Most years we make an effort to pick a day we encourage as many CAMRA members as possible to go out to pubs across the city and record what cask ales are on the bar and where possible the prices being charged for them too.
There is a fun element of this data in that we can announce how many different beers are available on one day in Sheffield and declare Sheffield the real ale capital of Britain for it, however on a more serious note it is an opportunity to take the pulse of the beer scene and compare with previous years to see variation in choice, prices etc as well as looking at which brands are most commonly encountered – it is good to see local independent brewers like Abbeydale and Bradfield with a strong brand and widespread availability rather than just big national brands from the likes of Coors, Heineken and Greene King!
Data from previous years surveys fed into a wider piece of work about Sheffield being the real ale capital led by the University of Sheffield with a report written by respected beer writer Pete Brown – you can download a copy from https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/city-region/enhancing-cultural-vibrancy/snapshot-beer-industry-sheffield-city-region.
This year the survey day is Saturday 31 May.
We’ll be running a number of survey crawls on the day you can join us on to make it a social thing – you could join us at your local or alternatively use it as an excuse to visit pubs in a part of the city you wouldn’t normally get to! Alternatively you can use our survey app (online at track.beer/survey) to log details of beers from whichever Sheffield pub you happen to be visiting on the day!
ORGANISED SURVEY CRAWLS (more may be added – please check our website!)
Woodseats & Heeley – led by Malcolm DIxon: Meet at Guzzle Micropub at 12:30 (get there on buses 24, 25, 42, 43, 44, 75, 76, M76 or X17)
Bradway, Totley, Millhouses and Nether Edge – led by Andy Cullen: Meet at the Castle Inn at 12:25 (get there on bus M17)
Beighton, Woodhouse Mill and Handsworth – led by Paul Manning: Meet at the Scarsdale Hundred (Wetherspoons) at 11:00 (get there on bus 7 or 26, alternatively the Blue route tram).
Walkley, Crookes and Commonside – led by Paul Crofts: Meet at the Walkley Cottage Inn at 12:00 (get there on bus 52 or 95).
Fulwood and Broomhill – led by John Beardshaw and Phil Ellett: Meet at the Rising Sun at 12:00 (get there on bus 83 or 120).
Hillsborough, Bradfield, Stannington and Malin Bridge – led by Dave Pickersgill: Meet at the Rawson Spring (Wetherspoons) at 11:30 or on the 61 bus to High Bradfield at 11:55.
Hillsborough area – led by Kevin Thompson: Meet at the Park at 12:00. (Get there by Yellow route tram to the Leppings Lane stop; alternatively by bus 18, 31 or 57)
Kelham Island & Neepsend – led by Dan Rowe: Meet at the Gardeners Rest at 12:00. (Get there on bus 7 or 8).
City Centre: Meet at the Red Deer at 19:00.
BUS TICKETS – A Citybus all day pass offers unlimited travel on any bus in Sheffield for £5.90 or a Citywide also includes the trams for £6.70. Buy from the bus driver or on the Travelmaster app.