre on Spital Hill. There were a number of cafes too serving up a wide range of multicultural cuisine. Sadly it was hard to attract trade from outside the area, because we were wrongly known as a ‘no-go area.
Over the years I still can’t believe that my route from where I was born into the city centre is now seen as trendy with people desperate to acquire a residential property in nearby Neepsend. Sheffield's thriving food scene has now spread from Kelham Island on this side of the city - as well as from London Road and Ecclesall Road on the other side of the city - into the city centre which also boasts Sheffield’s annual festival of food and drink.