Plans to re-open the former Boulogne have been set in a Community Investment Offer from Sheffield Community Media (SCM). The crowdfunding campaign is inviting the public to become community shareholders and co-owners in the development of a new live arts and media venue in Castlegate.
The pub was acquired earlier this year by the charitable community benefit society which hosts and supports Sheffield Live! radio and TV. They plan to renovate the building to accommodate radio, TV and podcasting studios, to re-open the ground floor as a public cafe and bar, and to offer performance spaces for local artists and promoter.
Sangita Basudev, co-founder of Sheffield Live! said: “So many people have shared with us their memories of the pub and its neighbourhood and their hopes for what it can become in the future. Now we need people to get on board, as community shareholders, to help raise the investment needed to restore and renew this unique city centre asset.”
The Community Investment Offer is live and open to the public until 10 December on the Crowdfunder platform and via the Society’s website, with more information available at sheffieldlive.org/shares.
CAMRA is well known for promoting good beer and pubs, but at its heart it is a consumer organisation, campaigning for Better on several fronts. Not least of these is value for money, especially in these cash-strapped times. Beer writer Richard Hough took a look at the varying price of one particular beer across the city – Thornbridge Jaipur. He writes:
In one mad week earlier this year I undertook the Jaipur Jaunt. After three days’ intensive ‘research’ I took Thursday off.
FRIDAY.
the Bath Hotel’s bar
Tucked away on Victoria Street in the City Centre is the Bath Hotel, a modest Victorian end-of-terrace pub. Appearances can be deceptive; inside is a wonderful unique interior dating from 1931. A sensitive refurbishment in 2001 kept the integrity of the pub, and gained national recognition. The Bath is a Free House with 6 beers on hand-pump, one of which is Jaipur. It’s not cheap though, at £5.50 a pint. The quality was top-notch (the pub regularly appears in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide).
The Francis Newton, A JD Wetherspoon pub
A short hop on the 120 bus took me to the Francis Newton, an impressive Georgian-style building near the Hallamshire Hospital. Broom Bank Hall was built in the 1820s for Mr. Newton as his family home. He was a wealthy businessman in the cutlery industry at a time when Sheffield became known as ‘The Steel City’ and I quote: “At the height of its powers in the mid-19th Century, the region manufactured 90% of British Steel, and nearly half the entire European output”. It became a pub in 1995 – older readers will remember The Aunt Sally – before being acquired by Wetherspoons in 2010. Thornbridge beers often feature, with Jaipur making the odd appearance. Cask is £1.99 a pint Mon-Weds, with prices rising later in the week. Don’t forget to use your ‘Spoon voucher.
Back on the 120 to the Itchy Pig on Glossop Road. It is a true micro-pub in the former butcher’s premises – hence the name. Unbelievably, the Itchy is 10 years old this year! An ever-changing range of cask ales from independent breweries is available, with beers rarely duplicated. Today, the stars aligned; Jaipur had just come on, and very good it was too. All cask is £4.80 a pint, and the pub offers a loyalty scheme – buy 10, get one free. So the more you spend, the more you save. Kind of… So ended Friday’s Jaunt, with a very interesting contrast between the three pubs. Check them out yourselves.
SATURDAY.
Rawson Spring, a JD Wetherspoon pub at Hillsborough tram stop
First thing, I checked the fixtures list, to make sure there was no football being played at Hillsborough. (And for the sake of balance, there was none being played at Bramall Lane, either). The Rawson Spring is a large open-plan pub right on Hillsborough Corner (and I mean, if you tripped off the tram, you’d land in the pub!)
Rawson Spring inside, looking up!
The original spring (named after local benefactors the Rawson family) used to supply fresh water to the nearby Barracks. The Walkley & District Baths were built in 1926, and remained in use until 1991. It then became The Deep End, a live music venue. In 2007 it was taken over by JDW and opened back out to reveal the character of the original baths. A century on, the fine neo-Baroque façade remains. Jaipur was £3.40 a pint, 50 pence off with your voucher, and cheaper still earlier in the week.
Sheffield Tap
Back into town for the final stop of the day – The Sheffield Tap. They don’t make pubs like this anymore! It is a grand affair in the former first-class waiting room of Sheffield (then Midland) Rail Station. It is believed that the King at the time stepped off the train and took refreshment here. The ornate tiling dates from 1904. Twelve hand-pumps adorn the bar; Jaipur is a regular and £5.80 a pint. Pricey. Definitely worth checking out are the award-winning ales from Tapped; the on-site brewery can be viewed up close from one of the most impressive pub rooms Sheffield has to offer.
SUNDAY.
Local history in the Bankers Draft, a JD Wetherspoon pub
The day the banks don’t open. Unless, of course, they are a pub in an old bank building, like, say, the Bankers Draft on Castle Square. The York and County Bank was built in 1904. It had an Aberdeen granite façade, a pair of large bronze gates, and made extensive use of Italian marble – they did stuff properly back then! It was Midland Bank for over 70 years. JDW took it over in 1996. It is a typical ‘Spoons on two levels, with plenty of info displayed regarding Sheffield’s rich history, be it the Home of Football, steel production, or Mary, Queen of Scots. Jaipur was £2.49, and the perfect accompaniment to a full English breakfast. 50 pence cheaper, voucher, etc.
The Fargate is operated by Thornbridge & Co, a joint venture with Pivovar
I finished with a flourish at The Fargate, another former bank. In 1889 it opened as the Yorkshire Penny Bank, a land-mark Sheffield building. Recently, Thornbridge & Co spent a tidy 7-figure sum restoring it, retaining the splendour, and turning it into a fine boozer. Look out for the formidable bank vault doors on display downstairs, or tackle the spiral staircase while clutching 3 pints! There are 10 cask ales on hand-pump, five of which are Thornbridge. It is bang in the middle of the City Centre, so never cheap; Jaipur was £5.50 a pint. The quality was good. So ended the Jaipur Jaunt.
We’re very excited this month to be releasing Roam Around York, a 4.8% Red Rye brewed in collaboration with the mighty Brew York! As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, Brew York are marking their 10th – so for a joint ruby anniversary, we simply had to make a red beer. This one uses both hops and malts we haven’t used before, including Carared barley from Weyermann in Germany, and Karma and Emperor hops from the Charles Faram development programme. Expect a zesty, bitter marmalade character balanced by sweet hints of biscuit, honey and caramel.
Continuing our Legacy Series as our 30th anniversary year starts to draw to a close, Holy Water (6.0%) is back. Still brewed to the original recipe, which dates back over 20 years. Packing a punch at 6.0% ABV but still wonderfully smooth and well-balanced, made using Willamette, Citra and Centennial hops. Notes of zesty citrus and juicy nectarine are backed up by delicately sweet orchard fruits, followed up with a gentle yet lingering bitterness. It’s an Abbeydale classic!
We’ve got a new Salvation on the way, a Mocha Stout, 5.0%. This is our second collaboration with the super Castleton Coffee Co, featuring two different roasts of their coffee alongside delicious cacao nibs, to create a rich, chocolate-y, rounded and bitter-sweet stout.
And it’s time for our seasonal specials to start to take on a festive feel – we’re keeping it subtle though for now with the return of Winter (4.2%), a crisp and flavourful Ekuanot hopped pale which sits within our Stained Glass series, and Holly (4.3%) back on bars featuring beautiful botanical inspired illustrations on the pump clips. This one features Nelson Sauvin, Willamette and Cascade hops which come together to bring an array of tasty citrus and a well-balanced bitterness.
CAMRA responds to the announcement of independent review of how pubs and hotels are valued for business rates in England and Wales
Ash Corbett-Collins, CAMRA chairman, said:
“This is another promising step from the new Government. Our pubs have suffered for far too long under the current ratings system, which punishes bricks and mortar businesses, and creates the ridiculous situation where global giants pay less per square metre for warehousing than a licensee does for their pub.
“An independent review is a great way to look at this, and we will definitely be taking part on behalf of beer drinkers and pubgoers. As always, the real difference will be dependent on the results. Hopefully, there will be fundamental changes to the out-of-date ratings system and publicans will have the certainty and incentive to grow their businesses.
“We hope the right stakeholders will be involved to make sure that the best outcome is found for publicans and pubgoers.
“Ordinary drinkers want their locals open, busy and at the centre of communities. Tackling our unfair business rates system will help if the review delivers lower and fairer bills.”
Locally, Sean Clarke of Business Sheffield has been encouraging local publicans to participate in the call for evidence which seeks views from businesses, representative bodies, valuation professionals and other interested stakeholders; this will help inform recommendations to Government ahead of the next revaluation. The documentation is available on the government website and responses need to be emailed to pubsandhotelreview@hmtreasury.gov.uk by 16 October.
The White Lion on Chesterfield Road has had a change of management. John left at the end of August for pastures new (Croatia sounds nice?), to be replaced by Lisa Brown.
Lisa originally hails from Portsmouth, but in December 2021 she moved to Sheffield. She worked at the excellent Cross Scythes on Derbyshire Lane (world’s tallest leprechaun) before stints at the Rose & Crown, Wadsley and the Nag’s Head at Bradfield.
No major changes are planned at the White: up to five cask ales on the pumps, and live music at weekends. Food is limited to snacks, but you are welcome to bring your own in.
It is a CAMRA heritage pub, with a very interesting interior. Be sure to pop in if you can; we are sure that Lisa will keep the White Lion roaring!
As mentioned last time, there have been some changes up and down Chesterfield Road. In Woodseats, Counter opened in mid-August (in the former Mesters Tap).
At the helm are Stuart and Sonia Nunn. Stuart was previously at Guzzle just up the road, while Sonia worked at the Red Lion (down the road) some years ago.
The pub has been smartened up and given a lick of paint (an appealing green called ‘Privet Hedge’!) There is some interesting artwork by local artists, such as the Ghost Cooling Towers.
On the beer front, two handpumps feature ever-changing ales, and there is real cider available. Plans are afoot to upgrade the toilets and rear outdoor area.
There is a quiz night on Thursdays, and occasional live music at the weekend.
The unusual pub name comes from the time when the premises were a chemist’s in the early 1900s – get your pills at the counter. Overall, a real improvement, and we wish Stuart and Sonia all the best in their new venture.
Picture it: you’ve just stepped out of the Sheffield Beer Museum’s latest engaging exhibit. You’re enjoying a locally made ale in its adjoining taproom, thinking about all of the interesting beer facts, history and culture you just learned about. You might tell a friend about this place and are already planning your next visit. What a fine way to spend an afternoon in the wonderful city of Sheffield.
The only problem? The museum doesn’t exist. Or at least not yet.
The Sheffield Beer Museum has now entered a public consultation phase, which means you get to help it take shape. Do you think the UK needs a beer museum? Would you visit a museum about beer? Do you think Sheffield is a good fit for such an attraction? Whether the answer to these questions is ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘not sure’, your views are vital in helping to move the project forward. For the Sheffield Beer Museum to truly be built for the community and by the community, the feedback of residents of Sheffield and beyond is fundamental.
The idea to open a beer museum in Sheffield
The Sheffield Beer Museum project began with a simple problem: a passionate collective of beer lovers wanted to visit a beer museum in the UK and realised there wasn’t one. From this initial spark came the crazy idea to do it ourselves. And many months later, that raw vision is starting to become a tangible reality.
At Sheffield Beer Museum, we think there’s more to beer than drinking. Beer is a thing to be explored, savoured, talked about and protected. It is steeped in history, from the earliest manifestations of brewing among ancient civilisations, all the way to your local micropub doing things with beer you didn’t think were possible, or necessary, but somehow are. It is as much a part of our culture as fish and chips, Morris dancing and queuing, and we think that deserves to be celebrated.
Getting involved
At this year’s Steel City 50 Beer & Cider Festival, be sure to come and find the Sheffield Beer Museum stall, where you can find out more about the project and get to know the team. Whether you’ve got a burning question, a brilliant idea, a crazy story about beer or simply want to drop by for a beer and a chat, we want to hear from you!
If you’re not going to make the festival this year, don’t panic! You’ll find plenty of other ways to get in touch below.
In the meantime, watch this space. Spread the word. Something is brewing in Sheffield, and we want you on board. Fill in our survey and join the mailing list.
’Tis the season and yep, you guessed it, Pilgrim is back! Our 5% pumpkin-spiced pale ale heralds the arrival of autumn and we can’t wait to see this one on bars again.
This year, our pilgrimage has become that little bit EXTRA as our autumnal icon has brought along a fun and frivolous friend! Introducing Marshmallow Pilgrim, a pumpkin-pie-inspired stout, also 5% ABV. Featuring the familiar lip-smacking blend of warming pumpkin pie spices, here enveloped in a cosy, roasty stout, with the addition of sweet, fluffy marshmallow that’ll have you coming back for s’more…
Of course, it’s not all pumpkin-spice-themed though, and we’ve got two completely new cask-only pale ales being released this month. In our lithograph-inspired series, we have Royal Agave, 4%, hopped with Cashmere and Wai-Iti. Expect refreshing lemon-lime notes along with soft, juicy melon and a smooth finish. And Nereideswill be a 4.2% pale ale with artwork from our mythical creatures-inspired series. This one uses Calypso hops, which fellow mythology nerds will understand is rather fitting! Flavour-wise, these bring along a tasty combination of orchard and tropical fruits. Vibrant peach and pineapple on the nose, followed up with elegant notes of apple and pear.
Finally, in terms of returning beers, we’re bringing back our classic UK-hopped ESB in the Restoration series (5.2%), and Dr Morton’s Aftersave (4.1%) will be making a reappearance too.
CAMRA is well-known for promoting great beer and pubs through various schemes including Pub of the Month/Year awards, Champion Beers at festivals and the Pub Design awards. But at its heart it is a consumer organisation; it Campaigns for better – better quality, better choice, better service and, of course, better value. (Note that cheaper does NOT necessarily mean better value). Beer Matters writer Richard Hough decided to investigate. He writes:
In one wild week earlier this year, I undertook the Jaipur Jaunt, to compare the prices of Thornbridge Jaipur across the pubs of Sheffield. On the Monday, I found myself to the south of the city. First stop – Woodseats Palace, a JD Wetherspoon pub in the old cinema building. 10 handpumps dispense an array of ales, with Jaipur always a regular. The price was a very reasonable £2.35 a pint Mon-Weds, rising to £2.99 the rest of the week. CAMRA members can use their voucher for a further 50pence off.
A short hop on a bus, and it was the Hardy Pick next. A large Greene King pub under the ‘Hungry Horse’ banner, where families, food and footie-on-the-screen are the order of the day (so not to everyone’s taste). The cask ales on offer were Abbeydale Moonshine, Titanic Plum Porter and Jaipur, with the latter at £4.60. Show your CAMRA membership card though, and receive 10% off. £4.14 a pint – steady. A vicious swan-neck means you will likely need a top-up. The beer quality was fine.
Next on the list was the White Lion, a multi-roomed pub with bags of character. A number of hand-pumps adorn the bar, always featuring something brewed locally. The ‘strong pump’ may feature the likes of Abbeydale Absolution or Dancing Duck Abduction, but tonight it was Jaipur, and £3.50 a pint (as was all cask). Prices rise through the week – to £3.80 Wed-Thur, and £5.10 Fri-Sun. That’s Monday done, and 3 pints for less than a tenner.
Tuesday. The Sheaf Island is another JDW pub, this one situated on the site of the former Ward’s Brewery on Eccy Road. In my opinion, one of the better ‘Spoons, with its high ceilings and large windows to let the light in. Jaipur is usually on, and today a bargain at £1.99. Again, prices rise later in the week (£2.49 Thur-Sun, don’t forget the 50p CAMRA voucher). While an enjoyable pub, and offering excellent value, I preferred it when it was the Brewery.
From there, the 82 bus drops you at The Greystones on Greystones Road. It is a Thornbridge-run pub with fantastic views from the garden, and also famed for the eclectic gigs in The Backroom. Amongst a wide range of the Brewery’s beers, Jaipur was chosen; the price was £5.60 a pint. Once again, a flash of the CAMRA card gets you 10% off. £5.04 – that’s better.
With a bit of time to spare, I decided to detour via the Itchy Pig, Banner Cross. An excellent micro pub with an ever-changing line-up of cask from near and far. One feature of the pub is that all ales are the same price, regardless of strength (£4.80).
A pleasant walk along leafy Psalter Lane took me to the final destination of the day, the Stag’s Head. It is a traditional pub run by Thornbridge, with eight of their beers on hand-pump. £5.70 for a pint of Jaipur was the most expensive of the day. I will suggest that if you don’t like the prices charged in Thornbridge’s own pubs, don’t pay them. There are plenty of cheaper pubs around. With the day’s Jaunt over, I decided to stay for one more – a strong dark ale from ‘The Union’. In 2024 Thornbridge acquired the famous Burton Union Sets from Marston’s. They now use it to recreate ales from bygone days; the Strong Dark Mild (6.5% ABV) was a perfect end to a busy day.
I began Wednesday’s Jaunt in the City Centre. The Benjamin Huntsman on Cambridge Street is yet another JDW pub, named in honour of the inventor of the world-changing Crucible Steel Process – you can read the history in the pub. While slightly more expensive than other ‘Spoons, it still represents good value, and your CAMRA vouchers give you a further 50p off. Some steel-inspired sculptures are worthy of note.
With a nod to the Jess Ennis gold pillar box (was that REALLY 14 years ago?) I headed to the Waterworks. It is a Lloyds (so Wetherspoons, then) in the old water pumping station building. The price of Jaipur matched that at the Ben Huntsman, and again prices rise as you approach the weekend. It will be interesting to see how great the exterior looks once the scaffolding is (eventually) removed.
I passed the statue honouring the Women of Steel on the way to the 95 bus. Next up, the Hallamshire House on Commonside. The fine stained-glass windows point to its past as a Ward’s pub, but these days it is run by Thornbridge. A multi-roomed establishment with plenty to recommend, including the increasingly rare sight of a full-size snooker table in the back room. Jaipur was £5.70 a pint, and yet again if you show your CAMRA membership card, you get 10% discount on cask ales. The Hally completed the first three days of the Jaunt. I took Thursday off for a bit of respite, but the journey will resume next time…
(note: since this article was researched, some prices have risen).
Returning from our Mythical Creatures inspired series this month we have Erlking – a flavourful 3.9% pale ale single hopped with Sabro, from the wild Neomexicanus hop family. Expect sweet citrus fruit flavours and a creamy hint of coconut in the finish.
In exciting collaboration news, we’ve had the amazing RedWIllow Brewery here after brewing Deceptionless at their place earlier in the year. For the return leg, we’ve created Meander Through Macclesfield – a 4.8% UK Hopped Pale Ale showcasing Olicana and Harlequin, including innovative Harlequin Abstrax Quantum “hop juice”! A burst of floral character is joined by vivid mango and pineapple notes, with a subtle herbal finish.
And we hope you’ll all be as excited as we are for the next in our Legacy Series, bringing back classic beers from the archives to help us celebrate our 30th anniversary – this time, it’s the turn of our much-loved American Brown Ale, Brimstone! An Amarillo hopped American Brown Ale, expect aromas of malt loaf and marmalade giving way to flavours of toffee and liquorice, followed by a lingering, pleasingly bitter finish. It won’t be around for long so don’t miss it!
Finally we’ve teamed up with hop suppliers Hopsteiner to create Dreamlike, a 5.6% IPA featuring Alora and Solero hops, both of which are new to us! They promise vibrant tropical notes, from mango to aromatic yuzu alongside sweet peach and passionfruit. The beer of your dreams?
