Author: Andy Cullen

Andy has been actively involved in CAMRA since the early 2000s after being recruited to sit on a National Younger Members Task Group. Since then he has held roles on the branch committee including Secretary, Membership Secretary, Magazine Editor, Chair and now Social Secretary. Andy has also been involved with the Steel City Beer & Cider Festival almost every year since becoming active in the branch.

CAMRA Branch Magazine of the Year

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Your Beer Matters magazine has won an award, this year we are officially the best!

As none of us from Sheffield & District could make the national Members’ Weekend in St Albans, our regional Director Kevin Keaveney picked up the award and presented it to editor Andy Cullen at our branch AGM.

Thanks go to all those that contribute towards what makes Beer Matters possible – Robin who does the design, all the advertisers that help cover the costs, all of you that contribute news and articles, the volunteers that distribute copies to pubs and the Dog & Partridge pub for providing a base for the printers to deliver to and for distributors to collect from!

[And of course thanks and congratulations to our editor Andy, who has now compiled the magzine for over 200 issues!]

Inn Brief

Posted on by Andy Cullen

The Tram Stop micropub, to be located at the outbound Hillsborough Park tram stop, now has planning permission and a premises licence. This project will see the Pro Property shop converted into a bar. It is expected to open mid July, in time for Tramlines festival.

The Pig & Whistle micropub at Gleadless Townend has expanded its repertoire further and is now opening from 9am every day of the week serving coffee and cake. Drinks from the bar are available from 11am and coffee service ends at 4pm, with the bar remaining open until 10pm (11pm Friday and Saturday). A range of craft beers is available across cask, keg and can. A programme of events is also advertised including live entertainment and pop up food traders – check their social media accounts for details.

Samuel Smiths Brewery have made their recruitment efforts to get live in management couples to reopen some of their pubs not currently trading a bit more prominent with blue banners on the front of the pubs, including the Old Mother Redcap in Bradway, which has been closed for nearly a decade now.

Meanwhile elsewhere Samuel Smith are selling some of their pubs off, which is something we’ve not seen in a long time, this includes the Travellers Rest in Oughtibridge.

Not to forget of course we do still have some that are open and successful such as the Brown Bear in Sheffield City Centre!

The Royal Hotel in Woodhouse closed on 10 May for a refurbishment and is expected to reopen mid June. The pub is leased from Heineken’s Star Pub Company and the new look will feature sports on TV and a games room with more community events also planned.

The Beer House S6 in Hillsborough, located on the inbound tram platform, held their third birthday party on 24 May.

The beer festival held at the Old Nag’s Head in Edale was deemed a huge success and they plan to repeat it next year over the weekend of 23 to 25 April.

The refurbishment work at the Mount Pleasant Inn at Norton Lees took a little longer than expected but the pub finally reopened on 11 May.

There was a leaving do at the Millhouses on 24 April with the management of the last seven years moving on. The pub is leased from Stonegate Pub Company.

The management of the Anvil at Stannington are moving on after less than two years and the lease is available again. It is owned by Stonegate Pub Company.

The former Southpaw boxing gym at Shalesmoor is to be converted into a retro video games arcade bar. It will be run by the same people as Retrodome in Barnsley and will charge an entry fee, once in all the games will be free to play.

The Norfolk Arms in Grenoside, which has been closed for 6 years, has building work well underway with a new extension and other alterations along with smartening up the existing exterior.

The Devonshire Arms in Dore and the Castle Inn at Bradway are hoping to go free of tie on their cask lines soon (the pubs are leased from Stonegate Pub Company) which will allow them to order direct from local breweries and offer more variety in their guest ale rotation – watch this space! Both pubs currently have a regular quiz night and occasional live music. The Castle Inn also does food.

Eyam Brewery Tap & Shop in Tideswell has now been granted its premises licence and continues to open every weekend with the bar offering a range of their cask and keg beers to drink in plus a shop selling their cans and bottles along with merch such as t-shirts and hoodies. Currently most Saturdays sees a street food trader pitching up outside, however longer term they intend to build an open kitchen in the tap room to offer their own food.

The Olde Bowling Green Inn in Bradwell will be closing for a bar refurbishment on Sunday 31 May with a party on the Saturday night, 30 May, from 8pm with DJ Euan Halbert. While the pub is closed the landlord and landlady are getting married and reopening the pub as a husband and wife team at 4pm on Friday 12 June.

There has been a management change at the Woodroffe Arms in Hope. The pub is owned by Greene King brewery but leased to independent local operators. The pub is now another one run by Atlantik Inns, who already have the Old Hall Hotel across the road. The Woodroffe is a community local with sport on TV, cask ales and an outdoor drinking area. It also offers accommodation. The food offering here will deliberately be different to the Old Hall with pizzas and bar snacks available.

Pubs by open top bus

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Stagecoach’s Peak Sightseer open top bus tour launches its 2026 season on 23 May with buses running hourly on two routes from Chatsworth House. The Blue route runs to Mam Tor, Blue John Cavern, via Baslow, Calver, Grindleford, Longshaw, Hathersage, Hope and Castleton. The Red route runs on a circular route via Bakewell and Ashford In the Water. Tours operate from 10am to 6pm daily until 19 September (then Saturdays only to 10 October) and there is also a South Sheffield feeder bus at the start and end of the day offering pick ups and drop offs at Meadowhead, Woodseats, Millhouses and Totley.

The tour ticket allows you to hop on and off as much as you like and includes both open top tour routes, the feeder service and also various local Stagecoach buses including service 65 (Sheffield-Buxton via Calver) and 170 (Chesterfield to Bakewell via Baslow).

There are a number of pubs along the route and it can be a great day out doing the sightseeing in the morning then a few pubs in the afternoon.There are some absolutely epic landscapes to see from the top deck!

Peak Sightseer ticket prices (normal bus tickets/fares do not apply): adult £14, concessions £9.50, children £8.50, family £38, group of 5 adults £60. Tickets are available from the bus driver or on the Stagecoach app.

There are discounts for ticket holders at the following pubs: Bank House (Hathersage), Little John (Hathersage), Old Hall Hotel (Hope) and Peak Hotel (Castleton). The Hathersage venues offer the discounts weekdays only 10am to 5pm.

There is also a network of local buses in the area that run all year around. They charge single fares at £3 per ride or an all day Derbyshire Wayfarer pass is available – £9 bus only or £17 bus and train. Wayfarer ticket holders can buy the Peak Sightseer ticket at the concession price. Wayfarer tickets are available on the Travelmaster app as well as from the bus driver.

  • 62 (High Peak) Castleton to Buxton: via Hope, Edale and Chapel en le Frith.
  • 65 (Stagecoach) Sheffield to Buxton: via Grindleford, Calver, Stoney Middleton, Eyam, Foolow, Great Hucklow, Tideswell, Litton and Millers Dale
  • 170 (Stagecoach) Chesterfield to Bakewell: via Baslow and Chatsworth
  • 173 (Andrew’s) Bakewell to Castleton: via Great Longstone, Monsal Head, Wardlow, Litton, Tideswell, Great Hucklow, Bradwell and Hope.
  • 218 (TM Travel) Sheffield to Bakewell: via Owler Bar, Baslow and Chatsworth
  • 257 (Andrew’s) Sheffield to Bakewell: via Yorkshire Bridge, Bamford, Hathersage, Grindleford, Calver, Stoney Middleton, Eyam and Baslow
  • 272 (First bus and High Peak) Sheffield to Castleton: via Fox House, Hathersage and Hope.
  • Transpeak (High Peak) Derby to Buxton: via Matlock, Bakewell and Ashford in the Water.

More information on the Peak Sightseer can be found online at stagecoachbus.com with details of other bus services at travelderbyshire.co.uk. Also do check out our map over the page.

For this feature we will take a look at the pubs along the Blue Sightseer route that are in the CAMRA Sheffield & District branch area – Calver Sough to Castleton.

Bridge Inn, Calver

A central bar divides this traditional two roomed pub with a beer garden backing onto the river Derwent. Three cask ales offered

Calver Arms, Calver

A Sports Bar & Pub Kitchen. The dining area and bar feature exposed beams, flag stone flooring and roaring fires (in winter). Wide ranging food menu. Carvery on Sunday.

Sir William Hotel, Grindleford

Originally three cottages on the “green” in the centre of the village, this has been a pub and hotel for the last 150 years. Panoramic views of Froggatt Edge from the garden terrace. Buses: 65, 257, BLUE

Maynard, Grindleford

A large boutique hotel near Grindleford station with modern public bar, lounge and restaurant. Impressive views from the large garden. Casual walkers and dogs welcome. Snacks are served in the bar from 12pm-9pm. Train, Buses: 65, BLUE

Millstone, Hathersage

Originally built to serve the nearby millstone quarry, now popular with diners. Open plan with large well furnished seating/dining areas. Extensive outdoor area partly under cover. Bus: 272, BLUE.

Scotsman Pack, Hathersage

Comforting pub dating from the Edwardian period decorated with horse brasses and ornamental plates. The pub features a main bar area, two seated dining areas and a bar-side room around the central bar servery. The pleasant garden overlooks a stream. Bus: 272, BLUE.

Bank House, Hathersage

Formerly a historic bank, now an award winning contemporary restaurant and bar nestling in the heart of the Peak District National Park. Bank House offers fresh locally sourced seasonal produce and the finest tipples from Europe. One cask ale available, usually a house beer from Abbeydale. Train, Bus: 257,272, BLUE

George, Hathersage

Formerly a 500 year old inn, this luxury Derbyshire hotel in the heart of the Peak District has been transformed into a pub offering a range of cask ales in their public bar. Bar is open for coffee and soft drinks from 8am, but from 11am for alcohol. Train. Buses: 257, 272, BLUE.

Little John, Hathersage

Large stone built pub which has had extensive internal renovations refurbishment and the new bright clean interior now has a carvery style servery, dining and seating areas and a bar area. Up to two regularly changing cask beers are on offer, often from local breweries like Thornbridge, Buxton, Ashover, Neepsend, and also four draft keg taps which are always interesting (for example craft keg beers from local breweries like Pentrich, Abbeydale, and Thornbridge). Train. Buses: 257, 272, BLUE.

Travellers Rest, Brough

Large roadside pub, open plan but with distinct areas around the island bar. There is a big screen showing sporting events and good value pool table. Dogs and walkers welcome. Buses: 173, 272, BLUE.

Old Hall Hotel, Hope

Typical village corner pub with a large open plan bar area. Traditional, relaxed and friendly atmosphere maintained. The snug features a real fire. Five B&B rooms available. Tea room adjoins building serving 7 days a week from 8am to 5pm. Beer festivals held most bank holiday weekends. Dogs and muddy boots welcome. Train. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE.

Woodroffe Arms, Hope

Uncomplicated Greene King owned local village pub split into two drinking areas with rear car park and outdoor seating area. Dogs, walkers and families welcome. Bar snacks available. Train. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE.

Swiss Tap, Castleton

A family run B&B with a bar open to non-residents offering 2 cask ales and sports on TV. Opening hours can vary. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE

Olde Cheshire Cheese, Castleton

A traditional village inn. A central servery separates the restaurant and the bustling bar area. Names of landlords since 1746 are inscribed on low wooden beams. Accommodation offered in 10 en suite rooms. Homemade food served everyday. Walkers welcome and dogs welcome in the bar. Offers six cask beers, from local brewers. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE

Peak Hotel, Castleton

Self proclaimed quirky pub offering en-suite B&B accommodation, good pub food, a range of five cask beers, quiz night, live music and more. Outdoor drinking area at rear. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE

Old Nags Head, Castleton

The bar areas include a feature fireplace, exposed stone walls and carved wooden chairs. Stylish dining room and busy family food trade. Excellent range of cask ales including beers from several local breweries with a house ale provided by Intrepid. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE.

Bulls Head, Castleton

A spacious wood panelled dining room, while leather sofas feature in the smaller bar area. High quality home cooked food. Six different Robinsons real ales are offered. Courtyard drinking area and barn for indoor/outdoor eating and drinking.

Castle Inn, Castleton

A chain pub aiming to create an authentic atmosphere with local pictures adorning the walls, candlelit tables and wooden beams. Walkers welcome. Dogs allowed in the bar and water and dog treats provided.

George, Castleton

Cosy two roomed back street pub. The flag stoned tap room welcomes walkers and dogs, while the carpeted restaurant is for diners only. Attractive forecourt seating. Five cask beers are offered. Homemade jams, pickles and chutneys for sale using locally sourced ingredients as much as possible. Won a PubAid Community Sustainability Hero award in 2024 and 2025. The pub grows its own produce, uses solar power and keeps bees as well as doing much recycling.

ALL THE KNOWN DERBYSHIRE PEAK DISTRICT PUBS IN OUR BRANCH AREA WITH CASK ALE

  • Anchor, Tideswell (bus 65, 66 or 173)
  • Anglers Rest, Bamford (bus 257, 257a or 257b)
  • Anglers Rest, Millers Dale (bus 65)
  • Bank House, Hathersage (bus 272)
  • Barrel Inn, Bretton
  • Blind Bull, Little Hucklow (bus 173 or 257b)
  • Bulls Head, Castleton (bus 62, 173 or 272)
  • Bulls Head, Foolow (bus 65, 66, 257a or 257b)
  • Calver Arms, Calver (bus 65, 66, 257, 257a, 257b or X66)
  • Castle Inn, Castleton (bus 62, 173 or 272)
  • Chequers Inn, Froggatt
  • Cheshire Cheese Inn, Hope (bus 62)
  • Cow Shed Cafe, Millers Dale (bus 65)
  • Crispin, Great Longstone (bus 173)
  • Eyam Brewery tap, Tideswell – weekends only (bus 65, 66 or 173)
  • Eyre Arms, Hassop
  • Fox House (bus 65 or 272)
  • George, Castleton (bus 62, 173 or 272)
  • George Hotel, Hathersage (bus 257, 257a or 272)
  • George, Tideswell (bus 65, 66 or 173)
  • Grouse, Longshaw
  • Horse & Jockey, Tideswell (bus 65, 66 or 173)
  • Intrepid Brewery, Brough – special events only (bus 173, 257b or 272)
  • Ladybower Inn (bus 257, 257a or 257b)
  • Little John Hotel, Hathersage (bus 257, 257a or 272)
  • Losehill House Hotel & Spa (bus 62)
  • Maynard Arms, Grindleford (bus 65 or train)
  • Millstone, Hathersage (bus 272)
  • Miners Arms, Eyam (bus 65, 257, 257a or 257b)
  • Moon, Stoney Middleton (bus 65, 66, 257, 257a or 257b or X66)
  • Olde Bowling Green Inn, Bradwell (bus 173, 257b or 272)
  • Olde Cheshire Cheese, Castleton (bus 62, 173 or 272)
  • Old Hall Hotel, Hope (bus 62, 173, 257b or 272)
  • Old Nags Head, Edale (bus 62 or train)
  • Olde Nags Head, Castleton (bus 62, 173 or 272)
  • Packhorse Inn, Little Longstone (bus 173)
  • Peak Hotel, Castleton (bus 62, 173 or 272)
  • Plough Inn, Leadmill Bridge (bus 257 or 257a)
  • Queen Anne, Great Hucklow (bus 65, 66 or 173)
  • Rambler Inn, Edale (bus 62 or train)
  • Red Lion, Litton (bus 65 or 173)
  • Scotsmans Pack, Hathersage (bus 272)
  • Shoulder of Mutton, Bradwell (bus 173, 257b or 272)
  • Sir William Hotel, Grindleford (bus 65, 257 or 257a)
  • Stables Bar, Monsal Head (bus 173 or 257a)
  • Star, Tideswell (bus 65, 66 or 173)
  • Strines Inn, Strines (bus 87)
  • Swiss Tap, Castleton (bus 62, 173 or 272)
  • Three Stags Heads, Wardlow Mires (bus 173, 257a or X66)
  • Travellers Rest, Brough (bus 173, 257b or 272)
  • White Hart, Bradwell (bus 272)
  • White Lion, Great Longstone (bus 173)
  • Woodroffe Arms, Hope (bus 62, 173, 257b or 272)
  • Yorkshire Bridge Inn, Bamford (bus 257, 257a or 257b)

Brewery Bits

Posted on by Andy Cullen

New from Dead Parrot Brewery on the bar at Perch in March was “Hill”, an American Pale Ale brewed with Aurora hops. It is 4.2% ABV and has a strong grapefruit character to it!

Recent brews at Blue Bee includes American 5 hop version 88 which involves lots of Columbus hops along with Simco, Chinook and others; a new session pale ale involving pink hops plus a special house beer for Itchy Pig Alehouse in Banner Cross brewed with Simcoe, Mosaic and Chinook hops.

Another new beer from Drone Valley Brewery, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, is Volunteer Pale Ale, celebrating that most of the brewery’s staff are volunteers raising money for local good causes.

April 2026 saw Bradfield Brewery celebrate their 21st birthday and a new beer released in bottles – Farmers Imperial Milk Stout. It is 7.4% ABV, rich and full bodied with notes of cocoa, liquorice and dried fruit in the taste, carrying through to a lasting creamy finish thanks to the addition of lactose.

New from Duality Brew Co in cask, keg and can is Twist the Arrows, a 4.5% ABV hazy pale ale. It is brewed with generous quantities of Simcoe, Azacca and El Dorado hops offering a juicy character with subtle dank edge underneath and fairly low bitterness.

Triple Point have released a Blood Orange flavoured version of their Cryo Pale Ale.

Tapped Brew Co have updated their branding with new round pump clips. Seen on the bar of the Sheffield Tap launching the new look line up was Brook (Porter), Sheaf Street (session IPA), Mojo (session pale) and Bramling (Golden Ale).

At the Brewery of St Mars of the Desert the arrival of spring meant two things – the tap room opening for the 2026 season and the release of Fleurs de Printemps (Spring Flowers), a 5.4% ABV Belgian inspired blonde ale.

Neepsend Brewery cask ales recently seen on the bar at the Wellington (their tap pub next to Shalesmoor tram stop) include Dolcita (4.5% ABV pale ale brewed with Citra and Dolcita hops), Athena (6.4% ABV New England IPA brewed with Citra, Amarillo and El Dorado hops), Vulcan (3.9% ABV traditional bitter brewed with Challenger and EKG hops) – plus of course their regular beer, Blonde, which is a 4% ABV Gluten free ale brewed with Cascade, Chinook and Brewers Gold hops.

Thornbridge Brewery are now several months into their 2026 “Year of Beer” monthly specials, on cask April saw the release of Quasar, a 4.5% ABV European pale ale whilst on keg it was Golden Spike, a 5.7% ABV West Coast IPA. Coming up in May on cask is Present, a 3.8% ABV coffee mild, then in June look out for Long Days – a 4.6% ABV summer ale.

A planning application to set up a nanobrewery in the Meersbrook area has been submitted by Christopher Derbyshire, known for his work as a brewer at Heist.

Sheffield Beer Census

Posted on by Andy Cullen

CAMRA Sheffield & District had been doing this survey for many years now, ever since Derby tried to attract tourists by publicly claiming their city as the Real Ale Capital of Britain. Derby does indeed have some great pubs, a few microbreweries and a good choice of beer, however we knew Sheffield was better and in an act of friendly rivalry, started an annual survey to count how many different cask ales were available on the bars of our proud city to prove we were indeed the true Beer Capital of Britain. Some other cities have joined in over the years such as York and Norwich, all failing to beat us!

We’ve also seen respected beer writer Pete Brown commissioned in conjunction with the University of Sheffield to publish a report on Sheffield’s beer scene to prove it is the best beer city!

We still do an annual beer census, these days it is a way of taking the pulse of Sheffield’s beer scene and comparing data year on year, seeing how many beers are available, which breweries are most represented and other such trending statistics.

The 2026 census will take place on Saturday 30 May and we need as much help as possible! On this day we are asking folk visiting pubs in Sheffield to record which cask ales are on the bar by logging them online at sheffield.beer/survey. You can do that under your own steam or alternatively by joining one of our organised survey crawls, if there is a group it will be more social as well as sometimes being able to split up briefly to cover more pubs!

The daytime crawls start in the suburbs at midday and work their way towards the City Centre. We’ll all then meet up in the Bath Hotel at 6:30pm with the option of then doing evening surveys around central Sheffield. An all day travel pass such as CityWide could prove good value.

CROOKES & WALKLEY – meet at the Walkley Cottage, leader TBC

HILLSBOROUGH, LOXLEY & BRADFIELD – meet at the Park Hotel, leader TBC

NEEPSEND & KELHAM ISLAND – meet at the Gardeners Rest, led by Dan Rowe

FULWOOD, NETHER GREEN & BROOMHILL – meet at the Rising Sun, led by Phil Ellett

WOODSEATS & HEELEY – meet at Guzzle micropub, led by Malcolm Dixon

TOTLEY, MILLHOUSES & ABBEYDALE ROAD – meet at the Cross Scythes, led by Andy Cullen

BANNER CROSS & ECCLESALL ROAD – meet at the Itchy Pig Ale House, led by Paul Manning.

BEIGHTON, HALFWAY, WOODHOUSE & HANDSWORTH – meet at the Scarsdale Hundred Wetherspoon, led by Mike Cooke.

CHAPELTOWN, ECCLESFIELD & MEADOWHALL – leader still needed!

Steel City Beer & Cider Festival

Posted on by Andy Cullen

We’re pleased to announce our 50th Steel City Beer & Cider Festival is now confirmed! Our team of volunteers on the organising committee are well into the planning process for this event and are able to share some details to help you look forward to visiting or even getting involved! The dates for your diary are 21-24 October 2026.

Once again the festival is being held at the atmospheric Kelham Island Museum, a venue full of character with bars, food vendors, games, live music and more spread across several areas including the upper hall, Victorian courtyard and Stone Garden.

The bars will all together boast a range of about 200 cask ales, all of which we aim to have on sale on the first night and available until they run out, along with a list of 70 other craft beers in keg which will be on rotation. There will also be 30 different ciders and perries to try.

On the Wednesday evening we’ll be judging the Champion Beer of Sheffield & District competition and announcing the winners, Thursday night we have live music from Highway Child and Friday night on stage is Soul Battalion.

Saturday afternoon as usual Loxley Silver Band will be playing and Kelham Rapper will be dancing, after which we have The 88s on stage.

It is expected that there will also be demonstration runs of the museum’s River Don Steam Engine at various times during the festival.

A range of food vendors will be open throughout the festival including Yuleys Bratwurst, Sunshine Pizza, Smith’s Fish & Chips, Caribbean fusion, Taco Trailer, Cheese Factor and Fairfax Chocolatiers & Spirits. They will be spread across the upper hall, Victorian Courtyard (outside marquee) and Stone Garden (outside the keg bar).

The festival will be open on Wednesday 21 October from 5pm (4pm for CAMRA members and industry folk) to 10:30pm, Thursday 22 and Friday 23 October from 11:30am to 10:30pm then finally Saturday 24 October from 11am to 9pm.

We also have a programme of special talks, tours and tastings you can choose to add to your festival experience which we reccomend booking in advance:

  • Wednesday 19:00 – Beer & Music pairing with Pete Brown: Join award-winning beer writer and broadcaster Pete Brown for a one-of-a-kind audio-visual beer tasting experience, based on the fascinating research behind his latest book – Tasting Notes: The art and science of pairing beer and music.
  • Thursday 11:30 – Little Chicago: A guided historical walk in Sheffield’s Little Chicago Quarter. We will explore both the pub heritage aspects of the area plus the streets which feature in the book, ‘Sheffield 1925: Gang Wars and Wembley Glory,’ with a narrative explaining how Sheffield briefly became the most turbulent city in Britain because of an escalating gang war involving the Park Brigade, Mooney Gang, the Gas Tank Gang and many others. The walk will be led by ‘Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs’ editor, Dave Pickersgill and local historian and writer, John Stocks.
  • Thursday 17:00 – Kelham Island Brewery: This talk will be led by four key members of the team at Kelham Island Brewery: Tom Clay (Sales & Brand Director) and three of the Owner/Directors: Jim Harrison, James O’Hara and Simon Webster. The presenters will look back to the history of the Fat Cat and Kelham Island Brewery, lauding the pioneering work of Dave Wickett and celebrating the long-term influences of both the pub and the brewery on todays UK Indie beer scene before looking to the future.
  • Thursday 19:00 – Abbeydale Brewery: A tutored beer tasting and discussion led by experts from the oldest established brewery in Sheffield, which as of 2024 is wholly employee owned. This event will explore the depth and breadth of the Abbeydale range as they celebrate their 30th anniversary. Last year (2025) Abbeydale produced over 200 Bbl./week of which over 75% was cask. They produce at least one new beer each week, including both the Funk Dungeon and Dr.Morton’s brands. The latter is a tribute to the owners with the former highlighting their barrel ageing project.

Entry is free on Wednesday, £5 on Thursday and £8 on Friday and Saturday. If you are a CAMRA member show your current valid membership card on the gate to enjoy free entry at all sessions – if you were thinking of joining CAMRA it will pay to do so before the festival! There is no advance booking required, just turn up and pay on the gate. Entry is of course subject to capacity so get down early if you can!

Additionally you’ll need to buy a souvenir glass for £3 which all your drinks will be served in, you can either keep it to take home or return it at the end for a refund. We’ll also have printed programmes available for £1 for those that want one, alternatively all the same information including the beer list will be available on the festival website.

The festival bars will take a choice of card/contactless or token payments for drinks, if you only have cash you can buy £5 token cards from the sales desks in the marquee and upper hall.

SCAN THE QR CODES BELOW TO BOOK THE SPECIAL EVENT ADD ONS

Pete Brown Beer & Music pairing talk
Little Chicago guided walk
Kelham Island Brewing Co talk
Abbeydale Brewery tutored tasting

Bus 218

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Following on from our series of guide to Peak District pubs in our branch area served by bus, attention turns to a bus that links Sheffield with a bit of the Peak District that isn’t on our patch (Owler Bar is Dronfield branch and Baslow/Bakewell is Chesterfield branch) but passes a few often overlooked Sheffield pubs along the way as well as providing useful connections within the Peak District.

TM Travel bus 218 runs from Sheffield to Bakewell via Sharrow, Banner Cross, Ecclesall, Totley, Owler Bar and Baslow. You can change buses in Baslow onto the Andrews 257 to Calver, Stoney Middleton and Eyam whilst in Bakewell you can pick up the Andrews 173 to Great Longstone, Monsal Head, Wardlow Mires, Litton, Tideswell and Bradwell. Some journeys operate via Chatsworth House and in the summer you can join the Peak Sightseer open top bus tours there.

The 218 runs every half hour in the daytime, seven days a week. There is also a limited evening service Monday to Saturday with the last departure from Bakewell to Sheffield at 11:10pm.

A single fare is capped at £3 per ride, alternatively a choice of all day passes are available – a day ticket just for TM Travel services costs £7.90 whilst a Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket that includes all buses in the area (except for the open top sightseeing tour) costs £9.

Beer Engine, Cemetery Road

A traditional style multi roomed pub with large beer offering, reopened in 2015 following a sympathetic refurbishment. The changing beer range is sourced mainly from local and regional micro breweries, with six cask beers and up to 11 craft keg beers. There is also a quality spirits offering. The large beer garden has a heated, covered area.

Stag’s Head, Sharrow

Operated by Thornbidge Brewery. Formerly three rooms around a central bar but now opened out but retaining distinct areas. A conservatory leads into the pleasant garden. A total of eight cask ales are offered, with two regular Thornbridge beers, an additional six changing Thornbridge beers, and two guest beers. Small library in the front left corner. Card payment only

Itchy Pig Banner Cross, Banner Cross

Micropub which has six hand pumps and 12 keg lines, serving a rotating list of guest beers, often locally sourced. One hand pump is usually for cider. Two of the keg lines are dedicated to a cider and a low alcohol beer. Outdoor seating is available.

Dark Horse, Banner Cross

Latest addition to Ecclesall Road drinking scene, opened January 2022 in former Lloyds bank building from which it derives its name. Open plan room micropub. Modern style layout with a mixture of booths and high tables. Three cask pumps on the bar.

Banner Cross, Banner Cross

Two roomed locals pub retaining a traditional two room taproom and lounge format. Upstairs there is a games room with pool tables. Refurbished 2016. Several large HD screens showing sports, including a big 10 foot screen.

Prince of Wales, Ecclesall

Large suburban dining focused pub operated by Mitchells & Butlers. Several different seating areas on varying levels around a central L shaped bar. Quiz nights Mondays and Wednesdays.

Rising Sun Hotel, Parkhead

Former Stone’s pub, now part of the Ember Inns chain, in an upmarket area close to Ecclesall Woods. Now open plan but retaining several distinct seating areas around the central bar. An extension to the rear provides a restaurant area.

Tunnel Tap, Totley

Small micropub on two floors – the bar is on the ground floor with the majority of the seating downstairs. There is a single handpump offering a changing cask ale plus a range of other beers on keg – a mixture of craft and mainstream, plus a decent selection of cans and bottles. Pies are available at the weekend whilst stocks last.

Cross Scythes, Totley

Imposing pub, hotel and restaurant operated by the Northern Collective who also have food & drink venues in Dore, Hathersage and Castleton. Smart and food led but still welcoming with a relaxed atmosphere.

Crown, Cricket Inn and Shepley Spitfire are also in Totley, these are a short walk from the bus route.

Peacock, Owler Bar

Grade II listed 19th century turnpike inn, now a refurbished dining pub. A good choice of four real ales are offered. Part of the Longbow Hospitality group.

Prince Of Wales, Baslow

Modern, welcoming downstairs bar with two locally sourced real ales available, along with a limited selection of interesting bottled beers. Upstairs is an award winning restaurant serving excellent food, with various deals running throughout the week.

Devonshire Arms, Baslow

Tastefully refurbished with a strong emphasis on food, although still retaining the bar area. Two changing beers, some locally sourced. Now has a house beer from Eyam Brewery.

Wheatsheaf Hotel, Baslow

18th century coaching house with large outdoor seating area and childrens’ play area. Beers from the Marston’s range. Opens for Breakfast at 08:00am

Wheatsheaf Hotel, Bakewell

Traditional pub having undergone recent major refurbishment. Emphasis on food. Serves up to four Marstons Ales.

Queens Arms, Bakewell

Grade II listed building in the heart of Bakwell. Popular with locals it is a wet led town centre Pub with a long single roomed bar, plus games room with pool table and dart board. Regular Marstons beers are served with up to four guest beers mainly from local breweries. Serves Meals Lunchtime on Mondays only which is Market Day in Bakewell.

Castle Inn, Bakewell

This very welcoming pub lies adjacent to the river bridge. In addition to the split level interior there is an outside area by the main road through the town. Very popular at mealtimes. 10% CAMRA discount now available here. Open for Breakfasts in the morning.

Peacock, Bakewell

Town centre pub catering mainly for the tourist trade. Grade II listed building.

Red Lion, Bakewell

A 17th Century Coaching Inn with oak beams and open fires, situated on the A619 in the centre of this historic market town.The pub has five en-suite double bedrooms.Real Ales include two permanent Timothy Taylor and two regularly Changing Beers typically Bradfield Farmers Blonde. Dog friendly in tap room only.

Rutland Arms Hotel, Bakewell

Upmarket hotel. Up to two Real Ales offered generally locally based Thornbridge Ales. Card payments ONLY.

Manners Hotel, Bakewell

Traditional Robinsons hotel and pub with separate tap room, very popular with the locals. There is a large beer garden and parking facilities, situated close to Bakewell town centre. There are three cask offerings with Unicorn and Dizzy Blond as regulars and another changing Robinsons beer. Food service at lunchtimes and early evenings. Regular live music and a weekly pub quiz. There is a range of accommodation available, check out their website for details.

Joiners Arms, Bakewell

Small friendly town centre micro pub with stylish interior and warm fireplace for cold winter evenings. Outside seating available outside on main street during warmer months. Six regularly changing cask ales and six craft keg ales available, sourced locally, as are the selection of wines, gins and whiskies. There are often vegan beers on tap.

Thornbridge Brewery Tap Room, Bakewell

The Tap Room, situated at the Thornbridge brewery features a spacious shop and a comfortable seating area. Located just a 15-minute stroll from Bakewell town centre on the Riverside Industrial Estate (buses 173 and Transpeak also go there, as does the Peak Sightseer Red route). Excellent freshly handmade pizzas are served daily. The bar showcases a selection of four cask and sixteen keg lines, with all beers available in thirds, halves, and pints, and the option for beer flights with three selections. Regular music and social events are held monthly (check website for details). Pre-booked brewery tours are also available to explore the brewing process. Card payment only.

A short bus ride from Bakewell on the Transpeak, 173, 257a or Peak Sightseer Red Tour to Ashford in the Water will bring you to the Ashford Arms and Bull’s Head.

OTHER BUSES ON PART OF THE ROUTE

PUBlic Transport

Posted on by Andy Cullen

23 May sees the launch of the 2026 season for the Peak Sightseer open top bus tours. There will be one feeder trip from South Sheffield in the morning, departing Meadowhead at 09:54 and running via Woodseats, Millhouses and Totley to Chatsworth, returning from Chatsworth at 17:43. Inbetween those times tours will run hourly from Chatsworth to Bakewell (Red route) and Chatsworth to Mam Tor (Blue route). The price of a Peak Sightseer ticket is £14 for adults and £9.50 for concessions, this allows you to hop on and off as much as you like. See stagecoachbus.com for more details.

April saw the Department for Transport publish their “Better Connected” strategy for joined up transport. Much of this was about improving and standardising online information and ticketing with selected digital partner companies, however of perhaps more interesting for us was the announcement that £6m of funding had been awarded to run a pilot of the proposed “Mini Switzerland” network in the Peak District.

The “Mini Switzerland” concept sees a bus network that runs to a clockface timetable every hour that is designed to connect with Hope Valley trains at Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope and Edale stations with core corridors of Castleton to Hathersage and Calver to Eyam offering a bus every 20 minutes. The idea is you can get a train into the Hope Valley every hour and connect into a conveniently timed bus to the villages not served by train all day every day the trains operate and all on one combined ticket.

The proposed network includes:

  • existing bus 272 Sheffield-Castleton every hour via Hathersage, Bamford station and Hope
  • existing bus 257 Sheffield-Bakewell every hour via Bamford village, Hathersage, Calver and Eyam
  • existing bus 173 Castleton-Bakewell increased to every hour via Hope, Bradwell and Tideswell
  • existing bus 65 Sheffield-Buxton every alternate hour via Grindleford, Calver, Eyam, Tideswell and Litton supplemented by bus 66 Chesterfield-Tideswell via Calver and Eyam with the two routes combining to provide an hourly service Calver-Tideswell.
  • new hourly service 256 Castleton to Eyam via Hope, Bamford station, Hathersage and Baslow (a combination of existing services 272 and 257).
  • new hourly service 258 between Bamford station, Bamford village, Yorkshire Bridge and Fairholmes visitor centre (Derwent dams)
  • existing service 62 amended to run Edale to Buxton every alternate hour
  • new minibus services 63 and 64 operating a circular route between Edale station and Castleton (one via Hope, the other via Winnats pass).

If you’ve been following our guides to Peak District pubs in our branch area along bus routes or live in this part of the Peak District, you’ll realise that these changes could represent game changing improvements that will make lots of great country pubs much easier to get to, especially where evening and Sunday services are introduced on routes that don’t currently have them.

We await details of when the project will actually be delivered and whether it will be the same as the above proposal in the consultation document.

One small development already implemented however is on route 272 with a bus from Castleton to Sheffield added at 11:59pm (midnight ish) on Friday and Saturday nights.

Meanwhile in Sheffield, The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is working towards phase one of bus franchising with whoever wins the contract taking over services that operate out of Olive Grove depot (currently the base for First bus who have sold the depot to SYMCA) from autumn 2027. SYMCA currently have a public consultation survey on their website regarding priorities for improving bus services when they take over the whole network, the survey is open until 17 May.

One recent improvement that has happened in Sheffield is the addition of a Sunday service on routes 61/62 between Hillsborough and Bradfield, this is being operated by First bus under contract to SYMCA. Timetables and live tracking is available at bustimes.org.

Mini Switzerland Report Final (1)Download
dft-better-connected-strategyDownload

Inn Brief

Posted on by Andy Cullen
Proposed Tram Stop micropub (AI mock up)

A new micropub, the Tram Stop Tavern, is proposed in Hillsborough and is currently going through the process of gaining planning permission. This will see the owners of Pro Property convert their shop unit into a bar. The location is at the outbound Hillsborough Park tram stop, opposite Pangolin craft beer bar/shop and just up from the Beekeeper micropub.

Little John Hotel in Hathersage closed for refurbishment following a change of management there. It has now relaunched looking rather smart inside and out, the table football has gone but there is still a pool table! This pub with rooms is now part of the Northern Collective who run a number of other venues including the Bank House in Hathersage and the Cross Scythes in Totley. The bar features three cask ales among its offering.

Dog & Partridge in Sheffield City Centre are celebrating their Sheffield City Centre Pub of the Year award with a special beer in collaboration with Abbeydale Brewery. “Hair of the Dog” is a 4.3% ABV pale ale brewed with Galaxy, Simcoe and Idaho 7 hops and 10p from the sale of every pint will be donated to the Rain Rescue charity.

Red Deer on Pitt Street, in Sheffield City Centre, is under new management and is running a cask club promotion on Thursdays (2pm to 11pm) with real ales priced at £3.50 a pint.

Cricket Inn at Totley have refurbished their parlour room.

Anchor near Tideswell has introduced a beer collector card – get it stamped each time you buy a pint of Robinson’s Trooper, Unicorn or Dizzy Blonde and when you collect eight stamps you can exchange the card for a free pint!

Trippets on Trippet Lane, a bar offering live jazz music, wine & spirits and dining have announced they are closing on 18 April due to significantly rising costs (including business rates and rent) and unpredictable trade making it unviable.

White Swan at Greenhill and Sportsman at Norton Lees have recently had a change of management.

Greene King are advertising for a new tenant to take on the Shepley Spitfire in Totley as one of their Hive franchises. Lesley, Louise and Nicole’s last day running the pub was Thursday 16 April.

Bridge Inn opposite Rotherham Central station, which is currently closed and empty following a change of ownership, has been added to a local heritage list.

Eyam Brewery Tap & Shop in Tideswell reopened Easter weekend. They now have planning permission to convert the industrial unit into a tap room, shop and kitchen although a condition the Peak Park authority have included is that anyone arriving by car has to have their details logged! They are still trading on temporary events notices so only opening at weekends. Now they have planning permission they have been able to go through the licence application process which once obtained will see building work begin to install an open kitchen and be able to offer food. Until then there will be occasional pop ups from traders like Sunshine Pizza and TJ Smash Burgers. If you fancy a trip there buses 65 and 173 stop on the main road nearby.

The current management at the Olde Bowling Green Inn in Bradwell has signed a 5 year lease on the pub.

Mount Pleasant in Norton Lees is temporarily closing for its long awaited refurbishment.

Sportsman Inn in Norton Lees has closed with the management there moving on to turn around a failing pubco venue elsewhere. Real ale had been successfully reintroduced here as well as being host to various social and community groups. The pub is to be refurbished for a new tenant.

Cross Scythes at Norton Lees has seen some internal changes to make it feel multi roomed and cosy and also now has a food offering. The same manager has now also taken on the Old Crown on London Road, still no real ale available here at present though.

Albion on London Road, Stancill’s brewery tap, has a new manager.

Pubs around the Kelham Island area including Shakespeares and Harlequin report being incredibly busy over the Easter weekend due to Kelham Festival and Sheffield Folk Music Sessions Festival taking place in the area. Other upcoming events in the area include Get Together Festival (16 May) and Kelham Pride (20 June).

Devonshire Arms in Dore reopened as planned under new management following a refurbishment.

Cherry Tree Inn on Carterknowle Avenue in Millhouses, now has four regularly changing cask ales including Abbeydale’s Daily Bread bitter at a reasonable £3.70 per pint.

The newly opened Pig & Whistle at Gleadless Townend has now established itself and proving popular. It has a regularly changing range of craft beers including two cask ales alongside some more mainstream options and has a regular program of events including street food pop ups, quiz nights, live entertainment and tasting evenings. They are also planning to start offering coffee and cake too!

Rivelin Hotel has a new manager who was previously at the Walkley Cottage Inn.

Beer Central in the Moor indoor market has ceased trading. We’re sorry to see them go and thank them for their support over the years. Other specialist beer shops available around Sheffield to satisfy your quality home drinking needs include Hop Hideout, The Dram Shop in Walkley, La Di Da in Chapeltown, Archer Road Beer Stop in Millhouses and Mitchells at Meadowhead.

The relatively recently relaunched Boddingtons cask Bitter, brewed by JW Lees under licence, has been spotted on this side of the Pennines at the Ranmoor Inn, Bath Hotel and Beer House S6.

White Hart Inn at Bradwell celebrates being 350 years old this year and will be holding a party later in the summer. Obviously it hasn’t been under the same management that long of course and is currently operated by Bradfield Brewery.

Garry Scott, landlord of the Red Lion on Charles Street in Sheffield City Centre, recently celebrated 40 years in the business with a bit of a do in his pub on 17 April featuring a DJ and buffet.

Big Tree on Woodseats, a Greene King pub, has been closed for refurbishment and the grand reopening is planned for 1 May after which we are promised it’ll be “bigger, better and louder than ever” with live entertainment and big sports atmosphere on the reopening weekend.

The owner of the Tunnel Tap micropub at Totley Rise has handed over full responsibility for ordering beer to manager Jess who is now enjoying getting some of her favourite craft beers on the guest taps and handpump alongside the four Thornbridge beers. There is also a change being made to their pie offering, this used to be a Friday night thing with a tray of freshly baked pies delivered and available that weekend until they sell out (usually fairly quickly), in the future a wider range of pies will be delivered frozen and heated up in an air fryer when ordered, this will mean more variety and availability every day they are open.

George Inn in Tideswell, which is now operated by Atlantik Inns (leased from Greene King), has the kitchen and hotel rooms back up and running as well as a diary of events planned for the year ahead. The food is billed as proper pub food done right and is served from midday until 8pm on weekdays, midday to 6pm Saturdays and Sundays. Three cask ales are on the bar, all usually well known brands like Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Theakston Old Peculiar and Greene King Old Speckled Hen.

Walkley Beer Company has been sold and is now under the same management as the Kelham Island Tavern.

Fuggle Bunny Brew House continue with their programme of tap room openings every Friday plus the last Saturday of the month. The Fridays are just like a local pub whilst the Saturdays are something a bit more special, usually featuring a street food trader and entertainment. The 25 April event is open 3-9pm with hot pork sandwiches available and live music at 5pm provided by Sean Stevens.

Commercial in Chapeltown is running a European beer & food festival during May.