First launched in 1994, the Saturday student club night, known for its nostalgic hits and themed events, celebrates its 30th birthday this year.
Held in The Foundry at the Students’ Union, Pop Tarts is the longest-running club event in Sheffield. On October 5th, it hosted a birthday party-themed night.
Lucy Hall, the events coordinator, told Forge Press, “it’s going to be a year of birthday celebrations, and we have some exciting plans for next year.”
On the night, they offered birthday cake and party hats in a third room opened for the occasion, alongside their two other rooms: room 1 for its beloved pop tunes and room 2 playing a mix of soul and funk.
“It’s the best club night Sheffield has to offer,” said Nathaniel Hunter, a Pop Tarts superfan. “I only missed four last year, and none this year. I’m probably the first one to buy a ticket when they’re released.”
The night dedicates itself to non-stop retro pop and has been a favourite for generations of Sheffield students. Its themed nights often follow trends or mark holidays and events. Recently, they hosted a ‘Brat’ edition after the popular album release by Charli XCX.
Zoe Denston, 49, attended some of the very first Pop Tarts events before it even got its name. She said, “We were talking about Pop Tarts at Meadowhall after overhearing someone mention it. I can’t believe it’s still going strong! I loved the dress-up nights—toga night was always a favourite with my bed sheet!”
Helen Worsley, who attended the University between 1993 and 1996, has memories of a notorious bar crawl, which she chose to end in the Saturday Night Club .
She said: “even people that weren’t at Sheffield had heard of Pyjama jump, there was The Leadmill, but we always ended up in The Union Club. We loved it.”
Image credits: Pop Tarts Facebook and Instagram pages
