Entertainment in Rotherham

Founded in 1925 when Rotherham Town and Rotherham County merged, Rotherham United have been a mainstay in the professional leagues ever since. They have been labelled a yo-yo club in recent years due to successive promotions and relegations that has seen them fluctuate between the second and third tiers of English football. Rotherham United have won several League titles during their history and have twice reached the FA Cup Fifth Round. The club moved to their new 12,000-capacity New York stadium on the western banks of the River Don in 2012, a short drive from our Rotherham hotel. The enclosed, all-seater stadium has a range of food and drink options on-site and, thanks to its town-centre location, has excellent transport connections and plenty of pay-and-display car parking options nearby.

If you prefer your sporting action with an oval ball, head over to the Rotherham Titans, a professional rugby union team who play in the third division of the English league system. The team entered the rugby league in the late 80s and even reached the first division in the early 2000s, before struggling and dropping down the leagues. The club have a reputation as a breeding ground for young talent having been home to several international players including David Strettle, Henry Paul and Sean Lamont. Home games are played at the 2,500-capacity Clifton Lane ground on the eastern edge of Rotherham.

Rotherham Civic Theatre is the leading arts and culture space in town. A converted church which reopened as a theatre in 1960, it hosts a wide range of events including professional and amateur productions, musicals, comedy, pantomime and live music. A small but dedicated theatre that’s welcomed over four million guests over the decades, household names like Midge Ure, Brian Blessed and Joe Pasquale have taken to the stage and the theatre still has a regular output with around ten events each month. Civic Theatre is located in the centre of Rotherham just opposite the Clifton Park and Museum and just a five-minute drive or taxi ride from our Rotherham hotel. There are plenty of nearby options for pre-theatre dinner and drinks, but the best value can be found at The Wharncliffe thanks to a partnership with the Rotherham College’s training restaurant.

If alternative music including punk, rock and metal is your thing, SNAFU is the place for you in Rotherham. Open Friday and Saturday night across two rooms, the local institution is a big supporter of guitar bands, featuring a host of up-and-coming talent, tribute acts and DJ nights celebrating big riffs. Open until 2am each weekend, it’s been the leading alternative hub in town for over 15 years and is located on Westgate near the River Don, close to several other bars and clubs.

The other leading live music venue in Rotherham is The Trades, a 450-capacity venue open nightly on the western side of the River Don near Bridge Street. As well as booking established acts, they put on regular tribute bands and host themed musical nights, family events, acoustic jams, quiz nights and more.