Author: Kevin Thompson

Arriving in town a little before the train departing at 11:44, I decided to see what The Bankers Draft had to offer. As it happened they had a rather nice Salamander Golden on, a nice blonde /Golden of 4.5%. 

Nearing departure, I walked down to Midland Station. The queue is always a little long, as they only have 2 ticket staff on a Saturday. However, they got through people quickly and this gave me time for a half in The Sheffield Tap. As always, there is a good choice of 6-7 wickets. I went for one I had not drank before, a Mad Ape – Twistin’ My Melon Man, a delightful wheat beer coming in at 4.8%. 

So, off to platform 4a for the train that was travelling to Leeds via Barnsley. I saw Malcolm and Graham before boarding and we began the journey, only stopping at Meadowhall. On alighting we met Malc Anderson, who had boarded, but due to being sardined in, he couldn’t move to find us. 

Setting off at midday for our first destination, Spiral City in The Arcade. We were met by nice surroundings, including a vinyl record shop, but only 2 ales. We all plumped for the Stancill -Sweet Caroline, a pale at 4.1%. 

Bang across at the Jolly Tap, we were glad to see around 6-7 beers from the Jolly Boys’ Brewery. This is where Andy C and Rob caught up. I had a nice APA called Supa-Citra, packing a decent punch of 4.2%. If that wasn’t your thing though, they had bitter, a stout and pales to suit. 

Up to the top of The Arcade and round the corner sits one of Barnsley’s institutions, the Old #7. Recently under new management, but still with 6 wickets to choose from, mainly local beers from Acorn, Thornbridge etc. I always like to try one I haven’t had before, so Little Critters – Luna Peach Pale Ale fitted the bill. A very nice refreshing pint for a summers day. 

Now, this is where the fun started. 3 of us were a little peckish and needed sustenance. I remember there used to be a chip shop near The Kestral, so using Google Maps on my phone, we set off for there. Big mistake, as my phone took us all the way round to where we started. We actually gave up and got a snack from Pound Bakery to fill the gap. Then, setting off to meet the rest of the group at The Nailmaker Tap #2, Malcolm’s phone took us the wrong way round, when we could have cut a fair bit off. A few phone calls, and a mile later, we arrived, but at least Graham had a good moan about getting his steps in. 

We were joined there by Malc’s partner, Ally. Again, a decent little range, and choosing the Craven Brew Co – Beyond the Pale we sat out in the sun. Next on the list was the George and Dragon, a more traditional establishment, albeit with a nice beer garden to bake in. A smaller selection, but the Stancill – Dr Rudi, an EPA of 4% was a good choice for the warm day. 

We then had the short walk to another nice bar, The Tarn End Tap. Modern, but quirky with a musical theme. The beers were solid with my tipple being a Durham Brewery – Pina Colada, an IPA Milkshake of 4.5%, fruity as hell and delicious. An ideal beer to sing the Rupert Holmes song to ( You have to be of a certain age). 

We were still on the periphery of town, so we made the effort to call at Heaven & Ale, again a quirky pub that Barnsley seem to have a knack of creating. The North Riding – Single Hop APA Comet, at 4.2%, then a Brew61 – Spring Meadow 4.7% IPA,  kept things relatively sensible. Here we bid farewell to Malcolm and Graham who wished to depart a little earlier.

Time was ticking, and we had a couple more visits ro complete. Andy C, Rob and myself popped in the Garrison, no real ale, but Brewdog Hazy Jane as good as it got. Not a bad bar though, busy and live music present. The last bar was Bar Ruelle on Regent Street South, bang opposite the Interchange. I forgot to log my beer, but they had a nice selection of Pale, Porter and bitter. 

Catching the train home, we made the executive decision to get off at Chapletown to have beer and food. Graham, the sly old devil had the same idea and we saw him outside after getting our Neepsend – Blonde, 4%. With their Loaded Chip butty calling to us, we ordered the bacon, cheese and black pudding versions. They are huge and cooked beautifully, not bad for around £7. 

Getting into early evening, I chose to catch the 83 to Southey Library and walk down the hill, rather than the train into town which Andy and Rob did. 

All in all, Barnsley is emerging as a great little real ale stomping ground with its reasonably compact layout. Well worth the £5-7 train ticket for a day out. The service is frequent and fairly fast too. The 7 of us enjoyed it massively. 

Trains are operated by Northern and run from Sheffield to Barnsley up to 4 times an hour, taking around 20-30 minutes depending on the number of stops. An off peak return costs £7 or an anytime return costs £8.30 with discounts sometimes available if specific times are booked in advance. A “South Yorkshire Connect Plus” ticket is also available offering a day of unlimited bus, train and tram travel in the county for £10.70.

Funny month for the weather, June. As 5/6ths of us met at Midland Station platform 5a on a warm, cloudy day for our trip out into Derbyshire. Andy C joined the packed train at Dore & Totley Station for the journey to New Mills.

Unfortunately due to a landslide, the train would only reach Chinley Station with a replacement bus completing the journey. However, there was a 10 minute walk back up the hill, to where we had  just passed. Annoying when Newtown Station is virtually across the road – which Andy C had travelled to on the train via Hazel Grove reaching the brewery quarter of an hour before everyone else – he was in a different part of the train… 

Torrside Brewery is part of the marina complex on Hibbert Street, sitting opposite the famous Swizzels sweet factory, although the shop wasn’t open on this occasion for purchases. The Tap itself is a converted boat repair shop and is kitted out with casks on stillage, a hopper and benches to enjoy the offerings of Torrside and Osaka Local food truck.    

The range of cask and keg is impressive and boast pales, bitter and dark beers. Others and myself plumped for the Torrside Mosaic, 4.8% APA. This was followed by the I Am Curious Lemon, again 4.8% but an EPA this time. I am not a darker beer drinker generally. Although I did try the excellent Kuro Neko, a 5.2% Schwarzbier, akin to an airy stout packed with flavour. As the Mosaic ran out, it was swiftly replaced with All of the Klaxons, a more sessionable 4% EPA. We all tasted a sample a lovely smoked dark, bottled beer, purchased by Andy. 

An enjoyable social few hours was enjoyed by the group around the table with a few anecdotes told that had all howling, including Malc’s Wetherspoon place tale (you had to be there..)

We set off for the next bar in this old mining and mill town. Boasting the Grade II listed Torr Vale Mill, which at 210 years of continuous use was the longest running in the UK. The town’s industry was also served by the rivers Sett and Goyt for power, and the Peak Forest Canal for transportation. 

Arriving at the Beer Shed at the top of Market Street, we were greeted to a compact, narrow bar displaying old beer adverts on the walls. Beer was courtesy of Thornbridge, with the 4.5% Fonio Pale Ale, but offered another 2 handpumps.

We then departed for what we thought would be our final pub the Masons Arms on the bottom end of High Street, a pretty and narrow lane with terraced cottages and cobbles. This pub offered Robinsons beers and a couple of guests. I enjoyed the Unicorn bitter at 4.3%, and the Storm Brewing Co Bosley Cloud, a Blonde Golden of 4.1% with adjuncts of fruits, spices and occasionally coffee. 

So, on returning to our shuttle bus back to Chinley is where the comedy, or not, started. We were in plenty of time for the 19:23 to Sheffield, but after 10-15 minutes after it should have arrived, we suspected it wouldn’t, especially as the 20:23 was cancelled too. This confirmed our decamping to the nearby Chinley Bar and Lounge. Not expecting much, we were surprised to find 2 cask ales on the bar. Chatsworth Gold, a 4.6% Blonde/Golden and the classic Bass, 4.4% bitter. All this was accompanied with laughs at Andy Cullen’s tale of radiator covers (you had to be there..)

We then returned to Chinley Station for the 21:23, only to find that too was cancelled. Fortunately, shortly afterwards we were informed a minibus was enroute to return us to Sheffield. After picking up a few passengers from other stations, and dropping off Andy C at Dore & Totley, we arrived back 2.5hours after our original time. John, Phil and myself decided on a nightcap at Shakespeares where I partook in a Fuggle Bunny Stomper, weighing in at 5% and a refreshing SeaCider Blueberry of 4%. 

It was now taxi time, but although an exhausting day, we can all look back on great beer, food, company and a lot of laughs. If there no rail disruptions, New Mills is well worth 7 hrs of anyone’s time on a Torrside Brewery Tap Saturday.