SheffieldSheffield Facilities

EXPLORE

WATERBEAR SHEFFIELD FACILITIES

The Sheffield campus located within the city centre close, allowing artists and musicians to embed themselves within the local music scene, creating maximum exposure and networking opportunities.

SHEFFIELD CAMPUS AND FACILITIES

Sheffield HQ is located in Eyre Lane, right in the heart of the city, all within easy reach of our partner venues and studios.

WaterBear Sheffield HQ

Located right in the heart of the Cultural Industries Quarter, our Sheffield HQ stands on the old site of the famous Sheffield superclub, Gatecrasher. The building currently holds Mac suites, teaching spaces, live performance room, recording suite, and mentoring rooms. Sheffield HQ will be expanding from September 2025 to hold brand new common spaces alongside networking and collaboration rooms. A place to meet and relax is fundamental to every uni campus, and we want our students to feel comfortable and welcomed. Our common rooms are there for you to meet, hang, collaborate, network, and share ideas. And get a great coffee too.

Recording and Rehearsing

In Sheffield, you’ll benefit from free, bookable access to recording and rehearsal facilities, as well as access to different Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) such as Pro Tools, Ableton, and Logic Pro. Whether you want to record and produce music professionally or simply make better demos, knowing how to create great-sounding music is essential. Within our Gatecrasher building, our recording studio is equipped with state-of-the-art recording facilities, including a mixing desk and live room. You’ll also have access to partner studios across the city, including Spring Tank Studios; Tecna Studios, where Self Esteem and Reverend and the Makers have recorded; Hybrid3, with custom-built equipment; and MU Studios, which has worked with Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley. These partnerships give you access to world-class equipment and expertise, as well as local networking and work experience opportunities.

Vintage and modern gear

As a college run by professional musicians, we know everything about equipment and what kind of gear you need access to. Within their own dedicated spaces drummers learn on acoustic kits, guitarists and bassists plug into their own amps, music producers and electronic artists work with the latest tech and equipment. Teaching rooms are fitted out with state-of-the-art digital A/V technology. You’ll also find classic vintage gear alongside modern musical equipment to give you the best of both worlds. You’ll also navigate different Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) such as Pro Tools, Ableton and Logic Pro. All WaterBear students take part in audio production classes to expand their technical knowledge and compositional skills and to investigate different methods of recording.

Live Music Venues

You’ll have regular opportunities to perform live at our fantastic partner venues across Sheffield, with plans in the pipeline for our very own WaterBear run venue, coming soon. Students are encouraged to organise gigs, tours, and events, gaining real experience, building networks, and becoming part of the local music scene. Live performance, along with supporting emerging artists and grassroots venues through our Keeping Music Live campaign, is central to everything we do at WaterBear.

Songwriting and Performance spaces

Our songwriting and performance spaces have been designed as multi-functional, creative spaces tailor-made to support high-quality musical output. Think masterclasses, performance workshops, and loads of specialist activities for songwriters, vocalists, artists, and bands. You’ll be able to showcase your music while building confidence in these supportive, creative environments. The spaces are great for collaboration and impromptu lunchtime live performances.

SPACES FOR LEARNING AND CREATION

From performance rooms, recording studios, Mac suites, instrumental rooms, rehearsal suites, and hangout spaces, we have everything you need.

INSTRUMENTAL ROOMS

LIVE PERFORMANCE

HANG OUT SPACES

MAC SUITES

REHEARSAL SPACES

RECORDING STUDIOS

PARTNER VENUES AND STUDIOS

In addition to the HQ, you’ll regularly work in other professional music venues, studios and spaces across the city. This is a great way to grow your network and work with people who are known and busy in the local scene.

CORPORATION

The Corporation, or ‘Corp’ as it is known by locals, is a thriving independent live music venue and alternative music nightclub in Sheffield. It has hosted over 29,000 artists and bands, such as Slash, Bring Me The Horizon, and Black Midi, since opening in 1997. Just an eight-minute walk from the WaterBear HQ, the Corp is perfect for student classes, gigs, and events.

CORPORATION

MU STUDIOS

MU Studios, located in Nether Edge, is Sheffield’s premier recording, mixing, and mastering studio, providing bands, artists, and songwriters with the perfect environment to create their best-sounding music. Many renowned bands and artists from Sheffield and beyond have recorded there, including Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley, who described it as “a lovely place to record… massive vibe.” The studio will also be available for use by our MA students in Sheffield.

MU STUDIOS

HYBRID3

Launched in 2015, Hybrid3 is a leading recording and rehearsal studio dedicated to championing creative talent in the community. Situated in Sheffield, this custom-built space is meticulously designed with sound at its heart, offering top-quality facilities for musicians, engineers, and audio creatives. Hybrid3 is committed to delivering exceptional audio experiences, whether for practice, performance, or production.

HYBRID3

TECNA STUDIOS

Tecna Studios is located just over a mile out of Sheffield city centre in a former Victorian industrial workshop. Owned and operated by producer/mix engineer David Glover and producer/engineer Mathew Doxey, Tecna has recorded many artists including Self Esteem, Charles Watson, Reverend and the Makers, and Katie Harkin. The studio is equipped with state-of-the-art analogue and digital recording equipment, a huge range of vintage and modern backline equipment and a fantastic sounding live room.

TECNA STUDIOS

SPRING TANK STUDIOS

Spring Tank Studios is a community-based music space in Sheffield within a short walk of WaterBear HQ, consisting of recording studios, music production spaces, rehearsal rooms, and DJ practice rooms.

SPRING TANK STUDIOS

Please note: The use of outside venues is subject to change. We choose venues based on the positive impact we believe they will have on student experience and review the facilities we use on a regular basis, taking into account student feedback. If working with a particular venue is important to you, please contact the Programme Manager to discuss.