Dorothy Pax announces reopening plans

The Dorothy Pax at Victoria Quays in Sheffield City Centre is currently operating as a shop for take home drinks but has now revealed how things will operate there when the government gives pubs the go ahead to reopen.. We’re currently making plans to welcome you back to the Pax Beer Garden as per current guidelines set out by the government. As it stands at the moment this will be Saturday 4th July. As you can appreciate we’re proceeding with caution as this may change. Our safety procedures will exceed over and above government guidelines. The safety of staff and customers is our absolute top priority. Therefore we will be serving delicious beverages in our socially distanced beer garden under a table booking system only whereby drinks are ordered via an app. It’s going to be a while yet until we can get back to pre-lockdown party times, but we have been closely following advice and guidelines throughout. This policy outlines what we understand will be a safe way for us and you to get back to a sense of normality whilst protecting us all and exceeding any government guidelines for when we are allowed to reopen the best beer garden in Sheffield. We are so very excited and from what you’ve told us you are too… but we must be safe. In order to provide the safest environment possible, drinks will be served at the Pax only under a table booking system in the beer garden to facilitate safe social distancing for all of us. You will be able to book a table for a slot for multiples of 2 hours at no cost of course. But we’d ask you to do so, so we can ensure we’re here to look after you Pax Purfect. Rest assured all tables and benches will be deep cleaned from one booking to the next and we will also supply a hand sanitizing station for each table. The capacity of the tables, for you, your small humans and hounds will follow government guidance at that time. Please try to arrive at the booking on time, by introducing yourselves at the door, then you’ll be shown to your table. For those arriving later in the evening on those sunny days, we recommend the “upper-decks” where sunlight lasts longer (table no 16 to 30). For those who want some shade we recommend those in front of the bar no (table no 1 to 15). Cancellation of tables can be made online, please let us know in good time so we can allow a fellow customer to book them if something crops up.

As all tables are outside, please bring everything you need whether that be sun-cream/a hat/coat/umbrella/giraffe/toddler/favourite pet. We would imagine at some point there may be food to take back to your tables from Kumquat Mae, but of course please feel free to bring your own food/table clothes/candelabra to enjoy. Help us stay clean and tidy by using the bins provided.

To order your drinks download the app, you will see a full menu and of course you can order your drinks before you arrive so they’ll be ready the moment you get here and during your time with us.  You’ll get a notification when your order is ready to collect from the door. Loads of toileting is available outside. These are all fully stocked as you have become familiar with on your previous visits. Do let us know if they need re-stocking. There are toilets inside however, these will be reserved for staff/baby changing facilities/small children and parents/or in fact anyone who really needs to use them, but please ask us before entering the building. Disabled access toilets are available across the footbridge with the key available upon request. We are working on DJ’s/Solo performances from live musicians and general Paxness and ways to entertain you whilst you are with us via a streaming service in typical pax style, but we’d ask that you refrain from boomboxes and the like just to be courteous to your fellow Paxers and our neighbours here by the canal. We’ve ramped up our already meticulous cleaning schedule and worked hard to source PPE for our staff in order to exceed government guidelines on safety and hygiene. Please keep your distance between each other. TO BOOK A TABLE >>> https://www.dorothypax.com/

Enjoying lockdown beer at home

The last time pubs, bars and restaurants were allowed to be open for enjoying food and drink on the premises was 20 March and we’ve now had nearly three months without being able to socialise with friends at such venues to protect us from the Covid-19 pandemic. CAMRA members enjoy the pubs and the people in them along with tasting the quality beers from craft brewers and will be keen to keep supporting their favourite pubs and brewers through lockdown where possible – those that hold off licences are still able to offer takeaway and home delivery services of both food and drink. For myself, the concept of drinking at home alone is a bit alien – that’s what alcoholics do isn’t it? However a change of mentality in general has been required to get through these unusual times and for myself I’ve enjoyed a beer in front of the TV most evenings after my daily walk and all the beers have been delivered to me at home by a local brewery or independent bottle shop and have mostly been ones that aren’t available in supermarkets. With the latest easings of lockdown restrictions, we are able to socially drink with up to 5 others in a private garden (remaining 2 metres apart of course) so some small BBQ parties have occurred over the last few weekends and mini-kegs have proved perfect for the occasion! So far I’ve had bottles, cans and mini kegs delivered directly from breweries including Abbeydale, Drone Valley, Eyam and Triplepoint; also had some more exotic choices delivered from the Beer Stop in Dronfield and Hop Hideout in Sheffield City Centre plus some takeout beer freshly handpulled from the Kelham Island Tavern. Many other options are of course available! It is expected that some pubs will be able to reopen with social distancing measures in place from 4th July, however until then CAMRA have some websites to help you enjoy them from home: Whatpub.com is our online pub guide and will show you which pubs are open selling beer and/or food to take home. Pulling Together is a joint CAMRA and SIBA initiative featuring a directory of breweries offering online orders either for home delivery or to click & collect. Brew2You is a website and app CAMRA has developed to offer an online sales platform for pubs and breweries that needed one to keep in business taking orders for takeaway and home delivery. Retailers on there in our region including Lost Industry’s Tap bar, Drone Valley Brewery, Acorn Brewery and Geeves Brewery.

Beery bits and bobs

The brewery at the Dronfield Arms, originally set up as Hopjacker, is currently out of use and available to rent. If you’re a professional brewer looking at setting up your own business and looking for an already set up premises and kit this could be an opportunity for you! Contact is the owner, Chris Sinclair, on 07834 950693. Chris is also looking to recruit a new manager for his micropub in Bakewell, the Joiners Arms, to reopen the bar post Covid 19, if that could be you give him a ring! Sheffield Brewery Company are now taking orders online for collection from the brewery, with beers available in bottle or bag-in-box. More details at sheffieldbrewery.com. Abbeydale Brewery‘s Rising Sun pub at Nether Green is opening limited weekend hours to buy take home beer from cask, keg and in cans as well as selected other drinks. They are also acting as a collection point for online beer orders placed on the Abbeydale Brewery website as an alternative to delivery. Check details at abbeydalebrewery.co.uk.

Grizzly Grains Brewing

Grizzly Grains had arranged to do a collaboration brew with Heeley City Farm for their fundraising beer festival, which of course got cancelled due to the Coronavirus restrictions. However they went ahead and brewed the beer anyway and have bottled it to drink at home! The beer is Belgian inspired and brewed with tons of Heather Honey from the farms own bees, hopped with Amarillo and Mandarins Bavaria for subtle orange flavour and comes in at 6% ABV. The brewery is donating £1 from every bottle of “Honey, I Brew up the Farm”, sold to Heeley City Farm. A second beer is also being released at the same time, Mangopocalypse, an 8% mango DIPA. Both beers will be available to order online along with bag-in-box cask beers for home delivery, their web shop launches on Thursday 28th May at grizzly-grains-brewing.myshopify.com Photos: Sam Bennett, Andrew Pearse and Rachel Gilbert

Carlsberg/Marston’s joint venture

Carlsberg and Marston’s have announced a joint venture: the Danish firm will own 60% of the new Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company with Marston’s holding 40% and receiving a cash payment of up to £273M. The new business will provide a mix of Carlsberg’s mass-market lagers and Marston’s cask, and will also supply Carlsberg beers into Marston’s estate of ~1,400. Commenting on the proposed joint venture beer company, Chief Executive of the Campaign for Real Ale Tom Stainer said: “This announcement about a proposed new Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company is a red flag to beer drinkers and pub goers across the UK and gives us cause for concern about the future of British beers, brands and breweries.   “If this joint venture goes ahead, we would see further consolidation of the brewing industry into just a few large, international players – to the detriment of our national brewing heritage, consumer choice, the diversity of beer in pubs across the country and the access to market for the small, independent brewing industry.   “CAMRA wants to see Carlsberg and Marston’s protect jobs and protect pubs, as well as to resist any brewery closures or moves which would see existing beers losing their identity, or regional character, as part of a merger.” In our branch area there are several pubs who could be affected. These include, in Derbyshire, the Eyre Arms (Calver), the Scotsman’s Pack (Hathersage) and the Star (Tideswell). In Sheffield, Marston’s have the Double Top (Halfway), Eighteen Ten (Carbrook), the Hare and Hounds (Oughtibridge), the Howard (City Centre), and the Milestone (Crystal Peaks). We also have concerns regarding the internationally unique Marston’s Brewery. This is the only one in the world to use the ‘Burton Union’ system of brewing: a Union set consists of large wooden casks, on their sides in rows, suspended off the floor in a frame by large metal axles. Each barrel is fitted with a bottom valve that leads to a bottom trough. A cooling coil is in each barrel to control fermentation. The barrels are linked together by a series of pipes so that liquid can be evenly dispersed throughout the Union. Fermenting wort is introduced at the feeder vessel and flows into the barrels. As the yeast ferments, it is forced out of the barrels in bursts. As the fermentation proceeds, a large amount of healthy yeast is retained in the top trough and the beer in the barrels gradually becomes bright. The yeast is collected from the top trough for subsequent use. After about six days, the fully fermented beer is moved to a finishing vessel, blended with other beer, or packaged in casks. The Burton Union at Marston’s is currently only used to brew Marston’s Pedigree. Dave Pickersgill

Steel City Beer & Cider Festival announcement

It is with great regret that the Sheffield branch of the Campaign for Real Ale have to announce that we are cancelling this year’s Steel City Beer & Cider Festival. Obviously we were looking forward to staging another great festival, but with the current social distancing measures looking set to continue for some time, it became obvious that we couldn’t ensure the safety of our visitors and still retain the atmosphere that makes it such a special event. Rest assured we are already looking forward to 2021 and in fact have two events planned. The National CAMRA Members Weekend, AGM & Conference takes place at Sheffield City Hall from 16th to 18th April, and of course the next Steel City Beer & Cider Festival, from 14th to 17th October. We anticipate that restrictions will be lifted sufficiently by then for these events to be a fantastic celebration of Real Ale and Sheffield’s role in its continuing success. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to support our local breweries and pubs with their home delivery and off-licence schemes. We are fortunate to have some of the best in the country and I’m sure we all want them to still be here when things return to normal. Stay safe and we hope to see you around in 2021. Paul Crofts, festival organiser

Sheffield Survival Box launched!

A new website has been launched by the guys behind Heist Brew Co – who are in the process of relocating to the Neepsend area of Sheffield – celebrating everything independent in Sheffield which will help to support local businesses amidst government guidelines impacting their current operations and bringing you at home some great treats! The website will host a number of handpicked Sheffield independents that will form the  survival boxes, with the chance for the public to suggest other independents they’d like to see in future boxes. The boxes will contain beer, gin, chocolate, snacks, tea, coffee plus  more from names such as Abbeydale, St Mars of the desert, Bullion Chocolate, Yorkshire Crisps, Triple Point, Hendersons, Robin of Locksley and SMO:FO, amongst others, all of which celebrate Sheffield and showcase what is on offer in the city. Visitors and customers to the site will also have the opportunity to make a donation to the NHS as part of their order, all of which proceeds will be donated to Sheffield Hospitals. Heist Brew Co had this to say ‘The Sheffield independent community has always been one that has inspired us, collaboration plays a huge part in each of our lives, and we wanted to collate the best that Sheffield has to offer in a box delivered direct to your door. We have teamed up with a number of friends in the industry, independent breweries, distilleries, artists and food producers to bring you different survival boxes that you can enjoy at home.’ You can find the website at sheffieldsurvivalbox.com

Pubs and breweries offered a new route to market with CAMRA app

The Campaign for Real Ale is launching a new app called Brew2You on 6 May which will allow customers to order their favourite drink from local pubs and breweries trying to stay afloat during lockdown. Pubs and breweries can use the app to create a menu which customers can order from, making it easy for local businesses to sell beer and cider without going through the hassle of setting up their own online shops or complicated e-commerce services. The app will be free-to-use for pubs and breweries who will receive the full price charged for their products. CAMRA will not charge a commission for use, pubs and breweries just need to pay a small £2/month fee for Stripe usage, which manages payments separately. To sign up as a partner, simply visit brew2you.co.uk and set up your shop. Nik Antona, CAMRA’s National Chairman said: “The Brew2You app is the next logical step in CAMRA’s Pulling Together campaign, launched with SIBA and Crowdfunder to support the industry during this difficult time. “We already have 2,000 breweries, pubs and cideries listed as offering takeaway or delivery services so that consumers can support local businesses during lockdown, but it is still a multi-step process to then go on and order beer. “The Brew2You app brings all of this great work onto one platform so that users can not only search for but also order their favourite drink with just a click of the button.” The app has also already received widespread support across the industry with endorsement from Cask Marque and SIBA, who will also be encouraging their members to sign up. Paul Nunny Director of Cask Marque said: “It is great to see the industry working together supporting local brewers and pubs. Many pubs have responded to the challenge to help their communities and this app makes it easy for the two to work closer together. The app gives pubs a single platform to promote their offering. Well done to CAMRA – now let us take advantage of modern technology to help our businesses.” James Calder, SIBA Chief Executive said: “SIBA are delighted to be working with CAMRA to promote the amazing beers available from independent breweries across the UK. With pubs and bars closed, breweries are putting more beer into bottles and cans than ever before and launching local delivery and takeaway services too – the Brew2You app helps beer lovers find the best beer from small independent craft breweries in their local area. Not only is it great for consumers as they can get the freshest, tastiest beer available near to them, but they will be helping a local independent business survive during these difficult times.” CAMRA is now asking pubs, clubs, breweries and cideries to sign up on the platform ahead of the launch date on 6 May to ensure a good coverage of services when it goes live.

Abbeydale Moonshine in cans!

Sheffield-based Abbeydale Brewery are just days away from releasing their much-loved flagship beer, Moonshine, in can – having adapted their business significantly due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Brewery director Dan Baxter says of the release “Whilst it has always been a long-term ambition of ours of offer Moonshine in small pack, the present crisis has accelerated our plans. Moonshine is a beer which has so many loyal followers, especially in our hometown of Sheffield (which drinks about 70% of all the Moonshine we make!) and so we have responded by moving those plans forward much more quickly, allowing our drinkers the option of consuming our most popular beer from the comfort and safety of their own homes.” The recipe for Moonshine in can is exactly the same as that for the much-loved cask beer, which has continually accounted for around 50% of Abbeydale Brewery’s output. The brewery has always preferred canning as a method of presenting beer to bottling, as brewery owner Pat Morton explains – “Cans are light proof with less chance of extraneous air leaking in, both of which allow for a much higher quality finished product when compared to bottles. Cans are also lightweight, transport more easily than glass, and recycle well. Properly dealt with, the canned product is an excellent version of the beer. We have always prided ourselves on the quality and consistency of our products and we truly believe this extends to Moonshine in can.” Named Sheffield’s most likely cask ale to be found on bars around the city throughout the last decade, most recently in the Sheffield CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale) 2019 Beer Census, Moonshine has been the recipient of numerous awards over the 24 years of Abbeydale’s history. Beginning with winning Sheffield’s Steel City Beer Festival on its very first appearance in 1996, other significant accolades include Champion Beer of Yorkshire 2012, runner up Champion Beer Of Yorkshire 2017, and a national bronze medal in the Golden Ale category at the prestigious Champion Beer of Britain Awards in 2018. During the present crisis, Abbeydale Brewery are very mindful of the devastating effects this is having on their pub customers who have been forced to close for the foreseeable future, and so are endeavouring to continue to support the trade via a “pay it forward” initiative, whereby members of the public placing orders of over £40 on their online shop are invited to nominate a pub of their choosing to receive a credit off a future order when they are able to reopen. Abbeydale Brewery have already made a name for themselves as producers of high quality beer in can, with their ever-growing Brewers Emporium range having been available for the past three years, however the recent addition to their brewery of their own canning line, a three-head filler manufactured by Wild Goose, has allowed them to increase production in this area in order to meet with growing demand. Moonshine cans launch on Tuesday 12th May.