Author: Dave Pickersgill

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.

Royal Hotel, Dungworth

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

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.

Pub of the Year 2025 (West Sheffield)

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

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. 

Steel City Beer Festival

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

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!

Berlin

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

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 Brewing

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

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!

Sheffield, home of…

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Sheffield: ‘City Brand Development Work’

Sheffield City Council hopes that a rebranding exercise will improve the perception of the city and hence, subsequently boost both economic growth and tourism. The SCC Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee recently heard that the “Sheffield Inspires” brand would ensure the city was recognised as “one of the UK’s top five most attractive cities for trade, tourism and talent“.

The “City Brand Development Work” report aims to highlight the impact Sheffield has had on the world, from the city’s importance in the birth of both electronic music and football, to its place as a craft beer developer and world-renowned climbing centre. The report highlights that a stronger city brand can bring significant benefits, supporting investment, visitor numbers, and business growth.

Sheffield and District CAMRA is pleased to note the emphasis on craft beer: ‘How Sheffield is a city that puts the UK craft brewing scene on the map.’ We have been promoting ‘Beer Tourism’ for many years: Steel City Beer Festival (SCBF), walks and publications. Both Sheffield Beer Week and SCBF have a significant positive tourism impact on the city. This activity supports both our local independent breweries and pubs but also helps brings more money into the city than the annual two-week World Snooker Championship.

Sheffield Home of Football blue plaque at the York Hotel

Allied with Sheffield Home of Football (SHoF), the city has two unique selling-points which together bring in thousands of visitors. There is an increasing link between SHoF and Indie Beer: for example, Little Mesters brew the SHoF branded beers. There are also many connections between the early years of Sheffield Rules football and local pubs. For example, one of the SHoF series of football-related blue plaques was recently unveiled at the York Hotel: ‘the world’s first football club to originate from a hotel was formed here in 1861.’ The first pub-based team in the world is also local.

The report emphasises that Sheffield’s brand perception directly impacts its economic prospects. A unified and well-promoted city brand can unlock significant benefits: we anticipate that our local breweries and pubs will take their full part in promoting these benefits.

In ‘Sheffield: The Beer City 2024,’ Pete Brown referred to Sheffield City Council: ‘something more long term and sustainable would solidify the recognition of beer, brewing, pubs and so forth as inherently important cultural and economic drivers.’

It’s positive to see this tangible support continuing to develop.

Pub of the Year 2025 (Cider)

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Congratulations to Matt Beety, Mike Pomranz and all at the Old Shoe for being voted the 2025 Sheffield and District CAMRA ‘Cider Pub of the Year.’ The Old Shoe (Unit 20, Orchard Square S1 2FB) opened in the summer of 2023 as the new home of Exemption Ciderhouse, when it relocated from its previous home at The Cider Hole.

The Old Shoe is a modern bar serving a variety of drinks from independent producers. In addition to both cask and keg beer from indie breweries, they also serve three draught ciders and a range of bottled options. These are almost invariably from smaller producers. For example: Against the Grain (London), Ascension (Sussex), Iford (Bradford on Avon), Temple (Dorset), Zapiain (Spain) and from Hertfordshire, Little Pomona, Oliver’s and Ross-on-Wye Cider Company. In addition, created on the premises, is Exemption.

The bar has vinyl records spinning all day and also has a well-stocked ‘Shoe Store.’ The latter provides art prints, bags, bottles, cans, chocolate, coffee beans, glasses, local pub heritage books, records and more. The name refers to the previous use of this ex-shop unit.

In 2015, Mike moved from Brooklyn (New York) to Sheffield. In the UK, he continued to produce cider, focusing on using locally-collected garden apples. In 2020, he launched drinks import company, ‘Quality Ferments.’ Then, in September 2021, came The Cider Hole (Shalesmoor), an urban microcidery, bar, and bottle shop – where he made and served his own Exemption Ciderhouse cider along with over 60 other hand-selected canned and bottled ciders, beer and natural wine. The Cider Hole was our 2023 Cider Pub of the Year. It then closed in order to make way for the Old Shoe.

image: Ellie Grace Photography

Beer Week events

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Guided walk: Little Chicago

Sunday 16 March 2025 – walk – start 11:00, finish at Kelham Island Tavern ~12:30

Following the success of previous guided walks, events during Sheffield Beer Week 2025 will include a guided historical walk in Sheffield’s Little Chicago Quarter. We will explore both the pub heritage aspects of the area plus the streets which feature in the book, ‘Sheffield 1925: Gang Wars and Wembley Glory.’ Thenarrative will explain how Sheffield briefly became the most turbulent city in Britain due to an escalating gang war involving the Park Brigade, Mooney Gang, the Gas Tank Gang and many others.

The short walk will also explore the beer, social and Industrial heritage of the area, examining the myths and reality of a tumultuous year in Sheffield history. Along the way, mention will be made of the 1884 ‘Sheffield Drinks Map,’ George Orwell, the establishment of a coaching inn and the Sheffield pub with the most local CAMRA awards.

The walk will be led by local historian and writer, John Stocks and ‘Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs’ editor, Dave Pickersgill. The comfortable walk of just over one mile, with one minor ascent, will last for approximately 90 minutes, including one en route stop, followed by post-walk drink and discussion.

Includes:

* Guided historical walk

* copy of the new Pub Heritage walk booklet which features Little Chicago (A5, 32 pages, rrp £2.99)

* the opportunity to purchase a copy of  ‘Sheffield 1925: Gang Wars and Wembley Glory’ (second edition) at the reduced price of £10 (cash only)

DATE: Sunday 16 March 2025

Meet: 11:00 outside the Sheffield Combined Court Centre, West Bar, S3 8BH

Finish: 12:30 Kelham Island Tavern, 62 Russell Street, S3 8RW

Cost: £4.95

Tickets available at:   Eventbrite

Number of places available: 20

  • Pub Heritage Talk: Little Chicago


Thursday 13 March 2025 – 20:00 – Harlequin

This event is a history/pub heritage talk which will concentrate on the Little Chicago area of Sheffield, taking you from the early part of C19th up to the current day. We will explore both the pub heritage aspects of the area plus the streets which feature in the book, ‘Sheffield 1925: Gang Wars and Wembley Glory.’ The narrative will explain how Sheffield briefly became the most turbulent city in Britain due to an escalating gang war involving the Park Brigade, Mooney Gang, the Gas Tank Gang and many others.

The talk will also explore the beer, social and Industrial heritage of the area, examining the myths and reality of a tumultuous year in Sheffield history. Along the way, mention will be made of the 1884 ‘Sheffield Drinks Map,’ George Orwell, the establishment of a coaching inn and the Sheffield pub with the most local CAMRA awards.

The talk will be led by local historian and writer, John Stocks and ‘Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs’ editor, Dave Pickersgill. The talk will last for approximately 60 minutes, followed by post-talk drink and discussion.

Includes:

* historical talk (one hour, including questions)

* copy of the new Pub Heritage walk booklet which features Little Chicago (A5, 32 pages, rrp £2.99)

* the opportunity to purchase a copy of  ‘Sheffield 1925: Gang Wars and Wembley Glory’ (second edition) at the reduced price of £10.00 (cash only)

DATE: Thursday 13 March 2025 – 20:00

Cost: £4.95

Tickets available at:   Eventbrite

Number of places available: 30

Steel City 48 – charity

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Thanks to everyone at the festival who supported Weston Park Cancer Charity (WPCC). Your generosity produced a record charity donation from the Steel City Beer Festival – a whopping £2700.00 – a donation rate of £1.20/minute!

This magnificent sum includes loose change, unused beer tokens, eBay sales of three full sets of SCBF48 beer mats and net proceeds from the charity beer. Thanks to everyone who contributed and thanks again to Abbeydale Brewery for providing the charity beer, ‘Together at Every Step,’ a 4.3% abv dry hopped pale ale.

 As Festival Organiser, Paul Crofts said, ‘It’s a fantastic sum to raise for such a good charity. It was far more than we predicted and shows how much local people appreciate the work of Weston Park.’

Sam Heritage, WPCC Fundraising Manager said, ‘we are very grateful for your generous support and for making our team of volunteers and staff, plus Brontë feel so welcome. I’ve had amazing feedback on just how brilliant it has all been …. it really will make such a difference.’

The festival was formally opened by local legend, and South Yorkshire firefighter, Brontë Jones. WPCC supporter, Brontë, was runner-up in the 2024 series of the prime-time BBC TV programme, Gladiators.

Located in Sheffield, Weston Park Hospital is the main cancer treatment centre for South Yorkshire and large parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. In the UK, around 1,000 cancers are diagnosed every day.

WPCC is here to face cancer with you. Their services, advice, therapies and support are for you and the people close to you, helping everyone to live with, and beyond, cancer.

Contact:  0114 553 3330   westonpark.org.uk

Photos: Dave Pickersgill (SCBF48) and Hannah Watson (WPCC)

Little Chicago gets blogged

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Well-known micropub blogger, Scott Spencer, recently visited Sheffield where he was guided through one of our published pub heritage walks: Little Chicago. He then visited another eleven pubs, mostly new to his blogs. We started at West Bar taking in the excellent, and varied, beer offerings in the Crow, Shakespeare’s and the Kelham Island Tavern while discussing both happenings from the major expansion of Sheffield in the 18th century and episodes from the 1920s Sheffield gang wars. Also mentioned was local art works, the Methodist Church, George Orwell, the 1884 ‘Drinks Map of Sheffield,’ changes in employment patterns and the positive effect of immigration

Kelham Island followed before the Harlequin, the Riverside and a sweep up to Trippet Lane, via 2/6 and Perch. Full details of Scott’s enjoyable time in Sheffield are available at: https://micropubadventures.co.uk/2024/11/02/2-11-24-sheffield-little-chicago/ . He hopes to visit Sheffield for a third blog at some point next Spring.

On this Sheffield visit, Scott was accompanied by Chris, (Editor of Inspire, the Chesterfield CAMRA magazine) and Sheffield and District CAMRA members Dave, Jenny and Malcolm. Details of the Little Chicago walk and the accompanying booklet are available at: https://sheffield.camra.org.uk/rhp/