Author: Andy Cullen

Back in 2005 Martyn Hillier opened the Butchers Arms in a former butchers shop in Herne, Kent and came along to the CAMRA AGM the following year as a guest speaker to talk about the concept. Now 12 years later there are about 300 micropubs across the UK that are members of the Micropub Association and many more that have developed beyond the original template set by the Butchers Arms. Some are in the style of traditional pubs and some are more modern bars, however what they all have in common is they are small, friendly shop size venues with a focus on offering a small but high quality range of drinks and snacks. In Sheffield we have a number now and can fall into one of three categories – traditional micropub, small modern bar and beer shop with tasting counter. The original one in the traditional category is the Beer House at Hunters Bar, located in a shop unit that was previously an e-cigarette retailer! It feels like a proper real ale pub but smaller. There is a good range of real ales here including a house beer ‘Beer House Pale’ brewed by Hopjacker brewery complemented by quality spirits sourced by the local specialist off licence, Starmoreboss. Snacks are available including cheese and meat platters, pork pies and crisps. Just down the road is the Portland House, opened by Welbeck Abbey Brewery in a shop unit that was previously a Cooplands Bakery sandwich shop! It operates on a similar basis to the Beer House but has a much more modern look and feel to the place. The Itchy Pig Alehouse in Broomhill in terms of style sits somewhere between the two, has a range of real ales and craft kegs, snacks are very pig themed with pork pies and scratchings! In the City Centre we have the Drink Inn on Commercial Street in premises that were once a fish & chip shop, this is really a modern bar on a small scale. It is friendly and has a choice of three regularly changing real ales plus a keg selection taking in both craft and the mainstream. The beer shop category includes Hop Hideout on Abbeydale Road and Walkley Beer Company at Walkley, these are basically small bottle shops with the addition of a big communal table and some draught beer taps behind the shop counter. Finally we have the ‘pop up pub’ that is slowly developing into a proper micropub – the Bar Stewards Hop Yard on Gibralter Street, opposite Shakespeares pub. At the moment it opens selected weekends with a different range of real ales on handpump each time along with a bottled craft beer selection and makeshift furniture, however there are grander plans afoot once it is permanently licenced rather than just on temporary event notices. Other micropubs to try nearby include:

• Chesterfield Alehouse, West Bars – Chesterfield
• Beer Parlour, Whittington Moor – Chesterfield
• Wath Tap, Wath upon Dearne – near Rotherham
• Arcade Alehouse, Barnsley

Across Sheffield there are dozens, probably hundreds, of locations which at one stage in their lives were pubs. Many of these relics play a part in the fabric of what has evolved from their change of use. However, there remain many examples of dead pubs which are closed: boarded-up or, possibly, derelict. We asked in March BM for examples of such pubs – our list has grown. Thanks to all who supplied names, especially Pitsmoor Pete for his extensive listing. Some have will have closed through lack of custom while others are mere pawns in the development of a property empire. Some are eye-sores: ideally they should be demolished and replaced by low-cost housing. However, many offer the possibility of regeneration. For example, The Boardwalk, the venue where the Clash played their first gig, was in the press recently. An enterprising partnership wanted to take it on, but, we believe, were thawed by a combination of legalise and no sense of urgency from the owners. This is a perfect example of a pub that has fallen out of favour, but has a wealth of goodwill among Sheffield pub goers that could see it return to the thriving venue it once. There are many similar examples: the Matilda has slowly decayed since closure over ten years ago: the building is in a regenerating area of Sheffield. Why is it not open and thriving? Outside the city centre, there are many examples: the Fairfield has slowly decayed since closure, the Plough at Sandygate is been allowed to slowly rot and the Durham Ox and Ye Olde Harrow by Park Hill are both in total disrepair, yet now within a growing area of student accommodation. As circumstances change, what was an unviable pub in an unpopular area, can become a much different business proposition than when it last traded. Some derelict sites offer the potential to become ‘Phoenix pubs:’ pubs which like the Kelham Island Tavern and the Rutland have, under new management, revitalised themselves. We believe that sufficient energy exists in the ‘City of Makers’ to ensure that some derelict pubs can rise from the ashes. However, this requires a willingness on the part of their owners. Sadly, many pub companies seem more concerned with generating as much as possible from a change of use instead of allowing their pubs to evolve into the 21st. Century. It also seems reasonable to expect Sheffield City Council to offer some support to local businesses wishing to take on such ventures. The pubs quoted above are but a small selection of the possibilities available. Hopefully, these, and other pubs, have not yet seen their last pint. The phrase “Use Them Or Lose Them” may seem a cliche but it really is true, and we’re sure that CAMRA members across the city would be only too ready to help any reopening pub by making regular visits. The following Sheffield Pubs are currently closed, but offer the possibility of re-opening: 1. Arbourthorne Hotel, Arbourthorne 2. Ball Inn, Darnall 3. Ball, Myrtle Road 4. Barrow Boys, Shude Hill 5. The Boardwalk (Black Swan), Snig Hill 6. The Botanical, Ecclesall Road 7. Brtiannia, Worksop Road 8. Burgoyne Arms, Langsett Road 9. Cannon Hotel, 30 Castle Street 10. Carbrook Hall 11. Carlisle, Carlisle Street 12. Cherry Tree, Carterknowle Road 13. Closed Shop, Commonside 14. Cocked Hat, Worksop Road 15. Crown, Neepsend Lane 16. Cuthbert Bank, 164 Langsett Road 17. Dog and Partridge, Attercliffe Road 18. Durham Ox 19. Fairfield, Neepsend Lane 20. George and Dragon, Beighton 21. Hare and Hounds, Stannington 22. Hop, West One 23. Market Tavern, Exchange Street 24. Matilda, City Centre 25. Middlewood Tavern 26. New Inn, Duke Street 27. Olde Harrow, 80 Broad Street 28. Parson Cross Hotel 29. Pheasant, Barnsley Road 30. Plough, Crospool 31. Punchbowl, Crookes 32. Queens Hotel, Scotland Street 33. Red House, Solly Street 34. Red Lion, Holly Street 35. Rock House, Rock Street 36. Royal Oak, Chapeltown 37. Sportsman, Attercliffe Road 38. Star and Garter, Winter Street 39. Stockroom, Leadmill Road 40. Three Tuns, Silver Street Head 41. Turf Tavern, Handsworth Road 42. Under the Boardwalk, City Centre Paul Crofts and Dave Pickersgill

Millhouses is an area of Sheffield off the radar to many real ale drinkers, yet there are a number of pubs serving good beer all within an easy wander of one another and there are plenty of buses running out there! The Millhouses address: 951 Abbeydale Road, S7 2QD buses: 97,98,218 located on the main Abbeydale Road, this is a traditional looking pub on outside but has taken on a new lease of life as a gastropub inside with a seperate dining room area – there is still a bar with drinkers seating however and a small selection of real ales  is available. Robin Hood Address: Millhouses Lane, S7 2HB buses: 97, 98, 218 Part of the Ember Inns chain, this is a large pub with many handpumps on the bar, a CAMRA members discount at certain times and a value food menu. Despite being big and part of a national chain, it is comfortable and has friendly staff. Wagon & Horses Address: 57 Abbeydale Road South, S7 2QQ buses: 82, 97, 98, 218 Situated alongside Millhouses Park, this is a long, thin, stone built pub fronting onto the main road. Part of the pub was converted from an 18th century farmhouse! Given its location next to the park in can be busy when the weather is nice! The pub is now owned by True North Brewery and is split into two parts – the pub side where you can enjoy beers from True North as well as a selection of artisan gins and other nice drinks; and the restaurant side where the food offering varies by time of day – breakfasts and brunches, lunches & snacks and dinners – all freshly cooked. The Alehouse Address: 187 Fraser Road buses: 86, 96 A community pub located on the housing estate off Archer Road, near Sainsburys. A more down to earth and friendly venue than some of the others but with impeccable standards. A changing range of six real ales are available, a mixture of local favourites and interesting guests, all at very reasonable prices. A simple menu of home cooked food is served on Friday evenings, it is advisable to phone ahead and book if you wish to eat. There are also regular events including live music, quiz nights and more. And not a pub but… Archer Road Beer Stop Address: Archer Road Buses: 86, 96 A small corner shop off licence established for many years specialising in real ales and craft beers, featuring handpumps on the counter to pour cask ale to take away in plastic carry out containers. If you enjoy what the likes of Hop Hideout and Turners do with American style Growler fills of craft keg beers then you’ll probably also enjoy the longer established ‘old skool’ at Archer Road! More information on pubs can be found on CAMRA’s pub database website www.whatpub.com. Members can also use the site to submit updates and rate their beer.