Thank god for the return of proper investigative journalism to our city. If you doubled the subscription I would still pay. Keep up the good work and all power to you elbow - we really really need you.
Another very interesting read, about another Sheffield project close to my heart. I for one certainly hope that Kommune both survives and then once again thrives.. getting back on track with how it certainly seemed to be fairing in the early days at least. This article doesn't provide much hope though, sadly..
Since the original opening my own visits are what I'd at best describe as "occasional" but whenever I do pop something hasn't' felt *quite* seem right (although I do always enjoy it). Never quite sure or able to put my finger on what's wrong though..
One recent example: Much to my delight I received an email from the National Video Game Museum, announcing a special short-term deal/promo whereby you could pay a set amount (£12 pp or thereabouts I think) - and for that you got 2x hours in the museum (which doesn't sound a lot but is enough, particularly if you've been there before) - and then choose from a set lunch menu too just down the hill @ Kommune.
Great! I attended the museum (again) with my daughter, had a good time - and then popped into Kommune. Oh dear... problem! Of all of the vendors only ONE of them knew *anything* about the recently announced museum ticket and lunch promotion.. and even the one that *did* know of it had to consult a manager (possibly one of the guys mentioned extensively here, not sure..) - who then finally managed to sort something. In short, it felt like a shambles if I'm honest. We did end up getting what was advertising in the end.. but it took a _lot_ of faffing about.. with only the NVGM part seeming to know what was going on!
My final point for now (and in the interests of balance, of sorts) is going to actually apportion some of any "blame" for Kommune's (potential) ultimate failure on our fair City itself: Sheffield.
I cast my mind back to when Kommune first opened - and as others will recall right at the back of the venue was actually a small gallery space (I forget the name of it but it was *very* well conceived and presented, I felt). The kind of place that immediately felt "proper" - and by that I mean "the sort of place that other cities have" (usually in abundance).
At one point they even had a Peter Blake exhibition in there. Yes, *the* Peter "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" Blake! Quite a coup for Sheffield, no question... and yet... I barely saw a soul in there admiring the (FREE) exhibition. I can even remember on their Socials the gallery bemoaning the lack of people viewing the works. That could have seemed unprofessional or "mardy" at the time.. but even then I couldn't help but agree with the sentiment that was along the lines of "FFS, SHEFFIELD! COME ON IN!".
Having read this article I'm now wondering if perhaps the gallery was a sub-venture within a sub-venture by the directors (not sure)? - but regardless of that, it then came as no surprise when the gallery part ceased to be... the most frustrating part (for me) being that it came as no surprise.
Sorry.. rambling on.. but I DO hope Kommune survives, although some changes are clearly needed. Even with a lot of concerning stuff quoted and so on in this article I still get a sense that the (original and overall) intentions of those two directors are sound..
PS. The Kommune App is, without doubt, "Crap" (excuse the jargon).
As I understand it, the project was initially conceived by and was supposed to be run by a really awesome group of local creative businesses and people. Their project got as far as being announced in the government's budget but then the council decided to put running it out to tender, despite all the masses of work put into it by the group. Clearly the council picked the wrong bid.
Great article thanks. I only go there for Hop Hideout as I find the venue very noisy but it's clearly a cool space with great food options. If he really wants it to succeed I hope he does the right thing by the businesses who pay his bills.
BTW Jules from Hop Hideout is a pioneering woman in the Sheffield Beer scene, also organising a great beer festival every year. That's a story for you right there. Or even widen it to the ways in which Sheffield pubs are supporting our community. You're welcome :)
The cult of the individual creates plausible "queen bees". There are plenty of people who overflow with ideas, and have the charisma to persuade others they're great as well. All too often, delivery falls short. If, as claimed, the enterprise only survived because the directors dug deep into their own pockets, it was essentially failing. Likewise, when reasonable questions or comments are met with threats of legal action, this reflects weakness and insecurity, not confidence. One can only hope for improvement.
Excellent journalism 👍 And really well done for picking up on the Steve Pette detail - he did appear to know what he was talking about (I met him one time), then he just disappeared.
Brilliant article, and I’m glad someone has looked into Kommune/Kollider. My previous employer rented an office space in Kollider’s so-called tech hub and it was... a mess.
Most notably, the lift was broken for several months -- I believe around five months in total -- which was a major accessibility issue, especially when Kollider was on the third floor up some very steep steps. Despite that, we received very few updates about efforts to fix the lift, but we did receive *plenty* of promotional emails for Kommune, encouraging us to get lunch deals there.
Staff at Kollider were a mixed bunch, but on a few occasions they took to having very vocal arguments between each other in the open-plan co-working space. At one point, I believe they were without an office manager for about two to three months.
There’s lots more I could say -- some petty, some not -- but overall it’s just a massive shame. The space itself is wonderful and should have been a testament to regeneration and repurposing buildings. Instead it’s been ruined by a few folk with inflated egos.
As usual, it's always a combination of seemingly unrelated stuff that can combine to crash a plane - or Fargate containers or Kommune. We all could learn more from airline safety and how they learnt from each crash, to prevent another one. Good crew communications, up to date training, simulations, monitoring, all seems to be missing from Kollider.
Listen folks: if and when anyone threatens legal action, the answer is always, "Where's your writ? Let's see it, then!" Actually, Victoria has been very clever, telling the story while being careful to allege no more than she can establish. Marvellous.
I found this article a bit of a one sided hatchet job on one man actually. I know Adrian. For a few years he assisted Don Valley Railway, a campaign to open a passenger service on the freight rail line to Stocksbridge - which has recently got the go-ahead, totally free of charge by helping deal with high level meetings and giving us some useful contacts to progress our campaign.
I was not surprised to discover his involvement in Kollider as he’s like me a bit of a social entrepreneur and active citizen batting for Sheffield.
Dealing with public finance can be really hard. I personally welcome efforts of people to get money on projects like this but understand tough decisions have to be made in the process. I am sure Adrian has best of intentions.
Thank god for the return of proper investigative journalism to our city. If you doubled the subscription I would still pay. Keep up the good work and all power to you elbow - we really really need you.
Another very interesting read, about another Sheffield project close to my heart. I for one certainly hope that Kommune both survives and then once again thrives.. getting back on track with how it certainly seemed to be fairing in the early days at least. This article doesn't provide much hope though, sadly..
Since the original opening my own visits are what I'd at best describe as "occasional" but whenever I do pop something hasn't' felt *quite* seem right (although I do always enjoy it). Never quite sure or able to put my finger on what's wrong though..
One recent example: Much to my delight I received an email from the National Video Game Museum, announcing a special short-term deal/promo whereby you could pay a set amount (£12 pp or thereabouts I think) - and for that you got 2x hours in the museum (which doesn't sound a lot but is enough, particularly if you've been there before) - and then choose from a set lunch menu too just down the hill @ Kommune.
Great! I attended the museum (again) with my daughter, had a good time - and then popped into Kommune. Oh dear... problem! Of all of the vendors only ONE of them knew *anything* about the recently announced museum ticket and lunch promotion.. and even the one that *did* know of it had to consult a manager (possibly one of the guys mentioned extensively here, not sure..) - who then finally managed to sort something. In short, it felt like a shambles if I'm honest. We did end up getting what was advertising in the end.. but it took a _lot_ of faffing about.. with only the NVGM part seeming to know what was going on!
My final point for now (and in the interests of balance, of sorts) is going to actually apportion some of any "blame" for Kommune's (potential) ultimate failure on our fair City itself: Sheffield.
I cast my mind back to when Kommune first opened - and as others will recall right at the back of the venue was actually a small gallery space (I forget the name of it but it was *very* well conceived and presented, I felt). The kind of place that immediately felt "proper" - and by that I mean "the sort of place that other cities have" (usually in abundance).
At one point they even had a Peter Blake exhibition in there. Yes, *the* Peter "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" Blake! Quite a coup for Sheffield, no question... and yet... I barely saw a soul in there admiring the (FREE) exhibition. I can even remember on their Socials the gallery bemoaning the lack of people viewing the works. That could have seemed unprofessional or "mardy" at the time.. but even then I couldn't help but agree with the sentiment that was along the lines of "FFS, SHEFFIELD! COME ON IN!".
Having read this article I'm now wondering if perhaps the gallery was a sub-venture within a sub-venture by the directors (not sure)? - but regardless of that, it then came as no surprise when the gallery part ceased to be... the most frustrating part (for me) being that it came as no surprise.
Sorry.. rambling on.. but I DO hope Kommune survives, although some changes are clearly needed. Even with a lot of concerning stuff quoted and so on in this article I still get a sense that the (original and overall) intentions of those two directors are sound..
PS. The Kommune App is, without doubt, "Crap" (excuse the jargon).
Great story!
As I understand it, the project was initially conceived by and was supposed to be run by a really awesome group of local creative businesses and people. Their project got as far as being announced in the government's budget but then the council decided to put running it out to tender, despite all the masses of work put into it by the group. Clearly the council picked the wrong bid.
Great article thanks. I only go there for Hop Hideout as I find the venue very noisy but it's clearly a cool space with great food options. If he really wants it to succeed I hope he does the right thing by the businesses who pay his bills.
BTW Jules from Hop Hideout is a pioneering woman in the Sheffield Beer scene, also organising a great beer festival every year. That's a story for you right there. Or even widen it to the ways in which Sheffield pubs are supporting our community. You're welcome :)
The cult of the individual creates plausible "queen bees". There are plenty of people who overflow with ideas, and have the charisma to persuade others they're great as well. All too often, delivery falls short. If, as claimed, the enterprise only survived because the directors dug deep into their own pockets, it was essentially failing. Likewise, when reasonable questions or comments are met with threats of legal action, this reflects weakness and insecurity, not confidence. One can only hope for improvement.
Excellent journalism 👍 And really well done for picking up on the Steve Pette detail - he did appear to know what he was talking about (I met him one time), then he just disappeared.
Brilliant article, and I’m glad someone has looked into Kommune/Kollider. My previous employer rented an office space in Kollider’s so-called tech hub and it was... a mess.
Most notably, the lift was broken for several months -- I believe around five months in total -- which was a major accessibility issue, especially when Kollider was on the third floor up some very steep steps. Despite that, we received very few updates about efforts to fix the lift, but we did receive *plenty* of promotional emails for Kommune, encouraging us to get lunch deals there.
Staff at Kollider were a mixed bunch, but on a few occasions they took to having very vocal arguments between each other in the open-plan co-working space. At one point, I believe they were without an office manager for about two to three months.
There’s lots more I could say -- some petty, some not -- but overall it’s just a massive shame. The space itself is wonderful and should have been a testament to regeneration and repurposing buildings. Instead it’s been ruined by a few folk with inflated egos.
I finally understand.
Great work Victoria.
As usual, it's always a combination of seemingly unrelated stuff that can combine to crash a plane - or Fargate containers or Kommune. We all could learn more from airline safety and how they learnt from each crash, to prevent another one. Good crew communications, up to date training, simulations, monitoring, all seems to be missing from Kollider.
Brilliant article, well done Victoria 👏👏👏
Listen folks: if and when anyone threatens legal action, the answer is always, "Where's your writ? Let's see it, then!" Actually, Victoria has been very clever, telling the story while being careful to allege no more than she can establish. Marvellous.
Excellent article, just the sort of article which shows what is good about Tribune journalism.
I found this article a bit of a one sided hatchet job on one man actually. I know Adrian. For a few years he assisted Don Valley Railway, a campaign to open a passenger service on the freight rail line to Stocksbridge - which has recently got the go-ahead, totally free of charge by helping deal with high level meetings and giving us some useful contacts to progress our campaign.
I was not surprised to discover his involvement in Kollider as he’s like me a bit of a social entrepreneur and active citizen batting for Sheffield.
Dealing with public finance can be really hard. I personally welcome efforts of people to get money on projects like this but understand tough decisions have to be made in the process. I am sure Adrian has best of intentions.