Arctic Monkeys’ Matt Helders to open Sheffield bar

Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders has partnered with Sheffield bar operator The Rockingham Group to open two new venues in the English city.

Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders will open Ambulo with James Hill and James O’Hara

Ambulo will open in early 2019 and is a collaboration between Helders and The Rockingham Group’s James O’Hara and James Hill.

The new venture will take over two sites in the city, the Millennium Gallery and Weston Park Museum. Ambulo will open at the Millennium Gallery in early 2019 before launching at the second site shortly after.

Once open, the new venue will offer signature cocktails, all-day dining and speciality coffee.

Helders said: “Me and James (O’Hara) have been friends for a long time and we’ve been chatting about opening a restaurant for years.

“With my ‘day job’ I’ve been lucky enough to travel all over the world, it’s great to bring some of what I’ve seen and experienced back to Sheffield.

“I can’t wait to have a place where all our friends, family and the people of the city can eat, drink and hang out.”

Ambulo will open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, and will serve a menu developed by head chef Tom Aronica. In the evening, the Millennium Gallery site will transition into an evening restaurant with a seasonal menu and drinks selection taking in wine, beer and cocktails.

O’Hara said: “Ambulo is something that we’ve been working on behind the scenes for a good few years, just waiting for the right opportunity to present itself and we’re so happy to be able to do this by teaming up with Museums Sheffield. To be able to call Millennium Gallery and Weston Park Museum our new homes is very exciting.”

The Rockingham Group operates three venues in the city, including Picture House Social, which recently launched a cocktail menu that doubled as a map of the city, and Public, which featured in our list of the European bars to watch in 2019.