How an interior designer with no pub experience is taking on a historic Sheffield boozer
- Studio Jim
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
Jim Butterell is revamping it for the community.
When he saw the lease for The Three Tuns become available, he just knew he had to have it.
The interior designer has never run a pub before, though he has spruced up several spaces in his career, and the historic Sheffield boozer felt like the perfect place for him, his husband and team to revitalise.
“When we came here and saw it, it’s such a special place that is tired and needs to be revitalised to get the community back in. So that was the drive, really,” he told YorkshireLive.
“The first day we got the keys was so chaotic. Even figuring out little things like trying to turn the lights on. The next morning, I woke up and was like ‘Oh my God!’ There was lots of excitement, but also like ‘Oh my God! What are we doing? What have I done?”
But Jim said he had the same anxieties about his other business, an interior design agency called Studio Jim, which is now in its third year and has been really successful.
Jim’s passion for the building and history is clear. It is one of the very few remaining flatiron buildings in Sheffield, and the pub itself is thought to be around 400 years old. Some rumours suggest the building was a nun’s wash-house many centuries ago.
“I’m passionate about places and Sheffield,” Jim said. “And seeing something that has so much potential not being reached, it just felt like something was saying ‘to go for it’.” He added: “The pub has struggled coming out of the pandemic, but we are here to bring a refresh”.
In their first few weeks, Jim and the team have been very busy - “the first week was a bit of a blur,” he said. They had a launch party on Friday and a booming pub over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
“We have tried to smarten it up outside a bit, cleaned up all the rubbish, put new hanging baskets and beer benches out, some new signage too, to show the place is open and alive again.”
Jim said he wants the pub to balance between an old-school boozer and an events space: “What I want is for people to sit and dwell and enjoy a nice pint or a bottle of wine for a few hours, some nice background music, some conversation, but then also to host some events and bigger activities.”
The events, Jim said, will include supper clubs, flower arranging events, cheese and wine nights, quizzes, and DJs. “At the core, it’s a traditional pub, and it will always be a traditional pub,” he said. “But we’re overlaying an events venue approach by creating these little pockets of activities that will help bring the pub back to life.”
They have already made some changes to their offering, putting on Farmers Blonde, a famous local ale from Bradfield Brewery, and rotating through several classic cask ales. Jim also said they are keen to offer a unique set of wines and spirits, leaning on organic, vegan and English products.
He also wants to work alongside other classic pubs in the area, such as Fagans, the Grapes and Dog Patridge, and has talked about working with them to put on shared events.
For Jim, though, resprucing the classic building is the main driver. And if this venture is successful, they may not stop at just one pub. “Is there another pub, another venue that is in the same condition that we can hopefully turn around?” he asked.
“My passion is to save places and reinvigorate them. I’ve done that with many places around Sheffield and beyond.” He will now try to recreate the trick, but in a way he’s never done before.