Category: Awards

JD Wetherspoon has come a long way since founder, Tim Martin, opened his first pub in Muswell Hill, London in 1979. More than 40 years later the estate boasts over 900 pubs spread the length and breadth of the UK. Success has been built on the provision of great value food and drink in a warm and friendly environment. From a real ale perspective this success is evidenced by the 250 pubs chosen by local branches for inclusion in the 2020 edition of the CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE. Sheffield got its first Wetherspoon pub in 1996 when the Bankers Draft opened at 1, Market Place on the site of the old Midland Bank building. This wasn’t a surprising location as the company is well-known for renovating and refurbishing old, and in many cases, historic buildings. The Banker’s soon became a popular place for friends to meet up in town. However, I believe that the pub has actually improved greatly in the last few years, especially since Jonathan Atkinson took charge. Jonathan and his partner, Terrianne McHale have been with the company for 15 years, the last 8 years at the Banker’s Draft. They are keen supporters of CAMRA. Local branch and nation and publications are prominently displayed in the pub. The venue has hosted branch meetings and has been a regular sponsor of the Sheffield Beer Festival. Regular real ales on the bar are Abbot Ale, Ruddles Bitter and Doom Bar. Additionally there are about 7 or 8 guest ales available at any time. These are dispensed from the 14 banks of hand pumps on the 2 floors. They always try to offer a range of styles, ABVs and a mix of local and national brews. There tends to be a regular seasonal ale. Favourite local breweries are Little Critters, Bradfield, Kelham Island, Milestone and Acorn. With the addition of Alex Crowe to the team the Banker’s is one of the few venues stocking Welbeck ales. In any case the pub is a go to venue for any new breweries in Sheffield. I know that Jonathan is very keen to increase the volume of real ale sold. To this end he has extended the normal company offer to CAMRA members by allowing an unlimited discount to card-carrying members. CAMRA is also an organisation that supports real cider. It is therefore very pleasing to find that apart from the Black Dragon on regular offer there are 5 guest still boxed ciders on at any time. These may include Broadoak Moonshine, Snails Bank Rhubarb and Monkey Mango. Given the overall success of JD Wetherspoon it is perhaps surprising that of their 9 pubs in Sheffield, opened at regular intervals since 1996, only one has ever been voted “Pub of the Month.” I am therefore delighted that the branch has chosen the Banker’s Draft as the winner of this prestigious award for February 2020. I know that Jonathan is too, and he hopes that as many branch members as possible come along on Tuesday, 11th February to join him and his team celebrate this success. Andrew Thorpe

A few years ago the Ball Inn, Crookes was refurbished and this included installing a new kitchen in the old stables at the back of the cobbled court yard. Part of the pub is a sports bar with TV screens with a large dining area at the rear but some of the original wooden panelling can still be seen and photos of bygone Crookes are on most walls.  There is stylish decking and surround at the front of the pub and at the back is a beer garden with heated smoking area. It is a Greene King pub with  14 hand pumps and  offers the normal range of Greene King beers and the guest beers are usually from Sheffield breweries and offers  CAMRA members a discount. Open from 10am for breakfasts, tea, coffee and cakes and serves meals throughout the day until 10pm weekdays and 9pm weekends.  There are a range of children’s and senior menus  and Sunday lunches are popular with specials available all week. Live music features on the last Friday of the month. Pub of the Month award will be presented to the manager, Simon Howard and his team on 10th December. The pub is on the 52/52A bus route so come along and join us. JOHN BEARDSHAW

The Old Queen’s Head, next to Sheffield Interchange, is believed to be the oldest domestic building in Sheffield. It began life as a hunting lodge for the nearby Sheffield Castle, and was built in the late 15th century for the Earl of Shrewsbury. A later Earl was the jailer of Mary, Queen of Scots, from whom the pub probably takes its name. It is now the only pub in Sheffield with Grade II* listing by Historic England (the other was the Carbrook Hall, no longer a pub). It is known to have become a beer house by the 1840’s and additions were made to the building later in that century. The pub passed through the hands of several breweries before being acquired by Thwaites in the 1990’s. The current interior format dates from a 1992 refurbishment and consists of three distinct areas. The front lounge, occupying the half-timbered older part of the building has an original fireplace and carved bay window overlooking the outside seating area. To the rear are two further seating areas around the central bar, and there is an upstairs function room. Mike and Suzana took on the pub seven years ago, and serve the core range of beers from the new Thwaites brewery, including Mild, Amber, Gold and IPA, together with up to three rotating guest beers usually with one from a local brewery. The pub opens from 10am to 11pm every day and food is available 12 to 9pm (4pm Sundays). The menu covers the usual pub favourites as well as pizzas, burgers, grills and roasts together with a selection of Czech specialities reflecting Mike and Suzana’s home town, Prague. The pub offers a cosy welcoming environment for weary travellers, shoppers and after work drinkers. We have arranged a social on Tuesday 12 November from 8.00pm to present the well- deserved award.