The Plough, Sandygate
Many of you will be aware of the recent plight of the Plough and the community members striving to prevent the loss of their local pub. It had been feared that the site was set to be converted into a Sainsbury’s convenience store, and while that has not happened yet, the pub is still advertised to let and fears remain over its closure.
A group of regulars and local residents mounted a petition against the proposals last month, and they are now starting to make progress towards taking over the running of the pub as a collective. The Plough Community Benefit Society Ltd has now registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, meaning they are now able to legally fundraise through a Community Share Issue.
Earlier this week came the news that a private investor has offered to buy the freehold of the pub on the group’s behalf, carry out renovations and then lease it back to them at a reasonable rate for an initial 10-year period. This means that the group would need to raise £120,000 through sales of shares in the business in order to cover the start-up costs and rent rates.
The group are now looking to gauge the amount of interest in these shares. Shares will be valued at £1 and sold in batches, with a minimum investment of £250 rising to the legal maximum of £20,000. All shareholders will have equal voting rights irrespective of the value of their holding. If you would be interested in making an investment in the Plough, please contact the group directly at ploughsandygate@gmail.com for a copy of the pledge form or for more information. There will also be a public meeting in Crosspool on 15 June for potential investors.
UPDATE: The group has set up a crowdfunding website where you can choose to pledge money in return for shares, or simply make a donation towards the fund. The page can be found here.
A door on the left with a leaded glazed panel in the top and the figure ‘3’ leads to the tap room with inter-war fixed seating around most of it and it retains the 1940 ply panelled bar counter with a dark stain added. The exterior has 1930s stained and leaded windows and the fireplace is Victorian-style. The piece of wall near the counter is a modern addition having closed a gap created when the lobby bar counter was pushed back. There are good exterior inter-war (Tennants) leaded windows.
The front smoke room on the right has a wide gap to the lobby with more 1930s exterior windows but the fixed seating is post-war and has lost its fireplace. The terrazzo floor continues to the right with another door with 1930s stained and leaded windows and the figure ‘1’ and beyond is a terrazzo passage that goes past a door with the figure ‘5’ on it and the ladies’ toilet has a 1930s door and terrazzo floor (modern tiles); the gents’ toilet is modern.
The late 1980’s saw the pub becoming run-down, many original features becoming hidden. It became a free house in 1993 under the ownership of Neil and Sheila Clarke. At that time, the walls and ceilings were yellow and the bar was covered with hardboard. This was removed and stripped back to bare wood, before stain and varnish were added. Over a period of some years, they renovated the building. The window frames were stripped and repainted, the wood was stained dark and varnished, the walls were papered and boarding was removed from the door to the toilets.
They renamed the pub as ‘The Cask and Cutler,’ establishing the Port Mahon Brewery in 2000. In 2006, when they moved to France, Richard Appleton took on the pub, reinstated the old name and, after a two year pause, restarted and renamed the brewery, Little Ale Cart. The brewery has hosted a number of cuckoo breweries, most notably Steel City who were in residence from their inception in 2010 until 2013. Brewing ceased in 2016, when the pub was taken on by James Birkett, owner of two other Sheffield pubs, the Blake and the Sheaf View. It was closed for a period, redecoration and some refurbishment occurring. The pub reopened in late September 2016 as the brewery tap for the nearby Neepsend Brewery.
Dave Pickersgill 
The pub’s design itself is an intriguing mixture of old and new. Concept Design, the company who masterminded the Ship’s aesthetic refurbishment, have blended contemporary design with carefully restored original features discovered by builders as they chipped away through the old paint and plaster. As for the atmosphere, Dean and Sally have turned the Ship into a welcoming and tranquil environment. Candlelit tables and subtle background music, combined with the excellent selection of real ales and food available, create a unique ambience that is not to be missed.
“The Ship Inn is proof that change can be a positive thing. From a pub that at one time was a part off-licence with no ladies, to become a shining light for Kelham Island speaks for itself,” said Dean. Promising more to come, Dean disclosed future plans to add even more hand pulled beer and development of an outside space using shipping containers, to ensure the ongoing growth of the pub.
“Everyone in this area pulls together to make it the special island it has become,” added Dave. “CAMRA are delighted with the entire effort in this small yet impactful community. Awarding the understated Ship Inn this prestige offers a representation of the area making it all that more appealing.” 
In terms of beers making their way onto bars this month, we’ll have our latest Beerhead, Schemer (3.8%), plotting his way into your pint glass! Dry hopped with Azacca for a hit of mango on the aroma, and a piney, citrusy flavour. The aforementioned charity beer will be on offer too, Triple C, hopped with three different hops beginning with C! Doctor Morton is up to his old tricks shaking his Bag O’ Nuts (4.1% pale) and finally we have a release of Arson (4.4%) with brand new artwork. Expect fruity aromas with hints of biscuit and caramel complemented by a bitter orange finish.
Cheers all!
Laura 
Both South Pacific and a very limited amount of Shiny Sheff are now available at selected pubs throughout Sheffield, as well as in the brewery’s two pubs, the Norfolk Arms in Grenoside and The Horse & Jockey in Wadsley. CAMRA members can benefit from a 20% discount on the complete range of Stancill ales at both brewery taps. 
