It may seem an age ago now, but we entered the year 2022 with the government’s “Plan B” in force for Covid with a requirement to wear face coverings in shops and to show a Covid pass proving we were clean in order to gain admission to pubs and clubs that opened late night! We were also still being asked to work from home where possible.
Most of the restrictions were lifted on 27 January, although advice to wear face coverings voluntarily in crowded areas and on public transport continued for a while after, as did a requirement to isolate if testing positive for Covid. A programme of vaccinations also continued for all.
The rest of 2022 was, in theory, a return to normal. By summer there were no restrictions or requirements in England. However we have seen some culture change as people have got quite used to working from home, ordering shopping online for home delivery and having friends round to socialise… perhaps enjoying a monthly subscription box from a local brewery together!
There has also been an ongoing issue with public transport due to staff shortages affecting the wider transport industry across the country for a number of reasons. On the more positive front however is a maximum single fare of £2 on the buses and trams until the end of March. There are some bargains to be had here – trips as far as Barnsley, Doncaster, Mansfield, Matlock, Bakewell, Buxton and Castleton can be done for just £4 return!
All these things seem to have impacted pub-going; the after work pint is much less of a thing and people aren’t venturing out far midweek but may be making the effort more at the weekend.
Later on in 2022 we started to see new problems, primarily surrounding inflation with rocketing costs of energy, fuel, food and drink and everything else impact brewers, publicans and of course consumers and towards the end of the year we started to hear of breweries around the country calling it a day. This is something we shall sadly see more of in 2023 I think. October 2022 also saw cuts to bus services, particularly in the evenings, with operators grappling with a combination of driver shortages, increased operating costs and phasing out of government Covid recovery funding, as well as changes to demand after Covid.
Not all has been bad of course – pubs being able to operate as normal has been great for their business, for people who like to socialise drinking in them and of course the breweries that supply them. We’ve also seen new venues open and events taking place again including our own Steel City festival. We’ve seen a wonderful atmosphere in the city when events such as the Women’s Football World Cup was hosted and of course Tramlines festival and the fringe brought the usual party to the city.
The Devonshire Cat pub had closed in the first lockdown in 2020, the premised reopened in a new guise in July 2022 as Indie-go Resurrection, an indie music bar. This is much less beer focused than the Dev Cat was, however there are usually a couple of handpumps on, featuring beer from Bradfield Brewery. Bar Stewards closed down in 2022 but very quickly reopened as the West Bar Tap.
Happy’s Bar opened in Neepsend just in time for Christmas with two cask ales on the bar from Abbeydale and Vocation.
2022 also saw the passing of characters from the pub scene including Wendy Woodhouse and, more recently, Adrian Keogh.
On the brewery front, we lost Kelham Island Brewery, although a consortium has since bought the brand and Pale Rider is once again available albeit brewed at Thornbridge. Sheffield Brewery Company continues to suspend production, although their brewery bar is now leased out to an independent operator and opens daily as a normal pub called Alder. Two new breweries, brewSocial and HQ Brew, also launched.
Over in Rotherham, Chantry Brewery were finally able to open their new tap bar in the brewery which also operates as a live music venue. The bar is open Friday and Saturday evenings, with the bar open to the public if there is no gig. The brewery is a short walk from Parkgate Tram Train terminus. Elsewhere Fuggle Bunny continued their regular Friday tap sessions and Intrepid hosted the occasional open day.
There is already plenty to look forward to in 2023. January sees Shakespeares‘ regular beer festival with some rather out-there brews. February sees Chesterfield CAMRA’s beer festival return to the Winding Wheel Theatre and the Rotherham Real Ale & Music Festival at Magna. March brings the return of Indie Beer Feast to Trafalgar Warehouse in Sheffield City Centre followed by Sheffield Beer Week across many venues. In April we are hosting CAMRA’s National Members’ Weekend, AGM & Conference at the University of Sheffield’s Octagon Centre. As usual, Easter also gives us the first of the regular programme of bank holiday beer festivals at the Old Hall Hotel at Hope.
Notable upcoming events on the Sheffield beer pub scene include Tom & Barbara’s retirement from Fagan’s, Jon & Mandy departure from the White Lion in Heeley, and Connor celebrating ten years running the Dog & Partridge.
Keep an eye on our website for listings of beer festivals, branch socials, award presentations and more – lets all get out there an enjoy beer and pubs as much as we can in 2023!