Author: Andy Cullen

The Original Bierkeller on West Street have installed two handpumps on the smaller of the two bars in the venue with beer from Stancill available. The Graduate and the Globe have both benefited from a refurbishment, real ale continues to be available at both. The former Varsity bar on West Street, which had been closed for a while, has now reopened in the new guise of ‘Bar and Beyond‘ offering craft beer, cocktails and street food in the early evening before morphing into a nightclub with djs entertaining until the early hours. Anchorage in West One Plaza (off West Street) is no more – following a refurbishment it is now the Hope & Anchor. The Old Crown on London Road is now under the management of Reet Ale Pubs, who also run the Rutland Arms, Three Tuns, Closed Shop and Reet Pizza at the Punchbowl as well as own Blue Bee Brewery. Following a soft opening, a launch party is due to take place on 28th September. As well as real ale and cider, the Old Crown has a pool table, simple food offering and regular live music. Another Reet Ale pub, the Punchbowl at Crookes, has had a minor refurbishment to improve the seating and add a fireplace to make it feel more pub like. The Shiny Sheff near Lodge Moor has been bought by Marstons Brewery and is to undergo a refurbishment. The Place at Broomhill is to be refurbished and renamed ‘Bloomery‘, apparantly a steel making reference. The Porter Brook on Ecclesall Road has undergone something of a makeover. The Stocks and Greyhound in Ecclesfield and Carbrook Hall in Carbrook have all recently introduced real ale to the bar. The Alehouse on Fraser Road in Millhouses is under new ownership and all are welcome. The pub offers a range of reasonably priced real ales, home cooked food also features at tea time. The Harley Hotel is offering discounts on real ale to tram ticket holders as part of Stagecoach Supertram’s Tramendous deals scheme. A couple of bits of people news – from the Three Tuns and Shakespeare’s – Kate Major and Chris Bamford have both left their managers roles in the respective pubs, we wish them all the best for their new projects. There are stirrings again at the Boardwalk… watch this space for further news! A correspondent who is a regular at the Forest on Rutland Road emailed following last month’s PUBlic transport feature which listed all the real ale outlets along the section of tram route and 7/8 bus route in that part of the Upper Don Valley and asked we point out that the Forest is so much more than just the Toolmakers brewery tap – there is also  open mic’ night’s, quiz’s, live entertainment, Sunday lunches, a choice of guest beers and a soon to be opened new sun terrace. JD Wetherspoons are running one of their regular real ale festivals from 12th to 23rd October. Sheffield pubs include the Bankers Draft at Castle Square, Benjamin Huntsman and Waterworks by the City Hall, Francis Newton by the Hallamshire Hospital, Rawson Spring at Hillsborough tram stop, Sheaf Island on Ecclesall Road, Woodseats Palace at Woodseats and the Steel Foundry at Meadowhall. True North Brewery are due to open the Blue Stoops in Dronfield this October  – check their website – bluestoops.co.uk – for the latest news. Expect real ale, craft beer, gin and food. Buses 43/43a will get you there from Sheffield. The Chequers at Coal Aston has reopened as a Greene King Hungry Horse pub. The Inn at Troway is due to reopen early October. Planning permission has been granted to build a house on the rear car park of the George & Dragon in Holmesfield. Meanwhile over the road the Angel continues to provide Gluten Free beer and food options. The Peacock at Barlow is due to reopen in its new guise at the end of September and there are plans to add a microbrewery in an outbuilding, hopefully later this year. Further down the road at Whittington Moor in Chesterfield, the former Rose & Crown opposite the football stadium has reopened following a major refurbishment as ‘Spireites free house‘ with a range of 6 real ales – Hopjacker beers plus guests. It is under the same ownership as the Dronfield Arms. Buses 43, 44, 50, 50a and X17 from Sheffield all stop pretty much outside the pub. The Old Hall Hotel at Hope now has live music in the bar most Friday evenings, once the restaurant has finished service at 9pm.