Pub of the Month December 2013

The Red Deer on Pitt Street, hidden away off West Street is approached via Mappin Street and is one of the gems of the City Centre real ale scene. Dating from the 1870’s, the pub originally comprised three small rooms with a central bar area. This was opened out in the 1980’s and the bar repositioned to provide the present format of an L-shaped lounge. The “gallery”, a raised area at the rear, was added in 1993 and this leads on to a beer garden. Formerly a Tetley pub, for many years in the early days of Sheffield CAMRA, the Red Deer was the regular meeting place for the branch, it being one of the few Sheffield pubs to retain handpumps. Jake Nickles took over the pub in August 2010, having previously worked in pubs and bars in London and the Midlands. By focusing on good customer service and increasing the choice of real ales he quickly re-established the pubs reputation as a quality showcase for cask beer. The bar displays an impressive range of handpumps, serving up to nine beers, including regularly changing guest beers. A good selection of malt whiskies are also available. Quality “pub grub” is available 12-3pm and 5-9pm weekdays and 12-9pm Saturday/Sunday. Tuesday evenings there is a fairly challenging pub quiz, there’s an acoustic session on the first Thursday of the month and open mike on the third Thursday. A popular movie night is held in the upstairs function room on the second and fourth Sunday, alternating between sci-fi and arts films. The well-deserved Pub of the Month award will be presented on the evening of Tuesday 10th December 2013, when all are welcome to join us. An incentive for CAMRA members is a 5% discount on real ales, on production of a current membership card.