The sun was out, and even at 10:30 it was hovering around 21°. I arrived at The Sheffield Tap with time to spare for a pint before the 11:37 train. The selection as ever was good, so I went for a new one to me Pentrich’s – Hollywood Forever, a nice APA of 4.5% to start the day. Nearing 11:25, I made my way to the departure board, and found it not working. On speaking to a member of staff, I found it was Platform 2.
Awaiting to board, I thought this may be a solo reconnaissance trip, but with 5 minutes to spare Graham and Paul turned up to join me. The 30 minute journey on a relatively quiet train passed quickly, and before we knew it we were alighting at Worksop. Through the main doors we went to pop in for a drink at The Mallard. This is a fantastic little bar has a legendary status with 4 cask ales from varying regions. My tipple of choice was Welbeck’s – Elder Maria, a pale of only 3.9% but packed with flavour, there was also Badger and The Great Divide on the bar. Graham and Paul opted for the darker bitter on offer.
A short hop through the car park and we were at the Station Hotel, a nice decorated pub with 2 wickets. One being Glamorgan’s Ffresh EPA, a beer I had never seen before, but throughly enjoyed in the nice beer garden outside. A short walk downhill saw us enter town and the very strangely named Wetherspoons – The Liquorice Gardens. The choice was the usual 4-6 cask, I went for the Titanic -Raspberry Pale, a weighty 4.7%.
On most of our trips, we have a little issue with Google Maps. This time is was finding the Millhouse. The sat nav took us in a circle again, before a lady told us it was way down the road the other way. Some 15 minutes later, we arrived at a smart outside and inside pub with 3 cask. You don’t see Everards much around Sheffield, so I gave the Tiger – Bitter, 4.2% a punt. I’m glad I did, as it was a nice biscuity, malty ale.
Worksop Rugby Club was indicated as being round the corner, and this time the map worked, which was handy as a deluge was threatening. Luckily we missed it both arriving and leaving, thus ensuring dry shirts and shorts for the trip home. This bar advertises 2 changing ales on Worksop’s CAMRA website, but needs changing. We arrived after the walk through a private housing estate, to find no real ale. There was an explanation on enquiring of “We had some yesterday,” but that was of little use for us. Graham and Paul had bottled ale, while I went for a reasonable pint of Belhaven – 80/-, not bad to say it was keg. If visiting, I would give them a ring to check on cask beer availability.
Hunger was creeping in and we’d spotted a chippy on the way, so we popped in. I had a fishcake, and again the contentious issue was that it was really a rissole, but we weren’t in Yorkshire, so I suppose you have to cut them some slack. So food consumed we took the lengthy road back to the station.
A walk to town again, and a slight uphill to the station saw us get a return train fairly promptly. We had intended to hop off at Kiveton Park for the Tap, but we’d had a long day and decided to finish in the Sheffield Tap and in no time we made our farewells.
Despite it only being the 3 of us, we had a nice tour, and a laugh. At least next time, we know the route, and could possibly add one or two more.
