Venues join festival's summer in the city

More than 50 venues have signed up to this year's scheme, which offers discounts and special events at restaurants, bars, shops, theatres and galleries from June 2 to September 15.

Wednesday Night Live's launch will coincide with the launch of the Sheffield Food Festival in the Peace Gardens next Wednesday, which will include a cookery demonstration from chef and Dragon's Den entrepreneur Levi Roots.

The cook, who is best-known for his Reggae Reggae Sauce, will demonstrate how to cook Caribbean dishes with accompaniment from an acoustic guitarist.

For the first time this year there will also be a Wednesday Night Live card offering a range of discounts. Cards cost 5, with 30 per cent of the proceeds going to Cash for Kids and Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity.

Wednesday Night Live was launched by development agency Creativesheffield in 2008 with the objectives of creating a lively city centre environment and developing the early evening economy.

Brendan Moffett, director of strategic marketing at Creativesheffield, said: "As Sheffield bids to become the first ever UK City of Culture in 2013, Wednesday Night Live aims to bring Sheffield city centre to life throughout the summer months for the benefit of our businesses and for the community to enjoy.

"Wednesday Night Live aims to take the people of Sheffield and visitors on a process of discovery, combining some old favourites with a few surprises along the way.

"The introduction of the card makes for a much more established initiative following on from great success throughout 2008 and 2009."