Another couple of new real ale venues opened at the beginning of September on the fringes of the City Centre.
Perch is the tap room bar located at Dead Parrot Brewery on Garden Street. On the opening night there were four cask beers brewed on site available on the bar on handpump alongside some more mainstream brands on keg plus a fridge with a varied range of cans and bottles from around the UK and beyond. The venue also has a courtyard area at the back by the brewery available for outdoor drinking which in the future will be hosting various events.
A number of works in progress were evident with a canopy due to be built soon to cover the outdoor seating from the elements and also the introduction of a pizza menu – on opening night various tests from the pizza oven were shared around to gauge reaction ahead of the launch of the bar’s food service. There isn’t (at the time of writing) prominent signage, just a birdcage over the door and strings of fairy lights, however once you’ve found your way in a very pleasant, smart bar awaits!
The other new opening is The Social on Snig Hill. This is located within a small art gallery that sits in two adjoining former shop units run by not for profit company Yes2Ventures, an organisation that is all about training people to get into work who have potential but face disadvantages getting jobs.
The Social has four regularly changing cask beers and a cider on handpump plus a couple of craft beers on keg alongside the usual range of other pub drinks offered in a civilised, friendly atmosphere! Bar snacks are available, often alongside the usual crisps are canapes prepared by the trainee chef in the kitchen downstairs. The Social is open from 3pm-9pm Wednesday and Thursday; 12pm-9pm Friday and Saturday and is conveniently situated to be somewhere nice to meet before walking down to Kelham Island or up into the City Centre.
I visited Perch just after it opened and found it quirky and friendly and likely to attract a good range of folk. The pizza is really good, their own beer very drinkable, and we might get the best quality Stella Artois in the country in due course !