Pub news… Inn Brief

Another Sheffield micropub is on the way with work now started fitting out a shop unit on Glossop Road in Broomhill that was previously occupied by a gift shop called Knowle’s Emporium and soon to be known as Itchy Pig Ale House. The Noah’s Ark in Crookes now once again sells real ale. A minor refit including adjustments to the bar set up has taken place at the Banner Cross. Stocksbridge Rugby Club held their first beer festival on the 18th June. The Wellington at Shalesmoor tram stop has now been sold to James Birkett’s Sheaf Inns putting it in the great company of the Sheaf View (Heeley) and Blake Hotel (Walkley). At the time of going to press it is expected the pub will be closed for about 6 weeks for ‘a bit of a tidy up’ before reopening under the new management. Planning permission has been refused by North East Derbyshire District Council to demolish The Hearty Oak at Dronfield Woodhouse and build 8 houses on the site on the basis that the council considers that many houses on the site is unacceptable. There is an assumption locally that a revised application for 6 houses will now be submitted. Chef Cary Brown has moved on from the Royal Oak at Millthorpe and is now running the Devonshire Arms at Middle Handley. Former Sheffield Star food reviewer Martin Dawes, who is now retired but still writes a blog, visited and Cary explained to him “the Concept is simple, It’s a pub. It’s a bit posh but it’s not a gastro-pub. It serves proper food. Don’t panic you might get swirls or flecks or foams. You won’t. It tastes good. No pressure if you don’t want to eat but that bloke at the bar just came in for a pint and weakened at the thought of a lobster roll. You pay for your food and drink when you order and don’t ask for a tab. In the past it was a pub with a restaurant. We want to get it back to being a pub again with drinkers in. Nice drinkers – imagine that, people drinking in a pub! –eating pork scratchings.”