Devastated family and friends of a Sheffield man who died unexpectedly have joined forces to raise money to buy a defibrillator to be placed at a popular local pub.
Stefan Elliott (43) died peacefully in his sleep in December and his loved ones, along with The Banner Cross pub on Ecclesall Road where Stefan used to work, immediately sprung into action organising a fundraising drive so his memory would live on.
More than £4,200 was donated and Stefan’s family decided to use the money to fund a new defibrillator which has now been put up outside the pub, alongside a plaque for Stefan, with any money left being donated to local mental health charities.
Stefan, a former pupil of Silverdale School and big Sheffield Wednesday fan, lived on Ecclesall Road and worked at Sheffield City Council before he died.
Stefan’s brother, Lewis Elliott (41) from Ecclesall, said: “Losing Stefan has been absolutely devastating for me, my parents, Stefan’s daughter and step-son and the rest of our family and friends. It was such a shock but immediately we knew we wanted to do something to remember him by and the defibrillator just felt right as it would be available to the wider community if ever needed.
“Sophie and the team at The Banner Cross have been absolutely amazing and done so much to support us including organising a fundraising night at the pub and even providing the venue for Stefan’s wake. We can’t thank them enough.
“We also just want to say thank you to everyone who donated and all the support we have received as a family. Stefan was such a loveable and kind hearted person and is so missed by us all. It helps to know that the community he lived and grew up in now has this defibrillator as part of his legacy.”
Sophie Turner (far left) and Alex Kelsey (far right) from The Banner Cross pub on Ecclesall Road with Stefan’s family – his brother Lewis, Dad Kevin and Mum Kath – in front of the new defibrillator.
This June, July and August you can enjoy a pint of local real ale at the Old Queens Head for just £3.25. The offer runs every day from 9pm until close on selected real ales.
Since changing hands last November the Old Queens Head has showcased a variety of breweries from Sheffield and the surrounding area on its free-of-tie lines. Alongside its regular Thwaites beers the pub has showcased beers from Abbeydale, Acorn, Ashover, Beer Ink, Blue Bee, Brew Social, Campbell Street (to name just a few – and that’s just the start of the alphabet).
Manager Andy Stephens, ex of the Rutland Arms, said “The Old Queens Head is a fantastic pub, steeped in history and conveniently centrally located by the bus station. I’m overjoyed we can put this offer on over summer, there are lots of wonderful beers and styles to try.”
The Bankers Draft is a friendly, well run, cosmopolitan, city centre local – one of a handful of JD Wetherspoon’s branches to have previously made it into the Good Beer Guide and been Pub of the Month.
It has a lively downstairs and more cosy, sedate mezzanine bar complete with small library and a welcoming fire (winter). Food is the standard, good value Spoons fare.
Jonathan and Terrianne are the respected, long serving managers since 2011 – though both were established at the Bankers prior to their promotions. Terrianne is responsible for Wetherspoons regional training in house and Jon, in particular, has long and enthusiastically promoted Camra’s objectives. He has recently been taking a more hands on approach to the Bankers cellarmanship, with a subsequent uplift in ale quality. Jon is ably assisted by Rosalee who also produces the Bankers excellent promotional support material. Charlotte Coffey assists with ordering and availability.
There is a loyal, established Camra customer base: in fact, Jon jokes that he thinks the Bankers is Camra’s “guilty secret”! Many members are recruited directly through the regular 50p a pint card-carrying discount scheme on Mondays to Wednesdays – which is offered over and above the standard Spoons Camra vouchers. The Bankers is the biggest ale seller in the area: getting through 2,000 pints of ale a week in peak times and up to 3,000 in last year’s festival – second nationally to the Kings Cross Spoons!
Pete McKee bar crawl set to celebrate the importance of local pubs this July
Pete McKee is set to host a three-day Sheffield pub crawl this July, celebrating the importance of the much-loved local.
Renowned artist Pete has teamed up with four of the city’s local drinking establishments, as well as Kelham Island Brewery, to put on the three-day event from Friday 7 July – Sunday 9 July, ahead of his much-anticipated exhibition this November – Frank & Joy: A Love Story.
Over the three days, visitors to four Sheffield pubs (Fagan’s’s on Broad Lane – home of McKee’s iconic ‘The Snog’ mural; The Bath Hotel in Broomhall; The Greystones on Greystones Road; and the Brother’s Arms’s Arms at Heeley) can pick up a free Pete McKee pub crawl card and get it stamped when they purchase a drink at each venue.
Visitors with stamps from all four pubs will then be able to exchange the card in the days after the event for a limited edition ‘The Snog’ beer glass, from the Pete McKee gallery on Sharrow Vale Road.
Pete has also joined forces with Kelham Island Brewery to produce a limited-edition Frank & Joy beer for the event, which will be available at all four of the venues across the pub crawl weekend.
Pete, said: “A major part of the Frank & Joy: A Love Story exhibition later this year will be about the bond local pubs have with their communities – and what better way to celebrate this than a good old fashioned pub crawl?
“I’ve picked four of my favourite pubs here in Sheffield to take part and got the wonderful Kelham Island Brewery involved too. I hope people will get on board and pay each pub a visit over the event weekend, joining me in supporting our all-important locals and recognising the role they play in bringing people together.”
In addition to the stamp card and limited-edition beer, each pub will also have a different Pete McKee beer mat available, all of which can be joined together to reveal a print by the artist.
Pete added: “I’m really excited about ‘Frank & Joy – A Love Story’ this November, and this pub crawl is just one way I’m hoping to involve the local community in my work and bring the messages behind the show to life.”
Pete’s Frank & Joy – A Love Story exhibition is set to share the tale of two of the artist’s most-loved characters.
Frank and Joy are the couple featured in The Snog, the work of art painted by Pete on the side of Fagan’s pub on Broad Lane in Sheffield, in 2013.
The exhibition, opening a decade after the original mural was painted, will celebrate Frank and Joy’s life story told through their local, while showcasing the vital role pubs play within our communities.
It will open at Trafalgar Warehouse in Sheffield city centre from 4th -19th November 2023 and tickets are available now to purchase.
CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide enlists the help of a music icon
The Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide – the UK’s best-selling beer and pub guide – is celebrating its 51st edition with a striking cover and a foreword supplied by Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson. The Guide, which surveys 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinker’s guide for those seeking the best pints in the nation’s pubs.
Dickinson’s foreword shines a spotlight on the cultural tradition of pubs within the United Kingdom, the importance of protecting the heritage, charm and welcoming nature of pubs and clubs, and not taking them for granted.
Pubs and clubs are a rite of passage for many bands and musicians starting out in the UK, and Iron Maiden themselves began their career almost 50 years ago playing in London pubs. The conviviality of these venues creates the perfect atmosphere for burgeoning music scenes, and helps to drive footfall into pubs, especially after a challenging period for them brought on by the pandemic.
The cover of The Good Beer Guide 2024 features Eddie, Iron Maiden’s mascot and icon of the band’s range of Trooper beers, brewed by Stockport brewery Robinsons. Trooper celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and has become one of the UK’s most established ales in that period.
CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said: “We’re honoured to have Bruce Dickinson pen the foreword for The Good Beer Guide 2024. As we enter our second half century of producing the Guide, there is no one better to introduce this year’s edition, and highlight what makes these institutions so worth visiting.
“The last few years have been an incredibly difficult time for the industry, and we need more support than ever before to keep our nation’s pubs open and thriving. I’d encourage everyone to use this year’s Guide to visit the very best pubs across the UK and support them for generations to come.”
The Good Beer Guide 2024 is set to be published on 28 September, with options to order the standard editions, alternative cover and hardback editions available on the CAMRA shop. To pre-order, go to https://shop1.camra.org.uk/
CAMRA responds to Ringwood brewery being put up for sale
Responding to the announcement that Carlsberg Marston’s has put Ringwood Brewery and associated brands up for sale, CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said:
“Founded in 1978, Ringwood Brewery has been a stalwart of the British brewing scene for decades, being one of the first cask ale producers in the country. I sincerely hope whoever takes up the reins continues with its long-standing, valued traditions.
“It is encouraging that brewing of its flagship beers will still take place on the site while a new buyer is sought. It is important to note the reasons for selling is not due to a failing business, but the current owners wanting to expand other areas of its operations which is not possible at the current location.
“CAMRA campaigns for pubs, pints and people – we never want to see the closure of any brewery as too many across the country are closing their doors. This can have a detrimental impact on local communities, including employment as well as the social benefits a tap can bring. I hope it continues to thrive under new ownership, who will honour the production of the Ringwood live beers consumers have come to love and respect.
“Ringwood has been hugely successful over the years, moving from its original site in 1986 after outgrowing it. CAMRA will be keeping a watchful eye on the sale and will be urging whoever takes over to ensure these traditions remain at the heart of its operations. It would be a sad day for beer enthusiasts if this was not the case.
“Ringwood’s Old Thumper was a former Supreme Champion Beer of Britain in 1988, an accolade awarded at CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival Winter.”
CAMRA celebrates cider education
Collaborating with esteemed writers, influencers and film makers, the award-winning Learn & Discover site hosts an abundance of articles, videos and audio material, exploring the world of pubs, beer, cider and perry.
A new beginners’ guide is freely available for CAMRA members and non-members alike:
Intro to sparkling cider – The first of a new cider series by celebrated drinks writer Rachel Hendry exploring why some ciders are still while others are sparkling. Rachel details the science and processes involved in making different styles of cider, from the importance of fermentation to the multiple methods of carbonation.
For cider and perry enthusiasts wanting to learn more about their favourite drink, there is a fantastic new documentary film available exclusively for CAMRA members*:
World of cider: Hardanger – The second instalment of CAMRA’s World of Cider video series, renown cider expert Gabe Cook, otherwise known as The Ciderologist, meets Norwegian cider producers in Hardanger. Attending the Hardanger Cider Festival, Gabe learns of the history of Norwegian cidermaking, the practicalities of producing cider in Norway and the country’s ever growing cider tourism scene. Filmed by Haritz Rodriguez, the documentary boasts of breath-taking shots of fjords and the stunning Norwegian landscape. The trailer for the film is free to view on CAMRA’s YouTube channel here.
Catch up with the first episode of Gabe’s word tour, in which he travels to Scotland here.
CAMRA supports and campaigns for cider and perry throughout the year, highlighting them in month-long celebrations throughout October and May, during which time local CAMRA branches organise cider and perry events across the country.
Alex Metcalfe, CAMRA’s Learning & Discovery Manager, said: “Working with creative filmmakers and talented writers, these new guides highlight the variation and complexity in cider, making it such a well-loved beverage in the UK and across the world. I was blown away by the high-quality production of the World of Cider video, which rivals that of a big budget TV series. As always with Learn & Discover, there is more on the horizon, I can’t wait for people to see what is in store for the platform and our growing YouTube channel.”
High street pubs could be lost for good unless Government thinks again, warns CAMRA
he Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is leveraging its 150,000-strong membership to ensure that the planning protection won for pubs in 2017 won’t be undone by the Government’s latest levelling up proposals.
Members are writing to their MPs, letting them know that Government proposals for ‘High Street Rental Auctions’ cannot go ahead in their current format, and asking MPs to take action. CAMRA won landmark protection for pubs just five years ago, with the removal of permitted development rights that had let developers convert or demolish pubs without giving communities their say through the planning process.
High Street Rental Auction proposals are currently under consultation with the aim of rejuvenating highstreets by letting Councils auction leases for a range of vacant property types, but these proposals miss the mark by reintroducing permitted development rights that would see pubs converted, divided up into multiple units, or gutted of fittings without the need for planning permission.
The e-lobby campaign follows a letter sent to Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison MP by CAMRA National Chairman, Nik Antona, asking the Government to think again about removing pub protections with High Street Rental Auctions.
Commenting, Nik Antona said: “Last week the Government opened the latest round for bids to the Community Ownership Fund, while at the same time, consulting on taking planning protection away from the kinds of venues that so many communities are working to save.
“It’s vital that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which is responsible for both the Community Ownership Fund and High Street Rental Auctions, takes a more joined-up approach to legislation surrounding the trade, and offers meaningful change that empowers communities to support, or even run, their locals.
“I urge everyone to contact their MP and ask them to stand up for high street pubs.”
Black Sheep Brewery sold
Black Sheep Brewery has been sold to London Investment firm Breal Capital after being place into adminstration, reports the Stray Ferret news website, however the sale has left suppliers owed £3m and unlikely to get paid. The biggest unpaid invoices include Simpsons Malt (£83.4k) and Sustain Drinks Packaging (£33.8k).
If you are looking to enjoy a summer of pub and need inspiration, you could do well to check out the new “Great British Beer Garden” Facebook page and blog started by former Dronfield CAMRA chairman and keen home brewer Rob Barwell.
He kicked off by enjoying a Friday evening sunset chasing whilst enjoying a nice beer in Hathersage and Fox House.
Sat outside the Plough in Hathersage as the sun begins to setAdmiring the sunset sat outside the Fox House Inn
The next day saw Rob head out around Dronfield on the day of the One Valley Festival, which sees many pubs and clubs in the area add outside bars, music stages, food stalls and more and this year the weather was perfect. Some of his photographs were from before opening time when the venues were still setting up, others once the party got started!
Manor House hotel – setting up for One Valley festival which here featured an outside bar with cask ale from Abbeydale, a food van and a stage with live music followed by a DJ.Green Dragon before opening on One Valley Festival day, which here featured an outside bar with cask ales, a gin trailer, fish and chip stall and performance area for live singers.Dronfield Arms on One Valley festival day, which here featured an outside bar, pizza stall, stage for live music and later on a sunset disco outdoors.
Of course it is worth noting that the Manor House and Green Dragon have their outdoor areas open all the time with a DJ on Friday evenings at both venues with the Dragon having live entertainment on Saturday evenings.
Our annual charity beer launches in early July and we’re hugely looking forward to this one! Swifty (4.2%) has been created in collaboration with and in support of Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust and its release coincides with Swift Awareness Week. In recognition of the amazing migratory journey that swifts make, we’ve combined UK hops Fuggles and Keyworth Early with African grains of paradise for a unique and aromatic beer with a botanical spice.
Also in cask only we have Grus (4.0%) coming up, light and delicate on the palate, an easy drinking pale with Delta and Ekuanot hops. And Alchemy (4.2%) is back, an always popular liquid gold kind of pale ale, single hopped with Amarillo. Citrussy, refreshing and the perfect beer garden beer!
From the Brewers Emporium, available across both cask and keg, we have an all new beer! Introducing Tranquility, a 3.8% session New England IPA. Fruity and juicy with a gentle bitterness from the combination of Centennial, Cascade and Mosaic hops. Plus we’ll be launching a new collaboration brewed with Leith’s Campervan Brewery. Wanderer – Transatlantic IPA (6.3%) is brewed using heritage grain Plumage Archer and some of the newest experimental hops available. UK grown CF161 and CF162 are joined by HBC586 and HBC638 from the US of A for a beer that’s bursting with character. Expect clean, sharp citrus upfront with a bright, tropical bitterness.
Local CAMRA member, John Stocks, has had a conversation with Josh Barnsley, Manager of his local, the Cross Scythes (145-147 Derbyshire Lane, S8 9EQ). Josh, with the assistance of his partner, Kat, took over the running of the pub about six months ago, on 1st November 2022.
What inspired you both to take on the challenge?
I had been working for the Devonshire Group for a number of years out on the Chatsworth Estate, in my final years with the Group managing the Devonshire Arms at Pilsley. I thought that it was time to move back to Sheffield. Catherine actually has a full-time job and I would say she was more reluctant to the challenge knowing how much time that this industry and especially running a pub takes but I am very grateful for the hours and time she somehow manages to fit in with running the Cross Scythes.
Did you always envisage working in the industry?
Not really, originally leaving school I worked for Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme and after four years, I moved on and got my first job as a bar manager at the New Inn on Hemsworth Road.
Have you received training in working in the hospitality industry?
Yes absolutely. I’ve now been in this industry for around 13 years and over time, I’ve taken on various courses such as BIIB cellar management, bookkeeping etc and more recently a Management course with Derby University.
Do you plan specific short-term and long-term goals for the pub or do you prefer to respond to needs as they arise?
I have been coming to the Cross since I was 18. The immediate response to walking through the doors was subtle changes. For example, changing the decor where budget allowed and making sure that there is atmosphere whether that’s dimming the lights at night or background music. In answer to the question, short term goals are making sure that the Cross stays open, long term who knows.
Do you see yourselves remaining at the Scythes long term, or will you be looking for a different challenge?
It’s not so much about remaining at the Cross. I’m a happy custodian that hopes we have made an impact on our local community, but the reality is that somebody could take the lease at any time. All we can do is try and ensure that we leave a legacy here that means that anyone incoming can continue to give our locals a space to be proud of.
What has been the most rewarding, and most challenging aspect of the job so far?
The comments that we receive daily about the changes we have made, the pop up shop being able to support local makers has been the most rewarding.
If you could change one aspect of the job what would it be?
The hours, but when I ever have anyone ask me that question, an old boss of mines voice appears in my head telling me I’m in the wrong job!
The job must be exhausting and stressful at times, how do you relax ?
It is for sure. Well we are very lucky to have the Peak District on our door-step. I normally head out off there.
What advice would you give to anyone new to the role?
If the opportunity comes along to learn more, then do it. See it as a career and not a job. Bar staff are the best listeners in the world, and you can learn so much about life by engaging with so many interesting people.
Phil Ellet presents the South Sheffield Area Pub of the Year award at the Sheaf View. Photo by John Beardshaw.Dave Pickersgill presents our Cider Pub of the Year award to Mike at the Cider Hole. This bar in Shalesmoor has now closed and relocated to the “Old Shoe”, a new venue in Orchard Square, Sheffield City Centre. Photograph by Bev Manning.Paul Manning presents East Sheffield Area Pub of the Year to Terry & Alison at the Chantry Inn, Handsworth. Photo by John Beardshaw.Sheffield & District CAMRA’s Phil Ellet presents the June Pub of the Month award certificate to Mark Simmonite at Perch, the Dead Parrot brewery tap.
Are you ready to raise your glass? The first Living in Sheffield, ‘Women’s Beer Tasting’, hosted alongside award-winning Sheffield beer shop, Hop Hideout, is happening in May. Two women collaborating together to widen the connection of community with beer. An opportunity to travel the world in flavours, stories and ingredients. The event will take place on May 25th at Kommune foodhall, where Hop Hideout is currently located, in a great partnership between two women who love a good pint: Livia Barreira (from Living in Sheffield) and Jules Gray (from Hop Hideout). Tickets for the event are £10 and include 4 thirds of beer.
“People quite often think women don’t like or don’t understand about beers, which is wrong. This event is also an incredible opportunity for us, women in Sheffield who like a good pint, to connect and have fun”, says Livia.
Jules explains: “It will be an accessible, inclusive and fun beer tasting for women and LGBTQ+ folks as part of the Women on Tap National Festival, that is taking place between the 24th and 28th of May all across the country”.
