A man in a chef's uniform and apron smiling in a kitchen setting with a window and decorative lamp in the background.

Chris Hanson

Chef and entrepreneur Chris Hanson grew up in High Green, leaving Ecclesfield school to train as chef at Barnsley College. Alongside his culinary training, Chris also spent over six years in the kitchens at Whitley Hall Hotel, Grenoside working his way up from commis to running the fish section as a chef de-partie.

Since those early years, Chris has spent his career working in a number of leading independent hotels and restaurants around the region and in more recent years has established two hospitality social enterprises (Chef’s Counter and Not Just Pink Custard) where Chris and his team pass on their skills and expertise to people wanting to work in the hospitality sector but facing barriers to employment (homelessness, mental/physical health conditions, SEN, etc).

This brings Chris to today, running Merchants House with all his years of experience to back it.

Our Team

Run by a small group of Sheffield hospitality professionals, Merchants House combines years of experience in bars, events, and food culture. Our team is passionate about good food, sustainability, fantastic customer service and building a community.

Four people, three men and one woman, standing outside a restaurant. The men are wearing aprons, and the woman is dressed in a purple dirndl. All are smiling, with the man on the right giving a thumbs-up.

Community &

Local Roots

Nestled in the industrial quarter of Sheffield, we are close to the City Centre, but also part of a wider community that continues further into Neepsend and Kelham Island, the heart of Sheffield’s independent food and drink scene. We are proud to contribute with a space that celebrates connection: colleagues gathering for meetings, celebrating love and milestones, and friends enjoying a chilled night out together.

Group of people sitting at a dining table, smiling, talking, and using their phones, with some glasses and plates on the table. Two women are prominently visible, one laughing and one looking down at her phone. The background shows windows with colorful neon signs and brick walls.