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.

Majority of pub-goers feel safe

Posted on by Andy Cullen

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has called on governments to adapt the tier systems to let all pubs trade in December, after new YouGov research finds that the majority of pub-goers believe that pubs and other hospitality venues offer a Covid-secure environment.

The survey, conducted on the behalf of CAMRA, found that 82% of GB adults who have been to the pub at least once in the last six months felt hospitality businesses were Covid-secure environments, reflecting the huge investment many pubs have made to re-open during the pandemic.

Many pubs have invested thousands to utilise new technologies to introduce track and trace, table service, flexi glass screening, new sanitation stations and deep cleans. CAMRA has consistently called on government to offer evidence into virus transmissions within the pub setting and is asking ministers to publish the evidence on which decisions are being taken about what the tier system in England will look like after lockdown ends on 2 December.

The Campaign has also called on the Scottish Government to reexamine strict restrictions on pubs as part of its five tier system.

The consumer group now wants the UK Government to adapt the tier system in England to allow all pubs to open on the 3 December – regardless of whether they serve food or not – so that consumers can enjoy the personal wellbeing benefits of pub-going over the Christmas season.

CAMRA’s National Chairman Nik Antona said:

“Businesses should be allowed to open based on whether they can provide a Covid-secure environment – not based on whether they serve food. Publicans have invested thousands to keep their customers safe this year and comply with additional regulations and track and trace requirements, and this research shows that customers recognise this too.

“We are particularly concerned that wet-led pubs have been hit by forced closure in Tier 3 areas even before lockdown and have been left out from the VAT reductions that only apply to food and non-alcoholic drinks, despite needing support just as much as other hospitality venues.  It’s vital that they are given the chance to trade after lockdown ends. 

 “The Government also need to properly review curfew, which Sage scientists advise has a marginal effect on suppressing the virus and there are concerns that it leads to mingling in non-Covid-safe environments, such as people’s homes. With no evidence to suggest that curfews work, we believe the initiative should be scrapped – especially from the lower Tier levels when lockdown ends.“

“For a long time, CAMRA has championed community pubs as the home of responsible drinking. This Christmas, we believe pubs should be the Covid-safe home to enjoy a pint.” 


 		How often Pub Since pubs have reopened 
 Total Every day A few times a week Once a fortnight Once a month Once every 2 to 3 months Once every 6 months Never Don’t know/ can’t recall 
Weighted Sample20187102176233242176101468
Unweighted Sample 2018897170244255182100161
Thinking about places that you have visited since the coronavirus outbreak, how covid secure, if at all, do you feel in the following…Hospitality businesses e.g. pubs, bars, restaurants etc.)          
Very secure 1549332229221379
Fairly secure 401463625363582326
TOTAL SECURE556396848285713035
Not very secure 13184121511191310
Not secure at all 4180414656
TOTAL NOT SECURE17364161615251816
Not applicable – I have not visited this place since the coronavirus outbreak 280001045249

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2018 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29-30 October 2020. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Save Our Pubs campaign – email your MP

Brewery Brief

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Neepsend now has a brewery shop selling their beer in cans and mini-kegs along with merchandise. You can also order online for home delivery. One of the beers recently canned is Paikea, a 4.4% New Zealand Pale and yes, they’ve spotted the typo on the label…

Crosspool Ale Makers have brewed a Gluten Free 4% ABV Pilsener called “He Ain’t Heavy”. It is available to order online in cans for collection or delivery.

Grizzly Grain‘s latest beer is Auto Barn, a 4.5% ABV Spelt and Rye Hefeweizen, available in bottles for home delivery. The next beer, currently being brewed, is an American Brown Ale.

Drone Valley Brewery are now offering Christmas gift packs, available to order online.

Triple Point Brewery now have a separate shop located in the warehouse next door to the brewery and bar which you can buy cans, minikegs, merchandise etc from without having to order in advance. Latest brews include Kokos, a coconut stout; Parkin, a 7.2% AVB Treacle and ginger ale; and Substantial Meal, a 4.5% session IPA.

Recent beer releases from Abbeydale Brewery include “Through The Sticks”, a 5.1% lightly smoky sour beer with rosemary & lemon brewed in collaboration with Little Earth Project and the latest version of “Indulgence”, this time a Honeycombe Chocolate Stout. Both beers are available in can and can be ordered online either to collect from the brewery or for home delivery.

The Kelham Island Brewery 30th anniversary special beer, which some of you may have tried on cask at the Fat Cat or other pubs, is now available in cans from the brewery shop or to order online for home delivery.

Sheffield Brewery Company temporarily closed their brewing operations at the start of lockdown v2 on 5 November, with their taproom already forced to close under tier 3 restrictions towards the end of October. They are hoping to be back in business in December after lockdown when the pubs are able to reopen. (UPDATE – from 27th November they will be commencing weekly deliveries for beer ordered online).

Little Critters beers are now available in cans and minikegs from selected off licences or to order direct from the brewery for delivery. The latest beer to be canned is “C-Monster”, their 6.5% Citrus IPA.

Little Mesters Brewing is up and running and their website is due to go live soon and are also promising an imminent announcement about beer and merchandise! They are based at the former Mitchell’s Hop House brewery, which is next door to Mitchell’s Wine Merchants at Meadowhead and have a tap room upstairs.

Eyam Brewery have introduced a “1665 series” which sees some of their regular beers jacked up a few notches. The latest release in this series is a Black Death Imperial Vanilla Stout at 11% (their regular Black Death Vanilla Stout is 7% ABV) offering deeper, more complex flavours than normal! It is available in 750ml bottles.

National lockdown from 5 November

Posted on by Andy Cullen

The government have announced that a second national Coronavirus lockdown, where you are asked to stay home as much as possible, will be in force from 5 November until at least 2 December.

Non essential retail and leisure will be closed down for the duration, which of course means pubs and bars will be closed for eating and drinking on the premises.

As a food and drink retailer, pubs will be allowed to do takeaway sales and home delivery (the same as supermarkets etc.) like in the first lockdown, however this time there is a requirement that all sales must be ordered ahead either online or by phone.

If your local pubs aren’t offering take home beer sales, it however doesn’t mean you are limited to what the supermarket chains have to offer – don’t forget you can get an interesting selection of quality beers including some from local breweries from the various independent specialist beer shops around our area or alternatively many brewers offer home delivery on bottles, cans, bag-in-box and mini-kegs!

THE FINAL DAY OF LOCKDOWN 2.0 IS 1 DECEMBER 2020. FROM 2 DECEMBER WE MOVE TO THE NEW TIER 3

A pint-sized social history

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Discover the story of the how the Peak District ‘local’ made the journey from humble alehouse to modern public house and meet some of the regulars along the way, including lead miners, packhorse men and navvies, plus the odd highwayman and a fair sprinkling of ghosts.

The author Andrew McCloy lives in the Peak District and has written and
edited over 20 books covering subjects such as the Pennine Way, Roman Britain and the Peak District Boundary Walk. He is currently Chair of the Peak District National Park Authority.

Buy Peak District Pubs: A pint-sized social history online

Review coming soon!

Breweries offering home delivery

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Whilst many pubs are closed and in Sheffield we aren’t generally allowed to meet friends & family we don’t live with, it being a tier 3 Covid alert area, you may be choosing to enjoy beer at home. That doesn’t have to mean supermarket booze though, a number of our local breweries sell beer in bottles, cans and minikegs and some will even deliver to your door if you order enough!

For those that do small pack but don’t deliver, don’t forget your friendly independent beer shop may sell it (including some that deliver such as Hop Hideout, Beer Central or the Beer Stop at Dronfield).

There are also some pubs (and also the Archer Road Beer Stop off-licence) that can sell you fresh hand-pulled cask beer to go in carry out cartons.

Here is a list of breweries based in Sheffield or close by that we know deliver to addresses in Sheffield:

Intrepid Brewing aren’t delivering but are operating a brewery shop on an ad hoc basis, check their Twitter feed for opening hours.

South Yorkshire moving to tier 3 Covid lockdown

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Saturday 24 October sees Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster move up to tier 3 which means you aren’t allowed to mix with anyone outside your own household or support bubble except in parks and the countryside, additionally pubs are only allowed to remain open to serve meals.

You will still be able to go to the pub for food (and have a drink with your meal) but of course not with anyone you don’t live with.

This will see any pub that doesn’t serve food closed down and most that do starved of custom, putting them at risk of going out of business. Those that have to close get some government help with wages and possibly a small grant, but this is expected to be inadequate to keep them in business.

The situation has been described as heartbreaking that the hospitality sector is being targeted in this way when many others others haven’t despite investing a lot of effort and money adapting to be clean, safe and covid-secure.

Like with the 10pm curfew, there are likely to be side effects, for example encouraging groups of friends to eat and drink in potentially busy public parks where there isn’t the same kind of regulation as licenced premises.

We encourage all our members (and anyone else reading this!) to keep supporting local pubs and breweries through this wherever possible – consider going to the pub for lunch; or buying cans, bottles or minikegs to drink at home directly from local breweries.

If you haven’t already, please email your MP to call for proper government financial support for pubs to help them survive whilst doing their bit to keep everyone safe – the Save Our Pubs campaign page makes it easy to do.

PUBLICANS: please let us know if you are remaining open serving food and beer from Saturday so we can add you to our list online.

Government information regarding tier 3 (very high alert)

Statement from Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis

BBC News coverage

Star Pubs Code fine

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Commenting on the announcement that Heineken UK’s pub arm, Star Pubs & Bars, has been fined £2m after being found to have seriously and repeatedly breached the Pubs Code, CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said:

“This is a good and deserved outcome for Star tenants – and a landmark moment for the Pubs Code Adjudicator. We are glad that the PCA has used their financial penalty powers for the first time. 

“We hope this will send a clear message to regulated pub companies that they cannot get away with breaching the Code. In this case, the PCA found repeated breaches of the Code in multiple areas – we want to see further investigations from the PCA to make sure that other regulated pub companies are complying.

“The pub sector as we know it is currently under threat due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, and lack of proper financial support from central Government. Pub companies need to be supporting their tied tenants through this, and at a very minimum this should mean fulfilling their basic obligations under the Code. As we see further local lockdowns and forced closures periods, we are again calling on pub companies to do the right thing and cancel rent for publicans that are unable to trade.

“We are also looking forward to the publication on the Pubs Code Review, which we hope will expand the enforcement options available to the PCA so that they can act more quickly and decisively to clamp down on abuse of the Code in future.” 

Nik Anita, CAMRA National Chairman

Brewery Bits

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Abbeydale Brewery normally host Funkfest at the brewery in September, showcasing beers from their “Funk Dungeon” project along with other sour and mixed fermentation beers from guest brewers. With the Covid pandemic this hasn’t been possible, so they are taking it to people’s homes with limited edition Funkfest beer packs available to order from their website from 5th October and local bottle shops selling suggested guest beers. This will run alongside online tutored tastings and video tours of the brewery over the weekend of 30th October to 1st November!

Neepsend Brew Co have brought back a tweaked version of one of the beers from their back catalogue, Tabaldak is a New England style beer brewed with plenty of oats, wheat & dextrin malts and big flameout and dry hop additions.

Thornbridge Brewery are celebrating Jaipur IPA’s 15th anniversary with a special dry hopped edition, the return of Jaipur X and a gift pack available to order online.

Little Mesters is the new brewing company that have taken over the brewery attached to Mitchells Wines shop at Meadowhead, along with the upstairs tap room. Check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/littlemestersbrewing/.

First weekend of curfew

Posted on by Andy Cullen
Socially distanced layout and hand sanitising station at the Industry Tap
Bar now behind safety screens at the Washington

New government rules came in from Thursday 24 September, which in addition to the existing Covid-secure guidelines (which are now law), includes a requirement for all pubs, clubs, restaurants and fast food outlets to be closed by no later than 10pm.

Publicans have put a lot of work, time and money into ensuring their venues are clean, safe and in line with government Covid-secure guidelines. This includes a reduced capacity (with reduced income!) to ensure tables are socially distanced, cleaning tables between every customer, signing customers in for NHS Test and Trace, everyone wearing face coverings when moving around the premises, installing perspex barriers where necessary, operating table service and more. They are also enforcing the ‘rule of six’ with groups of no more than six people allowed together and reminding customers they should not mix with other groups.

Back in 2005, Tony Blair’s government introduced reform of our licencing laws, which included the ability of pubs to apply for whatever opening hours suited the location instead of the established rules where every pub had to close at 11pm and nightclub at 2am, which saw large numbers leaving every venue at the same time putting huge pressure on late night fast food establishments and transport infrastructure with queues in takeaways, taxi ranks, bus stops etc. with arguments and disorder breaking out. Many of these problems were now history to some degree.

So back to the present, September 2020, with pubs, clubs, restaurants and fast food joints all closing their doors at the same time, 10pm… how were the first few days?

Many venues reported poor trade on Thursday and a disappointing Friday. The issue of course, for a viable evening out that finishes earlier, is it needs to start earlier – which isn’t always possible on days when people are at work or university all day. Saturday was a different story with areas such as the City Centre and Kelham Island buzzing by around 5pm and queues forming in some locations, with an hour wait for a table reported at the Benjamin Huntsman Wetherspoon as an example.

Note this week was Freshers’ Week, when the new university students have arrived and enjoying discovering their new home city ahead of the academic year starting next week.

Bargain Beers – 24 hour shop stayed open doing great trade supplying house parties long after the pubs shut!
Sainsbury’s Local stays open until 11pm – an hour later than pubs

What was observed on both Friday and Saturday night was come 10pm when the pubs closed, the off licences and convenience stores – which have not been hit by any requirement to close early – were doing a roaring trade in alcohol and snacks to take back to house parties (which of course are totally unregulated and a much bigger health risk than a pub!). It is also worth noting that while fast food takeaways and restaurants have to close their doors by 10pm, they can still do home deliveries all night if they wish, catering for house parties quite nicely!

While public transport appears to have coped in Sheffield, there was clearly a higher than normal demand for taxis with Uber implementing surge pricing, charging double the normal fare. In some cities the crowds in the streets that had all left the pubs at the same time apparently formed impromptu street parties, although there doesn’t seem to have been any reports of this in Sheffield.

So the conclusion – the 10pm curfew is potentially killing hospitality businesses and the jobs in that trade as well as putting people at greater risk to Covid. I would encourage all to raise this with their MP and get this policy overturned.

CAMRA’s response to the government’s 10pm closure announcement

Students, welcome to Sheffield!

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Whether you are a fresher arriving in the city for the first time or an established student returning for the new academic year following the summer break, welcome to Sheffield, a place packed full of great pubs, bars and breweries!

Unfortunately with Coronavirus restrictions in place to keep everyone safe, things aren’t quite the party they were and the pubgoing experience is a little different – however most of the good pubs, bars and tap rooms have reopened and are following government guidance to operate in a Covid-Safe way (please help them stay open and safe by following the rules!).

We’re here to help you on your adventure enjoying great beer and discovering fantastic places to drink it, check out the links below!

Click here for our guide to Covid-Safe pubgoing including group sizes, test and trace, the sitting down rule and social distancing.

Click here for information on getting to the pub by bus or tram.

Click here for some local area pub guides to inspire your next beery excursion