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.

Indie Beer Feast 2023

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

In early March 2020, I visited the 3rd edition of Indie Beer Feast (IBF), the kick-start to Sheffield Beer Week. This was an excellent afternoon at the 1920s, Grade II listed Abbeydale Picture House: the only Beer Festival venue with spider plants in the toilets. 

The 2021 4th edition was cancelled and my advance ticket then saw two postponements and a change of venue. The next IBF finally took place in March 2022 at Trafalgar Warehouse, a whitewashed ex-industry space – unfortunately, after two years of careful avoidance, Covid caused me to miss the event……..

Finally, three years after my last visit, 2023, saw a welcome re-acquaintance with IBF. There were no spider plants. However, a new distinctive glass, the 20 Fl.Oz. Barley, greeted the wide beer range provided by the various brewery bars: some cask, mostly keg, but all interesting.

The available beers covered a large variety of beer styles: the Redwillow range of Saisons, a 15.2% barley wine from Little Earth Project and many more. 

Included were pop-up tastings. Les O’Grady from the Magull-based Brewery, Neptune, led a session on Friday afternoon: all Neptune beers are vegan, there is no forced carbonation. Hence, all their beers are classed as real ale. The brewery is currently a team of seven, with a projected expansion to nine. 

Their ‘Lost at Sea,’ 6.2% IPA was sampled. This was originally a lock/down collaboration with Lost and Grounded. It utilises Golden Promise and crystal malt, Challenger hops in the boil and is dry-hopped with Centennial, Columbus, Simco and Brava hops. Les also commented that Brexit has killed off possible overseas sales. 

Trafalgar works was originally built in the late 19th century as a medium sized integrated factory for the production of edge tools, and later cutlery and blades. It was then part of the larger Trafalgar grinding wheel complex.

Yet again, IBF proved a positive start for Sheffield Beer Week: lots of innovative variety in, for myself, a new venue. 

Arkrights

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

As you left their recent (excellent) beer festival, I’m sure you all spotted the pane of glass above the inner entrance door at Shakespeares. Apparently, this was acquired at an auction some years ago, but where did it originate?

It could be Arkwright’s Brewery (2011): originally based at The Real Ale Shop, Lovat Road, Preston. The shop closed in 2014 and the brewery re-located and upgraded to a 10 Bbl plant. In 2015 it was renamed Darkwave Brewing, ceasing production in 2018. Arkwright’s beer was available at nearby Fat Cat in August 2013.

Or perhaps, it’s from the set of the Ronnie Barker Open All Hours TV series (1976/1985) – the name above the shop is Arkwright.

Any ideas?

Dave Pickersgill & Lucienne Pinglewick

Sheffield pub heritage guides

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

The latest edition of the book, Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs is currently in production and is expected to be available for the forthcoming national CAMRA Members’ Weekend, AGM and Conference. Compared to the previous edition, this new expanded edition, 128 pages, includes over 70 new images.

In addition, we are also producing a 32 page Pub Heritage Walk booklet: from the University Arms to Fagan’s.

Both publications will be available from local outlets and by mail order (email pubheritage@sheffield.camra.org.uk).

Thanks to our sponsors who have assisted with publication costs: Abbeydale Brewery, Alder, Bradfield Brewery, Crow Inn, Dog & Partridge, Hop Hideout, Rutland Arms, Sheffield Beer Week and University Arms.

Members’ Weekend

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Next month, CAMRA Sheffield and District are hosting the 2023 Members’ Weekend, AGM & Conference on 21-23 April at Octagon Centre, University of Sheffield. A full conference schedule, plus details of trips and activities will shortly be available.

Over 1000 CAMRA members will attend. They will also take the opportunity to visit several of the many excellent breweries and pubs spread across the city. We also need volunteers to assist with the many jobs which will need covering. 

Assuming you’re a CAMRA member, we hope to see you there.

CAMRA members can register and volunteer at camra.org.uk/agm. Further local information to help plan your weekend in Sheffield is available here.

What’s on

Thu 20 Apr – Meet & greet and live brew day at Sheffield Tap.

Fri 21 Apr – Brewery open days and tours. Ticketed tours are at Abbeydale, Chantry, Neepsend, Stancill, Toolmakers and Triple Point. Members’ Bar open in the evening.

Sat 22 Apr – AGM and conference followed by fringe activities (Health and Safety, What Makes a Successful Branch, The True Cost of Beer, Promoting Cask and Increasing Footfall). Members’ Bar open lunchtime and evening. Ticketed events in the evening include a cider tasting with Mike from the Cider Hole, a guided heritage pub walk and brewery tours at Abbeydale, Chantry, Stancill, Toolmakers and Triple Point.

Sun 23 Apr – Conference in the morning, Members’ Bar open early afternoon.

Pub heritage walks

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

As part of Sheffield Beer Week 2023, we are leading two pub heritage walks. On Sunday 5 March at 2:30pm we’ll be in Kelham Island, and on Thursday 9 at 5pm we’ll be on West Street. Both walks will include Victorian tilework, terrazzo flooring, art deco glasswork, a mention of long-gone Sheffield breweries and much more…

Full details and booking information are available:

If you can’t wait until Sheffield Beer Week, you could try the latest edition of the Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pub book: sheffield.camra.org.uk/rhp.

CAMRA Members’ Weekend 2023

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

In April, we are hosting the 2023 national CAMRA Members’ Weekend at the Octagon Centre, University of Sheffield. It officially starts at 4pm on Friday 21 when both registration and members’ bar open. The AGM and conference occur over the weekend, with many trips and activities also taking place.

A full schedule will be available nearer the time. 

We’re expecting over a thousand CAMRA members to attend; most will register in advance so they don’t miss out on information about booking trips and activities. They will also take the opportunity to visit several of the many excellent breweries and pubs across the city. We’ll also require volunteers to assist with the many jobs that will need covering. 

Hope to see you there!

Register and volunteer at camra.org.uk/agm.

Fagan’s

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

The next CAMRA Sheffield & District Branch Meeting will take place at Fagan’s on Tuesday 6 December. During the evening, we will be presenting, the licensees, Tom and Barbara Boulding, with a Special Award in recognition of their contribution to the Sheffield Beer scene.

Originally known as the Barrel, Fagan’s dates from circa 1790 and is one of the oldest pubs in central Sheffield. Past owners include Thomas Rawson and Company, from 1946, Gilmour’s Windsor and from 1954, Joshua Tetley. It is currently managed by Star Bars and Inns. This traditional three-roomed pub retains much of an early 1950s refit. This merits inclusion on the national CAMRA Pub heritage listings: this is a pub with Special National Historic Interest. In August this year, this Good Beer Guide pub was included on the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List.

In the past 100 years, there have been three long-standing licensees: locally-born and ex-Bomber Command, Michael Joseph (Joe) Fagan ran the pub from 6 July 1948 until 17 September 1985 becoming Tetley’s longest serving landlord. On his retirement, aged 64, the pub was renamed, and a new sign was erected. This was replaced, in 2008, with a sign which shows an image of Joe against an RAF bomber. Joe died only a few weeks after passing on the tenancy to ex-teacher, Thomas Patrick (Tom) Boulding and his wife, Barbara.

For over 37 years, Tom and Barbara have carefully managed Fagan’s. Décor-wise, every picture tells a story: visitors to the pub, local happenings, the story of Joe. Entertainment-wise, (probably) the most-stretching pub quiz in the city and (almost every evening) traditional live music. Atmospheric and welcoming, this is a traditional pub and proud of it: good solid pub-food and three well-kept cask beers (Landlord, Moonshine and Tetley’s). Outside, the pub was honoured when, in 2013, local artist, Pete McKee left The Snog on the gable end.

In late November 2022, Tom and Barbara overtook the length of tenure enjoyed by Joe (37 years, two months and 11 days). For their influential and unstinting contribution over many years, they fully deserve this award.

We wish them well in their future ventures.

Members’ Weekend in Sheffield 2023

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

CAMRA holds its Members’ Weekend, AGM & Conference annually in April. While the primary purpose is to debate motions to steer the Campaign and to elect the Campaign’s new board of directors, the Members’ Weekend is also a chance for CAMRA members to socialise with like-minded individuals and to explore the beer scene of the host city. The 2023 event will be held at the Octagon Centre, University of Sheffield: April 21/23. It is expected that over 1000 CAMRA members will descend on Sheffield for the weekend, many extending their stay for a few days – most will explore our local pubs.

As part of the event, we (Sheffield & District CAMRA) are organising a Members’ Bar. This will be a beer festival only open to CAMRA members who register for the weekend that will be held in the Students’ Union, adjacent to the Conference venue. There will also be a series of organised trips and events. If you are a CAMRA member, please register, and attend the event. https://camra.org.uk/members-weekend-agm-conference/

Talks & Tastings @ SC46

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Following the successful tutored beer tasting led by Roger Protz at the previous Steel City Beer Festival back in 2019, the recent 2022 edition saw three tutored tastings plus a couple of talks.

Mike Pomranz, from the Cider Hole, led participants through four ciders. These included Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry, Flakey Bark S.V.P. 2020 (6.4%) and Sheffield brewed, Exemption Ciderhouse, Steel City Spontaneous Speed Run (5.8%). The latter involved apples which were on thru tree a few weeks earlier. Mike gave us the benefit of his experiences across the Atlantic, providing wide-ranging comments and opinions.

Julia Gray, the owner of Hop Hideout and the driving force behind Sheffield Beer Week, led two tutored beer tastings, each concentrating on a different set of five beers, a mix of cask and key-keg. Skilfully weaving her story and comments about beer history and production, Julia led us on an exploration of beer styles. A bonus was unscheduled inputs from Dan and Martha (Saint Mars of the Desert Brewery) who provided a potted history of their experiences in brewing and talked us through one of their beers. This was the music equivalent of attending a gig by the Rolling Stones and seeing Bob Dylan drop-in.

Dave Pickersgill twice delivered a talk about Sheffield, heritage and pubs. On each occasion, the slides were identical but different pubs were explored as comments from the audience influenced the verbal input. Several books were sold (and autographed) and the speaker was embarrassed when one attendee described the talk as ‘inspirational.’

One of the volunteer staff team who fetched and served the various beers and ciders described his Friday afternoon as different, eye-opening and to be repeated.

Thanks to all our speakers and the staff who made it happen. We intend to host similar events at SCBF47, and at the forthcoming national Members Weekend. We hope to see you at a future event.

September RambAle

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Our last RambAle of the year took place in late September: nine used the Huddersfield train from Sheffield, two took a double-bus route from Hoyland and one took the scenic route from Stocksbridge on the 3-times daily 23 Millhouse Green flyer.

The Untappd powered beer list at the Penistone Tap

After meeting on platform two, and admiring the 1912 Art Deco masterpiece which is the Penistone Paramount, our first stop was in the well-stocked Penistone Tap & Brewhouse. This was the original home of the Woodland Brewery (formally Whitefaced Brewery, named after a local breed of sheep). The brewery has recently moved to a larger local site.

In the Hunstsman, Thurlstone

We then utilised the Trans-Pennine Trail, originally part of the, Sheffield-Manchester, Woodhead Railway line, progressing to GBG-serial entry, the multiple award-winning and hardly-changed Huntsman in Thurlstone. The pub lived up to its billing, providing the usual six, well-kept, cask beers. The choice included Abbeydale, Acorn and Salamander.

A line up of Kibble Brewery beers at the Crystal Palace

Our next stop was the nearby Crystal Palace, since May 2021, the home, and only regular outlet, for Kibble Brewery. Four of their beers, all named after major coal seams, were available: Barnsley Bed Bitter (4.2%), Colliers Monday (5.8%), Kent Thin Pale (4.2%) and Kent Thin Pale: Strawberry (4.2%). In addition, Head Brewer, Alasdair Twist, provided a brewery tour and an entertaining series of anecdotes. The 2.5 Bbl. brewery is located in a former stable block in the car park. A kibble is a big bucket used in pit shafts: the owner felt that the mash tun (from the now-closed Hamelsworde brewery) looks like a kibble. There is also a smaller pilot plant which is used for one-off specials.

We then returned to Penistone via Stottercliffe Road, paying a return visit to the, now busy, Penistone Tap & Brewhouse before catching our return transport.

An excellent afternoon in the late September sunshine.