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.

Royal Oak, Beighton

Posted on by Andy Cullen
Fears that a Sheffield village pub could be eventually turned into a supermarket have been raised by concerned residents. Plans to make alterations to the closed Royal Oak pub on High Street, Beighton – including a single-storey side extension, removal of a stairway and car park alterations – have been approved by Sheffield Council. Documents submitted by the applicant Langar Estates say they intend to retain the premises for class A4 use, which covers drinking establishments, and that 10 staff will be employed. The ground floor will become a ‘modern restaurant/dining and bar room accommodation’. The pub has been closed since December. However, some local residents fear other moves could be planned as the applicant for the case has purchased another pub in Manchester and turned it into a Tesco supermarket without the need for change-of-use approval. The applicant’s agent, Edgeplan, say they are not aware that the site would be used for retail. Aubrey Hill, of Beighton, said: “Residents of Beighton were elated to hear The Royal Oak is to be revamped and reopened as a restaurant or pub. But are we being hoodwinked? Those named on the application have apparently been involved in buying up vacant village pubs which are then quickly converted into a Tesco Express before anyone can create a fuss. Apparently they are able to do this without applying for any change of use. I believe old, traditional pubs, like The Royal Oak, should be kept as an asset for the community if at all possible and not as an asset for the greedy supermarket chains.”

Steel City Beer Festival

Posted on by Andy Cullen
Sponsor a barrel! Fancy a works do at this year’s festival, why not promote your business at the same time? Group of friends who fancy doing something different on a night out? Something to celebrate? You can sponsor a barrel for just £100 and your name will appear on the beer label behind the bar, plus your name will be included in the programme and on the website, sheffield.camra.org.uk/festival.  We will provide you with 6 complimentary tickets to the festival and a free pint to get you started. We can also discuss any corporate hospitality requirements you may have. For more information please contact festival@sheffieldcamra.org.uk.

WORKING AT A BEER FESTIVAL – by Steve Cook

 Ever wondered what it is like helping out at a Beer Festival? I did for a number of years. It was one of the reasons I joined Camra back in 2000. I had worked in pubs and bars for 17 years, during which time I looked after a number of pubs whilst the manger went on leave. It was hard work but I got a buzz out of it.

I volunteered my services for the 2000 Beer Festival at the Students Union in Pond Street, (is it still there?). How different it was to what I was used to. There were no keg beers, lagers and spirits. There was no asking the customer if they wanted ice and lemon in their G & T, no asking if they wanted crisps or nuts they didn’t want but the pubco wanted them to buy. For various reasons it wasn’t until 2012 I worked the festival again, doing a few sessions on the bar and helping with the breakdown. 2013 I decided to go the full hog and work the whole week, setting up, working the bar and breaking down. And what a week it was. I put more hours in that week than I did in a normal week at my everyday job, (all for the love of real ale and Camra). Being a novice at the set up, I saw how much was involved to get the venue ready. I have to smile at the fact we were in a sports hall. There were many experienced and knowledgeable heads orchestrating without being demanding. Racking went up, the bars went up, and the beers went on the racking. After 2½ days of set up the festival opened. I couldn’t believe how many people turned up for the midday opening. In the blink of an eye I went from being festival constructor to barman. As the afternoon passed, the adrenaline kicked in and the barman in me came out. I was in my element, giving quality service and having banter with those who came in. The bar staff were a mixture of old heads and those new to bar work. The newbies soon learnt the ropes with help at hand from the experienced. Two of the newbies enjoyed their time so much they wanted jobs in pubs. There is one regret I have; it is not having worked the festivals more than I have. The buzz, enjoyment and what I get out of working what I have is on the highest of bars, sorry pedestals. I must have ticked a few boxes last year as this time I have been asked to be Deputy Bar Manager. There are still a good number of weeks before the festival and I already have the buzz. Set up for this year’s festival starts on October 27 with breakdown on November 2 with the  festival open October 29 – November 1, so if you fancy helping out, whether it be a session or two, (can you stretch it to three?) on the bar and /or helping with the set up and break down email ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­festivalstaffing@sheffieldcamra.org.uk. Nearly forgot, there is good beer (and cider) to be enjoyed. Fancy brewing beer?  Blue Bee logoSheffield Brewery Company logo  To celebrate 40th Steel City Beer and Cider we are having two beers brewed in advance that will go on sale in local pubs in September and October to promote the festival. Blue Bee Brewery and Sheffield Brewery Company have both kindly agreed to brew a beer especially for the occasion. CAMRA members will be gathering on the morning of Saturday 5th September at Blue Bee brewery to help head brewer Josh brew the beer which as yet is unnamed but will be a 5% beer. If you want to experience the hard work that goes into brewing beer and lend a hand contact us at festivalstaffing@sheffieldcamra.org.uk for more details.

Sheffield Brew Fest @ Bath Hotel

Posted on by Andy Cullen
sheffbrewfest Sheff Brew Fest is a group of beer loving individuals who have come together inspired by the fresh crop of independent beer festivals popping up across the UK from London to Liverpool.

Their first event is a lovingly curated, hop forward beer festival to be held at The Bath Hotel on Victoria Street from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th October 2014. The event will feature more than 20 specially selected draught beers from around the country, a wide range of hard to find and international bottled craft beers and a hand-picked selection of quality ciders.

Festival organiser, Jules Gray explains, “As individuals and as a group we’re excited by Sheffield and Yorkshire breweries on our door step. We’re also energised when you search out and find fresh, interesting beers from further afield. We wanted to showcase a good mix of the two together under one roof. Beer is so diverse, with its multitude of styles and it’s about coming together to celebrate that.”

The objective is to host fundraising pop-up beer events in the run up to a larger scale beer festival in October 2015. The Bath Hotel is a beautiful heritage pub known for having a well selected range of cask ales and provides the perfect back drop for this first event.

The festival starts at 5pm Thursday and is open all day over the weekend.

 Examples of breweries showcased include: Buxton Brewery, Magic Rock, On the Edge, Steel City, Quantum, Anarchy, Black Jack, Weird Beard, Wild Beer Co., Thornbridge, De Molen, Siren, Founders, Odell, Rogue, Beavertown, Burning Sky, The Kernel, Arbor, Ilkley, Moor and 3 Fonteinen. 

The Sheff Brew Fest team includes members from Sheffield Homebrew Club (@SheffBrewClub), Edd Entwistle (manager of The Bath Hotel), Sean Clarke (Beer Central @BeerCentralLtd) & Jules Gray (Hop Hideout @HopHideout).

SheffBrewFest1

Pub heritage news

Posted on by Andy Cullen
‘Yorkshire’s Real Heritage Pubs : Pub Interiors of Special Historic Interest’  (2nd.Edition) was available at the recent CAMRA Great British Beer Festival at Olympia and is now available nationwide. The official launch is at Whitelocks, (Leeds), on 29th.August. In attendance will be the MP for Leeds North West, Greg Mulholland. Greg is Chair of ‘Save the Pub,’ an all party parliamentary group which aims to preserve and protect the Great British pub. Sheffield pubs featured are: The Bath Hotel, The Cross Keys (Handsworth), The Grapes, The Manor Castle, The Railway (Brightside), the Sheffield Tap, The Travellers Rest (Oughtibridge) and The White Lion. The book costs £4.99 (£3.99 to CAMRA members) and is available from the CAMRA shop. Also in hand is the creation of a local list of Sheffield pub interiors which, whilst not of national or regional importance, nevertheless contain elements of historic interest like some old fixtures and fittings or much of their original layout. Examples include: Carbrook Hall, The Dog and Partridge,  Fagans,  The New Barrack, The Old Crown (London Road), The Princess Royal, Ye Olde Shakespeare Inn (Heeley), Shakespeare (West Bar), The Sportsman Inn (Blackburn), The Wagon and Horses (Heeley Green), and The Wellington (Shalesmoor). There are a number of other pubs who have distinctive historical exteriors. These include Bloo88 (Hallamshire Hotel), The Rutland Arms and The Ship Inn. We are grateful to the Sheffield Star, Morning Telegraph and the Yorkshire Post for mentioning the creation of the local list and a number of subsequent suggestions from readers. We welcome other examples of Sheffield pubs with distinctive historical features. Please email information to: dpickersgill1@gmail.com

Inn Brief

Posted on by Andy Cullen
Maurice Champeau  is the new manager at the Crookes Social Club, some will know him from his days as bar manager at the Hearty Oak in Dronfield Woodhouse. Plans are afoot to improve the real ale range at the club, more next month! The Tickled Trout in Barlow reopened after extensive refurbishment on August 5th.  Owners Derek and Chris Mapp, together with their management team of Margaret Robbin, Tom Schofield and Lauren White welcome all customers, both old and new, to the much improved premises. Four real ales are available on handpump. Regular is Timothy Taylor’s Landlord. there will be three guest beers at all times. At the reopening these were Oldershaw Heavenly Blonde (an excellent sample was enjoyed), Abbeydale Moonshine and Welbeck Abbey Portland Black.  Quality food is served daily (pub closed Mondays). The Bowhsaw Inn (Toby Carvery) at Bowshaw roundabout near Dronfield reopened after refurbishment in mid-July. A planning application to replace the car park in front of the Robin Hood pub in Millhouses with an outdoor space have been rejected by Sheffield Council Planning Committee. The planning application was  to pave the area and install a heated ‘jumbrella.’ Almost 30 residents objected as they feared the move would force customers to use already limited parking nearby, affecting them and local traders. Following an hour-long debate Councillors voted 10-2 against the plans, despite a recommendation to approve being made by council officers. They also decided to add extra weight to a planning condition from alterations approved in 2001, which said parking facilities must be retained. 30 years ago, in July 1984, Theakston’s brewery was sold to Matthew Brown of Blackburn. MB were later taken over by Scottish and Newcastle. To-day Theakston’s is independent again. Sheffield band, the Everly Pregnant Brothers have taken on The Shakespeare at Heeley.  It  will soon become The Brothers’ Arms. The six-piece Sheffield band is leasing the building from pubco Punch Taverns, who will carry out a refurbishment. The Brothers’ Arms will be free of any tie to a specific brewery. A planning application has been submitted for a residential development on the site of the currently closed Fleur de Lys pub in Totley. The current building was built on the site of previous pubs in 1933 – ‘Mock Tudor’  style – a popular 1930’s style for both houses and pubs. Possible sources of the Fleur de Lys name are: (i) the heraldic iris on the coat of arms of the Barker family who lived at Totley Hall OR ii) the arms of King Edward III who was King of both England and France. Angel at Spinkhill update – to confirm: all monies are now in place from both community offered loans and the principal investor group. Completion of the purchase of The Angel is all set to be completed towards the end of August as planned. Hopefully we’ll see the pub open again before too long! The New Barrack Tavern is hosting a charity music festival over the weekend of 22nd to 24th August.

Champion Beer of Britain

Posted on by Andy Cullen
CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain competition sees a selection and judging process over almost a year, with initial county categories selected by an online vote open to all CAMRA members followed by a programme of judging in their categories at various beer festivals around the country until the finalists are judged by a blind tasting panel at the Great British Beer Festival with the winner crowned at the trade session, which was this year on Tuesday 12th August. Amongst breweries near us there were a couple of honourable mentions with Peak Ales’ Chatsworth Gold getting a bronze in the speciality category and Spire Brewery’s Prince Igor Imperial Russian Stout getting a bronze in the real ale in a bottle category. The overall winner, just pipping Oakham Citra to the post was a classic Yorkshire bitter – Timothy Taylor Boltmaker. Timothy Taylor isn’t exactly one of the more fashionable breweries in the ‘craft beer revolution’ being stubbornly and proudly traditional, however there is no denying their commitment to quality beer. Nik Antona, Champion Beer of Britain Director, spoke in praise of today’s winner. He said: “It is fantastic to announce Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker as the Champion Beer of Britain 2014. This full flavoured bitter is a modern classic that is as impressive today as the day it was first brewed. ” Head Brewer Peter Eells said, “I’m speechless. We work very hard to produce great beers and we really believe this is the best beer we can brew – so to have it acknowledged in such an important competition is absolutely fantastic.” Managing Director Charles Dent added, “We’re absolutely delighted. It’s our favourite, it’s the brewers favourite, it’s the beer that you drink if you’re drinking with us and it’s named after one of our favourites pubs – The Boltmakers.” The full results by category: Overall winners- Gold – Timothy Taylors, Boltmaker Silver – Oakham, Citra Bronze – Salopian, Darwin’s Origin Mild category- Gold – Bank Top, Dark Mild Silver – Branscombe Vale, Mild Bronze – Castle Rock, Black Gold Bitters category- Gold – Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker Silver – Mighty Oak, Captain Bob Joint Bronze – Flowerpots, Flowerpots Bitter & Sambrook’s Wandle Ale Best Bitters- Gold – Salopian, Darwin’s Origin Silver – Red Willow, Directionless Joint Bronze – Purity, Mad Goose & Langton, Inclined plain bitter Golden Ales- Gold – Oakham, Citra Silver – Hawkshead, Cumbrian Five Hop Bronze – Salopian, Hop Twister Strong Bitters- Gold – Church End, Fallen Angel Silver – Blue Monkey, Ape Ale Bronze –Loch Ness, HoppyNESS Speciality Beers- Gold – Saltaire, Triple Chocoholic Silver – Offbeat, Way Out Wheat Bronze – Peak Ales, Chatsworth Gold Champion Winter Beer of Britain (from category winners announced in January 2014)- Cairngorm, Black Gold (Stouts Category) Dunham Massey, Dunham Porter (Porter Category) Exe Valley, Winter Glow (Old Ales & Strong Milds) Kinver, Over the Edge (Barley Wines & Strong Old Ales) Champion Bottled Beer of Britain winners  (Sponsored by Beer Hawk) Gold – Marble, Chocolate Marble Silver – St Austell, Proper Job Bronze – Spire, Prince Igor Imperial Russian Stout

Pub Matters

Posted on by Andy Cullen
Pubs Matter Final Logo CAMRA has launched a new hard-hitting campaign to urge the Government to close national planning loopholes. The campaign, ‘Pubs Matter: So why can’t we have a say’, aims to give power back to local communities by ensuring planning permission is always required before the change of use or demolition of a pub. Local pubs are currently closing at an alarming rate and every week two pubs are converted into supermarkets. CAMRA says the current planning system too often leaves local communities powerless to act in the face of big companies and unscrupulous developers keen to exploit these loopholes. Under current planning law, pubs can be demolished or converted into several other uses including supermarkets and estate agents without requiring planning permission. CAMRA says allowing pubs to be converted without a planning application is ludicrous – and Government must step in and close these loopholes as a matter of urgency. Tom Stainer, CAMRA’s Head of Communications said: “Popular and profitable pubs are being left vulnerable by gaps in English planning legislation as pubs are increasingly being targeted by those wishing to take advantage of the absence of proper planning control. “It is wrong that communities are left powerless when a popular local pub is threatened with demolition or conversion into a Tesco store. “It is time for the Government to stop standing by while pubs are being targeted due to gaps in planning law.” With a simple amendment to the General Permitted Development Order 1995, any demolition or change of use involving the loss of a pub would require planning permission. This small change by Government would save hundreds of pubs from closure and give communities a powerful new weapon in the battle to protect our pubs. To support the campaign please go to www.pubsmattter.org.uk Pubs-31

Pubs support over 1 million UK jobs and inject an average of£80,000 into their local economy each year.

31 pubs close every week.

Research by CAMRA found that 2 pubs are converted to supermarkets every week between January 2012-2014.

69% of all adults believe that a well-run community pub is as important to community life as a post office, local shop or community centre.*

75% of all adults believe that pubs make a valuable contribution to life in Britain.**

White Lion, Heeley

Posted on by Andy Cullen
The White Lion in Heeley, Sheffield has been chosen as the Regional Finalist (Yorkshire, The North East and Scotland) for the Great British Pub Awards 2014, a prestigious annual event that takes place nationally. Following recognition as the only pub from Yorkshire selected as a finalist for the Best Entertainment category, The White Lion will be heading to the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane in London on Thursday 11th September to attend the awards ceremony and battle it out with the 5 other region winners for the acclaimed award of being the UK’s number #1 pub. Danny Grayson, multi-site operator and owner of both The White Lion and Champs, said: “This is fantastic news for Yorkshire and I am delighted to see the work put in by myself, my managers Martin and Linda Allen and Punch Taverns has been recognised at a national level. Thanks are due to the performers and customers who have supported us, helping to keep music live – we’re absolutely thrilled by the award”. The White Lion, with a great selection of real ale and fine malt whisky, has a diverse range of live music all week round and all events are free.

Toolmakers Brewery

Posted on by Andy Cullen
Marion is pleased to announce that she has completed (under Olie’s supervision) her first brew.  It is a 4% ABV bitter style beer using Galena and Hallertauer hops. Toolmakers are also pleased to announce the receipt of their first festival award – Black Edge Stout (5.2% ABV) came third at the recent Imperial Club Beer Festival in Mexborough. This beer also features regularly in The Forest. Two beers are being supplied to Peterborough Beer Festival at the end of August – G Philips Driver and Top Forge – both 4.2% ABV blond beers. As the new function room area nears completion, brewery tours are now available. To celebrate this a Brewery Open Day (in association with The Forest) is planned for Saturday 6th September between 3pm and 9pm, where four Toolmakers beers will be available at £1 a half.

Pub of the Month September 2014

Posted on by Andy Cullen
The Three Tuns is a classical, nicely decorated and fairly unique pub of a long, thin shape with a corner seat at one end at ‘the bow of the ship’! Andy Stephens’ Reet Ales Pub Company took on the lease with Punch Taverns in November 2013 and installed a team of fantastic staff to run the pub with him including assistant manager Kate Major who moved down from sister pub the Closed Shop and shift Manager Jaimie Watts who came from Abbeydale Sports Club. Other Tuns folk to look out for apart from the guys in the Kitchen are quizmaster Doug who hosts every Wednesday at 6pm and not to forget the newest face behind the bar, Jasper, in his first pub job and enjoying discovering new beers and already a hit with the customers! Since the pub reopened the range of real ales have increased with Blue Bee Light Blue and Sharps Doom Bar currently offered as the regular beers with a stout or porter also always available and the remaining pumps filled with interesting guest ales from local breweries on the SIBA list. Traditional Cider is also available, usually from Westons. The pub is popular with office workers during the daytime (hence the quiz being held at 6pm), many of whom are popping in for a bite to eat, then real ale drinkers are increasingly calling in for a beer in the evenings and weekends as they head down the hill from the City Centre to the Kelham Island pub circuit. The pub is reputed to be haunted, however staff so far in the last 9 months have only reported 2 such instances… Food is now served all day at the Three Tuns, from midday to 9pm Mondays to Saturdays  with a menu of hot and cold sandwiches and classic pub meals featuring, supplemented with a specials board that changes regularly. The pub opens 11:30am on weekdays and midday on Saturdays, with the bar remaining open until 11pm Monday to Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday. It is closed on Sundays when private hire is possible for large groups. Although the location of the pub is considered by many to be hidden away, it is actually easy to find, behind the cathedral and roll diagonally down Paradise Square, it can be found across the road from the HSBC bank offices and Hilton Hotel. We are presenting the well deserved Pub of the Month award on the evening of Thursday 18th September. Festivities will start early at about 6pm for the after work crowd, we’ll be appearing with the certificate from about 8pm, all are welcome to drink beer and party!