Following the retirement of Tom & Barbara from running Fagan’s pub, a new consortium have taken on the lease (the pub is owned by Heineken’s Star Pub Company). They have revealed their plans in Exposed magazine with the main changes being the end of the hot food service, new opening hours (no longer open in the daytime on weekdays but open until 1:30am at the weekend), a bit of decorating and the introduction of a card payment machine! The consortium is made up of the Rockingham Group’s James O’Hara and James Hill (they run Picture House Social, Great Gatsby and Public cocktail bar), Matt Helders, Warp’s Mark Herbert and Niall Shamma, Ian Stayner, David House, Ben Pickup and Tom O’Hara.
Conor threw a party at the Dog & Partridge on 10 February to celebrate running the pub for 10 years – he took it over in 2013. As well as a buffet and birthday cake there were drinks on offer at retro prices including all the cask ales at £3 a pint. There was talk of a 2013 music playlist too but apparently the music that year was terrible! A short speech was made by Conor featuring his best Mrs Doyle impression. for those that are a fan of Father Ted!
The Gardeners Rest is hosting an event with Drone Valley Community Brewery from 2 to 5 March with 8 of their beers on the bar. Paul & Craig from the brewery will be presenting a talk about the brewery on the opening day of the event whilst on the Sunday afternoon there will be live music with Tom Killner.
The Railway at Wadsley Bridge now opens every day. The new opening hours are 17:30-22:30 Monday to Thursday (different hours if Sheffield Wednesday are playing at home), 16:00-23:00 on Fridays, midday to midnight on Saturdays and 14:00-22:00 on Sundays. There is regular live music now too, normally on a Friday night. Additionally sport is shown on the TV screens of this classic multi-roomed pub.
The British Oak at Mosborough, owned by True North Brewery, is expected to close for a couple of weeks in early April for a refurbishment which will include new interior design and changes to the beer garden.
Work has begun to convert a shop unit into a sister venue to Ecclesall Road’s Beer House, which was amongst the first micropubs to open in the city. The new one is to be located on the inbound platform of Hillsborough tram stop.
The Old House on Devonshire Street in Sheffield City Centre has closed as a True North Brewery venue and by the time this issue of Beer Matters is out should have had a refurbishment and reopened as a Vocation Brewery bar.
Various pubs in Dronfield have announced they will be once again teaming up on the first Saturday in June to put on the One Valley Festival. This year that is 3 June.
Heist Brew Co. are celebrating their 6th birthday at their tap room this April with collaboration beers, tap takeovers and more.
A photograph of the huge bottle of Hendersons Relish on an optic behind the bar of the Dorothy Pax recently went viral after Elliot from the Antics Improv comedy troupe did a shot to be convinced it really was Hendos in the bottle. It was installed to provide emergency rations to those living on boats in Victoria Quay who have run short at dinner time!
In related news, the next Antics Improvised comedy show at the Dorothy Pax bar is on 23 March from 7:30pm, no tickets required, just pay what you feel in the collection bucket!
The Woodseats branch of Sports Shack has closed and following a refit will reopen under the same ownership as the Bulldog where the focus is on value for money with a promise to price match the nearby Wetherspoons! The changes probably won’t include the introduction of cask beer at this venue but let us know if they do!
The Graduate in Sheffield City Centre reportedly no longer serves real ale.
The Bull’s Head at Ranmoor has closed pending a new tenant taking it on (it’s a pub company lease). The Plough on Sandygate Road (near the Hallam FC football ground) has been demolished and the land is up for sale. The Rose House at Walkley is closed and boarded up (again this is a pub company lease and awaiting a new tenant to take it on).