Lance Worthington took over the Portland House on Ecclesall Road from Wellbeck Abbey in 2017. The bar offers two rotating cask options – these have recently included Osset’s ‘Rat’ range, Triple Point and Neepsend. Also on offer are 4 rotating craft keg beers and other beers.
When he took it over Lance put his own stamp on the bar – he turned his design and carpentry skills to the pub’s furniture needs, making the pub’s tables and reupholstering all the seating. Outside he installed a canopy, created windowed screens and attached bench seating to the frontage – all of which all folds up and neatly locks away each night. In late 2025 he went a step further by designing and making what might be Sheffield’s first sofa that transforms into a stage! This is used to host open mic events most Sundays, and other music events which can be found on the bar’s socials.
Lance takes commissions for his furniture and can be contacted through his Instagram account (@lanceworthingtonphotography).
He is also the main organiser of ‘Eccyfest’, the now twice annual event involving a changing cast of Ecclesall Road’s bars. The next of these is 3-5 April 2026 with another planned for the first weekend of October. Details of participating venues can be found on Eccyfest’s Facebook feed as well as the individual bars’ social media pages.
