Dave has been a CAMRA member since the 1970s and has worked at almost 40 Sheffield CAMRA festivals, plus a fair number of others. He is Brewery Liaison Officer (BLO) for Abbeydale, Blue Bee, Bradfield and Loxley. He was also the Chair of the Local Organising Committee for the 2023 national CAMRA Members’ Weekend, AGM & Conference.
A member of the National Pub Heritage Group, he leads on planning and pub heritage issues. He also edited the Sheffield's Real Heritage Pubs book, for which downloads vastly exceeded expectations. The hard copy was available in October 2018 and again in 2021. On both occasions, it was a sell-out. The 5th edition (2023) is available as both a hard copy and a free download.
Three limited-edition sets of 13 mint beer mats promoting the 49th Sheffield Steel City Beer Festival (SCBF49) are to be auctioned on eBay. On one side of each mat is the SCBF49 logo, with the reverse carrying the sponsor. The first set went live on 15th August: two other sets will follow at monthly intervals: search eBay using SCBF49.
There are 75,000 SCBF49 beer mats available. Over the next few months, these will be distributed over Sheffield, the surrounding area and wider afield. However, a full set is very unlikely to be seen in one place at any one time.
The sponsors are:
Breweries: Abbeydale, Ashover, Blue Bee, Bradfield, Chantry, Ossett, Peak, Tapped, Thornbridge and Triple Point
Non-breweries: Abel Magnets, MKM Builders Merchant and Reyt Good Kitchens
Profits from the eBay sales will go to the official SCBF49 charity, Sheffield Children’s Hospital. The money raised will contribute to life-saving equipment, research and treatment for thousands of children and also help to create a comfortable, engaging environment for patients.
The festival will be held at Kelham Island Industrial Museum from 15-18 October.
Again we have a programme of talks, tours and tastings available as an optional extra for your Steel City Beer & Cider Festival experience. Please book your place in advance online then simply pay for your festival entry on the gate as normal.
These can be booked in advance: follow the QR codes to the booking site.
A guided walk with a difference – you will explore Sheffield’s Little Chicago Quarter before your fast-track entry to our Beer Festival. Led by local author, John Stocks and editor of ‘Sheffield’s Real Heritage pubs,’ Dave Pickersgill, you will explore the beer, social and Industrial heritage of the area. The walk will explore streets that feature in John’s book ‘Sheffield 1925: Gang Wars and Wembley Glory,’ and also explore the beer, social and Industrial heritage of the area.
The comfortable walk, with one minor ascent, is just over a mile. It will last for approximately 90 minutes before concluding at Kelham Island Museum for a post-walk drink and discussion.
A tutored beer tasting (five beers) and discussion led by experts from one of the largest breweries in Sheffield. The second oldest Sheffield brewery, Bradfield were established in 2005 on a farm situated in the Peak District countryside.
Delivered by Dave & John, this short pub heritage talk will concentrate on the Little Chicago area of Sheffield, taking you back from the 19th century and up to the current day. Along the way, mention will be made of the 1884 ‘Sheffield Drinks Map,’ the establishment of a coaching inn and the Sheffield pub with the most CAMRA awards.
I recently returned from Belgium after a few days on a trip which involved Beer, Trains & Trams. We stayed in the home of Belgian rail, Mechelan: my visit including several visits to mostly volunteer-run, tram/train rides/museums.
Steam Train Maldegem-Eeklo is a heritage railway based at the former National Rail station of Maldegem. This houses the largest number of operational diesel and steam locomotives in Flanders. All enjoyed the trip on a narrow gauge line in old open wagons pulled by one of their diesel locomotives.
The Dendermonde-Puurs Steam Train heritage standard gauge railway took us on a 45 minute return journey from Puurs (Signal Box) to Baasrode-Noord Station. The track winds through the Scheldeland through the provinces of Antwerp and East Flanders. On board was waiter service: Dilewyns Vicaris Triple 8.5% and, the house train beer, Brouwer Stomerke 6% were sampled.
Rail Rebecq Rognon (RRR or Petit Train Du Bonheur – The Small Train of Happiness) explores the old SNCB Lines 115 and 123 on a 4 km line crossing the Rebecquoise countryside along the Senne and the Vallée des Oiseaux. The diesel loco took us on a return ride on the narrow gauge line between Rebecq and Rognon. Florence Triple 8% was available at the station café.
Our major tram ride was Tram 44 from Montgomery Metro Station (Brussels). This starts underground before emerging onto Avenue de Tervuren. It then rumbles past Stoclet House and the tram museum before plunging into the forest. The journey ends some 20 minutes later at the 19th-century tram station in Tervuren, a Royal suburb of Brussels within the once great ancient Sonian Forest. The Tram Museum (opened 1976) housed in the 1897 tram depot has a vast collection of 130 vehicles including a 1869 horse-drawn tram.
TramSite Schepdaal (Dilbeek) is the only remaining local (or vicinal) tramway depot in Belgium, the line closing in 1970. This depot served the first tramway in Flemish Brabant: Brussels to Ninove (1888). The oldest buildings at Schepdaal date from then. The station café provided local beer, Angerik Dilleke 5.1%.
Belgium June 2025
We also visited Duvel Depot in Breendonk, the tap of the family-controlled Duvel Moortgat brewery (1871), and the Batteliek Microbrewery on the outskirts of Mechelen. The latter is an old red brick church, now a brewery, bar and eatery under the auspices of Het Anker. The tasting flight was chosen: Baobab Triple 8,8%, Ipapotamus 7.7% and Derkal 8.3%. The Het Anchor Brouwerij tap (Mechelen) also provided a flight: Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor 8.0%, Gouden Carolus Whisky Infused 11.7% and a Batteliek Bieren.
Several other bars were visited – recommended in Mechelen are Beer Central, Hanekeef, Het Maanlicht, Kuub and Moemoe. Het Maanlicht provided one of the most interesting beers of the trip: De Blauwe Kuip Burton 5.2% – an (almost) British bitter served in a half-pint ‘jug.’ Other recommendations include: Cuytegemhoeve Beer Cafe (Puurs-Sint-Amands) and Eetcafe D’Akte (Lennik).
Strangest sight of the trip was undoubtably an open-air tango dancing class in the Veermarkt in Mechelen – only in Belgium … the next trip is planned for September.
On 6 June we enjoyed the launch of the University of Sheffield, Place, Craft and Alcohol Exhibition and the Five and Half Moments When Alcohol Changed the World podcast at Locksley Distilling, Portland Works.
This project explores the history of alcohol in Sheffield and its post-industry present and future. The research has involved oral histories and the development of a map which maps the alcohol topography from the 19th century onwards. For more information: https://tinyurl.com/3pp5ze53
The European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) has recently revealed the results of its European Travel Beer Survey, celebrating the best places to enjoy a quality beer while in transit: Sheffield secured the best rail station title.
Across Europe, Sheffield has the best rail station for beer – thanks to the Sheffield Tap, a beautifully restored Edwardian pub on platform 1B. With both an on-site brewery and an impressive range of both local and international beers (including ten cask beers), it’s a must-visit.
The old First Class Refreshment Room was originally built by the Midland Railway as part of their 1905 station extension and adorned inside with Minton tiled walls and fine ornamented bar- fittings. The rooms were disused in the 1960s and became a waiting room in the 1970s before closure in 1975. The listed interior was left to decay until 2008 when restoration began. The Tap opened in 2009, with the on-site, Tapped Brewery, following in 2013. The pub is of outstanding historic importance, it is rated at Three Stars on CAMRA’s National Inventory of important historic pub interiors.
Honourable ECBU mentions included York for its nearby pubs and beer-friendly atmosphere. Brussels Central and Munich Hauptbahnhof were both praised for their easy access to excellent beer venues just outside the station. The best airport for beer was Copenhagen, with the Mikkeller Bar frequently mentioned. Also praised were Munich Airport, home to Airbräu, Europe’s first airport-based brewery. London Heathrow was also appreciated for its decent pub-style venues.
Respondents also described disappointing experiences like being served warm, bland lager at major transit hubs or finding themselves in terminals with no beer at all.
On a more positive note, the survey also unearthed some hidden gems, including praise for the nearby Stalybridge Buffet Bar and many smaller bars tucked just outside major train stations in multiple cities.
“We launched this survey to shine a light on how beer culture can thrive even in places of transit,” said EBCU chairman André Brunnsberg. “Copenhagen and Sheffield show what’s possible when quality and locality are put first. These aren’t just places to wait for your flight or train: they’re places worth arriving early for.”
The European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) represents beer drinkers in over a dozen countries, promoting consumer rights, access to quality beer, and the preservation of local beer traditions. They hope these results will inspire more airports and railway stations across Europe to raise the bar for beer drinking travellers.
Many of you will recall that the Royal closed last year. A planning application has now been lodged with Sheffield City Council to convert the pub into residential accommodation (ref. 25/00501/FUL). We have formally objected: the permanent loss of this culturally significant and historic pub would have a profound and detrimental impact on the local community and beyond.
The Royal Hotel has served as a vital community hub since 1813, providing a space for social interaction, local traditions and live music. Most notably, it is one of the key venues for the Sheffield Christmas Carols – a centuries-old folk tradition that draws visitors from across the country and further afield. Losing the pub would diminish this deeply rooted cultural event, which has been widely recognised as a unique and important part of British heritage.
The Royal attracts visitors not only from Sheffield but from further afield. The area has a growing, affluent customer base who regularly visit the surrounding countryside for recreation. Dungworth is criss-crossed with walking trails and sits on the edge of the Peak District National Park – the pub is a welcome sight for walkers seeking rest and refreshment. Locally, the past two years have seen nearly 20 new houses either built or granted planning permission.
There is strong evidence to suggest that, with the right management, the Royal could thrive. Many similar rural pubs in the Sheffield area are successfully attracting a mix of local patrons and visitors. The Royal’s setting – with its historical significance and sweeping views across the Loxley Valley – offers a clear opportunity for revitalisation.
A key requirement for change-of-use applications involving pubs is a demonstrable effort to market the premises as a going concern. In this case, there is little evidence that the Royal has been properly offered for sale as a functioning pub. In contrast, a local fundraising initiative has already pledged a six-figure sum to support the future of the Royal, and a local brewery has expressed interest in purchasing the pub. Viable options clearly exist to avoid the unnecessary loss of a valued local facility – one that supports community cohesion, social interaction, and the local economy.
Given the strong interest in preserving the Royal, granting permission for its conversion at this stage would be premature. We believe the proposed development is inconsistent with both local and national policies on the conversion of pubs. With overwhelming community support and positive indicators from the Public House Viability Test, we urge the council to reject the application and support efforts to secure the future of the Royal Hotel as a sustainable business and vital community asset.
Congratulations to Garry and the team at the Rising Sun (471 Fulwood Road, S10 3QA), winners of the Sheffield and District CAMRA, Sheffield (West) Pub of the Year 2025.
Owned by Sheffield Beerworks EOT Ltd., the Employee Owned Trust which also includes Abbeydale Brewery, the Riding Sun has been an Abbeydale community pub and dining room since 19th December 2005 when the brewery took over from the University of Sheffield Union of Students. The Union had run the building for just over 23 years. Previous management includes the Sheffield & District Public House Trust Co.Ltd. and John Smiths Tadcaster Brewery.
The original pub opened around 1860. The name refers to pubs which face east and receive early-morning sun, as did the earlier Rising Sun. The current pub opened when the, then, owners, the Sheffield Town Trustees agreed to provide land for the widening of Fulwood Road to Sheffield Corporation in return for the demolition and reconstruction of the original pub. The current building opened in July 1904. Abbeydale carried out an extensive refurbishment in 2014.
There are two comfortably furnished rooms with a log burning fire between the main bar and the glass roofed extension. The large beer garden includes covered, heated areas. The pub is also both child and dog friendly. Quizzes are on Sunday evenings.
In 1914, the Sheffield and Rotherham Red Book and Almanac (p.407) stated that: ‘many pleasure seekers finding this suburban house very convenient for the supply of general refreshments.’ To-day, the situation is similar: the pub provides 13 cask beers, including a large Abbeydale range, together with several rotating guest specials across both cask and keg. There is also an ever-changing cider selection, a carefully curated wine list, a large range of quality spirits and plenty of non-alcoholic options. In addition, the creative, seasonal food menu aims to showcase the best of British produce and sees the pub working with a host of local suppliers.
We hope you can join us for the presentation on Wednesday 16th April at 19:00.
Events at the forthcoming Steel City Beer Festival will include a walk, a talk and a tutored tasting. Following previous successes, local author John Stocks and our Pub Heritage Officer, Dave Pickersgill will be leading a guided walk in Little Chicago on Thursday morning and staging the associated talk on Friday afternoon.
In addition, as part of their 20th anniversary celebrations, Bradfield Brewery will be leading a tutored tasting on the Thursday evening, presenting both core brews and oak-aged beers. Advance tickets for all events will be available nearer the time.
The festival is planned to take place 15-18 October at Kelham Island Museum featuring a huge range of cask ales, a selection of other craft beers in keg plus traditional ciders alongside street food vendors and a programme of live music. The special events including tutored tastings, talks and tours are optional extras to add to your festival experience!
A recent birthday celebration saw a few days in Berlin. Travel was via Ryanair from Manchester: a full plane including a very well-behaved school party. The S9 S-bahn then took us to our base at the Premier Inn Alexanderplatz. This central location allowed us to walk to most of the key sites, the exercise providing the excuse for the occasional rest-stop.
Bars visited included Brauhaus Georgbrau (Spreeufer 4, 10178). Established in 1992, this large riverside old-style brewery and bar provided traditional favourites, Hells and Dunkel (both 5%).
Close by, Weihenstephaner Berlin (Neue Promenade 5, Hackescher Markt), the main Berlin outlet of the Bavarian State Brewery of Weihenstephan (Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan), provided a full range of German-style beers, all served by waiters wearing Lederhosen. The Tradition Bayerlisch Dunkel (5.2%) was sampled. Established in 1040 and owned by the Free State of Bavaria, this brewery claims to be the oldest in the world.
Our favourite outlet was Brauerei Lemke Berlin (founded 1999), under the railway arches at Hackeschen Markt. Here, Die Bierprobe provided six 0.1 L tasters: Bohemia Pilsner (5.0%), Original (5.4%), Wizen (5.5%), 030 Pale (5.0%), India Pale Ale (6.5%) and Budike Weisse (3.4%). The Budike had a gentle sourness while the IPA was sound to the style. These were the best beers tasted during our short stay.
Other beers encountered included: Berliner Pranke, Echt Mild Bier (6%), a pale lager from the local Berliner-Kindl-Schultheiss-Brauerei and Stark-Bier (7.5%), a Doppelbock from Störtebeker Braumanufaktur (1827), based in Stralsund, on the Baltic Sea. This brewery is named after Klaus, a late C14th pirate, who was executed in 1401.
We also visited many other well-known spots, including the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Holocaust Memorial, Potsdam, Neue NationalGallerie and Tiergarten.
In short, an excellent break, lots of culture and some interesting beers!
Duality Brewery have recently relocated to Sheffield. Registered, by Ben and Brendan, in Todwick in March 2024 after winning a home brew competition, the duo are now producing their beers in a unit located on Percy Street in Neepsend, next door to Alder bar.
Many of their beers are styles where hops dominate such as a New England IPA, however they’ve also been known to produce other beers too and they showcased their range in Sheffield recently by hosting a brewery bar at the Neepsend Craft beer festival.
At the moment Duality continues to be a part time operation with Ben and Brendon working a day job during the week then brewing on a Saturday, however with them making a name for themselves quite quickly who knows how that may change in the future!
