Pub of the Year 2017

Our Pub of the Year competition each year celebrates our area’s best pubs for drinking real ale that embraces CAMRA’s consumer values. The winning pubs are selected in a two stage process. We start with all the pubs that have either won a Pub of the Month award over the last year or are listed in the current Good Beer Guide.

• Membership vote to create a top pubs shortlist
• Judges visit to rank the shortlisted pubs

The judging team is made up of a variety of people, male and female, young and old, each visits every pub individually and scores the pubs against a set criteria

• Quality of real ale, cider and perry
• Style, decor and cleanliness
• Service, welcome and offering
• Community focus and atmosphere
• Alignment with CAMRA principles
• Overall impression

We make two awards, A Sheffield Pub of the Year for the Yorkshire part of our branch area and a District pub of the Year for the Derbyshire part. Each are the entered into the respective county round for judging as an entry in the national competition. OUR TOP PUBS Sheffield winner: Kelham Island Tavern The Kelham Island Tavern came into existence in 2002 when Trevor Wraith bought a closed, boarded up pub, previously known as the White Hart, in a district that was still a declining industrial area and the overspill of the red light district. The area was already on the real ale radar however, with the Fat Cat around the corner and the Cask & Cutler a few minutes walk away. The new Kelham Island Tavern established its lasting venues from the word go – a wide and varied range of real ales (always including a stout or porter, traditional bitter and a mild), real cider, reasonable prices, lined glasses, simple lunchtime food, clean and comfortable surroundings, good staff and a well cared for beer garden. This cosy little pub soon proved popular and an extension was added to the rear adding much needed extra capacity and a disabled toilet, this also helped with putting on regular events including the Monday quiz night and folk music nights. They also hold an annual mid summer solstice beer festival in the garden. A few little touches to maintain standards is a no swearing rule and the exclusion from the bar of big industrial lager brands. The Kelham won CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year award two years in a row – in 2008 and 2009 and has won Sheffield CAMRA’s Pub of the Year every single year from 2004 to present, reflecting that not only have their basic values and standards been maintained religiously but they have subtly developed to ensure they continue to tick boxes – for example the introduction of the new wave of craft beer and third pint measures for stronger beers. The Kelham Island Tavern is at 62 Russel Street, S3 8RW. Nearest bus stop is on the A61 (Allen Street/Ebenezer Street) served by routes 57,61,62,81,82,85,86 or Shalesmoor tram stop is just a few minutes away. Sheffield runner up: Sheaf View (Heeley) The Sheaf View was bought, refurbished, extended and reopened as a freehouse by James Birkett back in 2000 after spending a little time closed and boarded up. It has proved a good and popular local pub ever since. The walls and shelves are adorned with assorted breweriana and provide an ideal background for good drinking and conversation. A wide range of international beers, together with malt whiskies and a real cider complement the eight reasonably priced real ales. Six guest beers (one of which is always from Neepsend Brewery) and an extensive range of bottle Belgium and continental beers. Great value and a warm welcome come as standard. The Sheaf View is at 25 Gleadless Road, S2 3AA. Buses 10,10a,20,24,25,43,43a,44 and X17 stop on London Road a few minutes walk away (outside Ponsfords/railway bridge). rest of the top 20 Sheffield pubs: 3) Gardeners Rest (Neepsend) 4) Blake (Walkley) 5) Shakespeares (Kelham Island) 6) Fat Cat (Kelham Island) 7) Beer Engine (Cemetery Road) 8) Rising Sun (Nether Green) 9) Red Deer (City Centre) 10) Sheffield Tap (City Centre) 11) Bath Hotel (City Centre) 12) Harlequin (Nursery Street) 13) Brothers Arms (Heeley) 14) Nags Head (Loxley) 15) Three Tuns (City Centre) 16) Beer House (Hunters Bar) 17) White Lion (Heeley) 18) New Barrack Tavern (Hillsborough) 19) Hillsborough Hotel (Langsett Road) 20) University Arms (City Centre) Derbyshire Winner: Anglers Rest (Bamford) rest of the top 5 Derbyshire pubs: 2) Red Lion (Litton) 3) Three Stags Head (Wardlow Mires) 4) Cheshire Cheese (Hope) 5) Grouse (Longshaw)