Independent venue on Shambles Street brings Grammy-nominated artists, BBC Radio DJs and national soul acts to South Yorkshire — and keeps growing
While Britain is losing almost two pubs a day according to figures released by the British Beer and Pub Association 161 closures in the first three months of 2026 alone, a 26% rise on last year one independent venue in Barnsley town centre is doing things differently.
Soho Social, on Shambles Street, has spent the last twelve months building a live music and soul events programme that has attracted artists of national and international standing to South Yorkshire, grown a loyal and expanding weekly audience, and established itself as what its owner describes as “not just a town centre pub — a destination.”
The numbers back that up. People are travelling from across the north and beyond to attend events at Soho Social. On one recent night, a couple made the journey from Sudbury specifically to attend a DJ session. It is the kind of devotion that most venues twice the size would struggle to generate.
A year of headline acts
In the past twelve months, Soho Social has hosted a programme that has consistently punched above its weight. Highlights include:
Darrell Smith — the BBC Proms Northern Soul star who has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and His Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End — sold out Jaki Graham — one of the UK’s most celebrated soul vocalists Phil Fearon — hitmaker and founder of Galaxy Jeffrey Daniel — the original moonwalker and Soul Train legend Odyssey — the legendary Native New Yorker group, live in Barnsley Shawn Rivera — Grammy-nominated founding member of multi-platinum R&B group Az Yet, who chose Soho Social for his debut UK live appearance. Rivera subsequently reached number one in the Soul Breakers chart and received national airplay on Jazz FM and Mi-Soul Radio Jon Jules — Mi-Soul Radio presenter and one of the UK’s most accomplished DJs since 1982, joined by Ronnie Scott’s resident Mike Vitti John Kane — BBC Radio Sheffield and Leeds DJ and the voice of Northern Soul on the BBC Laura Jane Butler — the world’s number one Amy Winehouse tribute, whose performance was attended by Janis Winehouse herself Keni Stevens Presents Junior Giscombe — Grammy Award winner and the man behind Mama Used to Say — coming in December 2026, with Keni Stevens recently receiving national airplay on Mi-Soul Radio Angelo Starr — brother of the great Edwin Starr and guest vocalist on the Dexter Wansel Eventim Apollo show — coming January 2027 David Largie — UK National Tribute Music Awards winner and the UK’s number one Barry White tribute — coming February 2027 with a full live band New nights, new audiences
Alongside its headline programme, Soho Social has developed a growing calendar of free weekly and monthly events that are building genuine community.
Soul Collective — the free Sunday afternoon session covering Jazz Funk, Disco, Boogie, Northern Soul, Modern Soul and Classic Soul — recorded its best ever attendance in September 2026 and continues to grow week on week. Its Open Deck Half Hour, where members of the public bring their own records to play to the room, has become one of the most talked-about features of the Barnsley music calendar.
Soul Factory — a monthly Northern Soul afternoon launched in July 2026, hosted by resident DJ Dave Kay — has established itself as Barnsley’s home for Northern Soul on the third Thursday of every month.
Beat Club — launching 1st October 2026 — brings the best of the Sixties to Soho Social on the first Thursday of every month, with 45 RPM vinyl DJs playing the records that defined a decade.
The venue has also provided a platform for up-and-coming DJs including Tommy, whose dance music sets have brought a new edge to the Soul Collective programme, and a roster of local soul, funk and dance DJs who might otherwise struggle to find a sympathetic stage.
The bigger picture
David Clayton, owner of Soho Social, said:
“We’re under the same pressures as every other independent venue — rising costs, a difficult trading environment, an industry that is genuinely struggling. But we made a decision early on to invest in quality programming rather than cut back, and the audience has responded to that. When Shawn Rivera chose Soho Social for his debut UK live appearance — and then went to number one in the soul charts the following week — that told us something about what this venue is becoming. We’re not just a pub with music on. We’re somewhere people make a journey to be. The problem is - no one in Barnsley knows about us!”
Soho Social operates across four spaces — the main bar, a rooftop terrace and The Underground and Comedy Shop— and is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the autumn and winter season.
Upcoming ticketed shows include, Keni Stevens Presents Junior Giscombe (5th December), Darrell Smith (19th December), Angelo Starr (16th January 2027) and David Largie’s Barry White tribute (20th February 2027).
Full listings and tickets at soho-social.com/box-office
Source information
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