Pub of the Month February 2020
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
The Campaign for Real Ale also support real Cider and Kev and Steph were delighted when their pub, the New Barrack Tavern on Penistone Road was awarded Yorkshire Cider Pub of the Year. CAMRA regional cider co-ordinator Christine Jane made the award.
CAMRA members and staff at the Ball Inn, Crookes, celebrated more than Christmas as the pub was awarded Pub of the Month by The Campaign for Real Ale. The pub has fourteen hand pumps and serves a fine selection of real ales. Chairman of CAMRA, Glyn Mansell on the left presented the award to Kham, the duty manager. 
My history with The Commercial runs not nearly as deep as it does for many, nor does my frequency of patronage approach anything that might offer me license to think of myself as a regular. These things notwithstanding, I felt instantly compelled to nominate this fine establishment for a PotM award when I was last leaning upon their most estimable bar, learning that they were eligible again (their last nomination was quite some time ago). The occasion of said visit is itself reason enough to justify the nomination, since I was there to present the landlord with an award to acknowledge a noteworthy achievement, namely, 20 consecutive years in The Good Beer Guide.
I can vividly recall my first visit to The Commercial, for ‘twas a day upon which I was returning to Sheffield from Leeds. A friend offered to drive me and another down, rather than have us catch the train. The driver was to visit his family in Chapeltown, so it seemed like a sensible marriage of objectives. Upon arriving into Sheffield’s northernmost parts, it was suggested we visit The Commercial to help alleviate the symptoms of our previous night’s indulgence. Walking in, it immediately became clear that the choice to have a Saturday afternoon beer in this particular spot was no accident. The bar was a forest of beer engines (at that time, serving numerous ales from the now defunct Wentworth Brewery), there was an abundance of polished wood and brass… and a dartboard! That particular afternoon slipped by in perfect contentment and it was a shame that we couldn’t stay there (upright) all day. I always look forward to returning to The Commercial and take opportunities to introduce the place, wherever necessary, to those that have yet to have had the pleasure.
Of course, there are all sorts of things that recommend this pub to its patrons, chief among these being the terrifically popular monthly whisky tasting events, the hearty food, the friendly staff and the indefatigable landlord.
I find the Commercial, at once, remarkable yet unremarkable. It is a place of plain, winsome beauty that serves glorious, well-conditioned beer. In short, it is an unadulterated delight to spend time in Chapeltown’s most decorated public house.
Patrick Johnson 
Pub of the Year Overall Winner – The Gardeners’ Rest
CAMRA members joined pub regulars, musicians and others at the Gardeners Rest for beer, food and music on the evening of Friday 21st June as our branch chairman presented their winners certificate.
District (Derbyshire) Pub of the Year – Three Stags Head, Wardlow Mires
On Saturday 6th July a number of Sheffield & District CAMRA members took a minibus trip out into the Derbyshire Peak District area of our branch to visit a number of pubs that are harder to get to and included a visit to the Three Stags Head at Wardlow Mires to present their certificate for winning our Pub of the Year award for the Derbyshire area.
This is a classic, unspoilt rural pub that serves good ale and is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of unspoilt pub interiors.
Photos: Patrick Johnson presenting the certificate to managers Kath and Andy. Taken by John Beardshaw and Dave Pickersgill.
Sheffield City Centre Pub of the Year – Rutland Arms
The Rutland was once a failed, boarded up Punch Taverns pub until that pub company sold the building to a local property businessman who converted the former B&B accommodation upstairs into a student flat and kept the pub part of the building to rent out to a local independent operator that set the pub going in its current direction – a classic pub with a slightly punk twist, real ale, fresh food, beer garden and juke box.
Two years ago Chris Bamford and Kate Major took over the Rutland along with the existing staff and manager Heather. The bar has been refitted and has a wider selection of craft beers on keg alongside the reorganised handpumps that feature a couple of house beers from Blue Bee along with numerous ever changing guest ales on cask. Regular special beer events take place with themed nights, tap takeovers and beer tastings often in the diary.
On the food front, good quality fresh cooking continues to feature with the printed menu offering a selection of bar snacks and the specials board offering bistro standard small plates, main meals and sandwiches. One of the more recent developments is the expansion of the choice of vegan dishes.
Look out for all the random things around the pub on the walls and shelves, reflecting both the diverse community of customers and staff humour.
As for that jukebox? – well you are still warned to pay attention to the forbidden music board…
Sheffield Kelham Island Pub of the Year – Kelham Island Tavern
A pub that needs no introduction having won many awards over the years!
When Trevor Wraith bought the pub in 2002 it was closed, boarded up and in the red light district although a number of other real ale pubs had been established in the area at the time.
Right from the word go, the formula and standards to expect was clear – the pub is clean, comfortable and friendly; a large range of real ales with all the main beer styles covered (so yes always a dark beer and a mild available!), reasonable prices, simple lunchtime food and a lovingly maintained beer garden.
Although the formula and traditional standards have remained unchanged over the years, there has been some innovation including the back room being built as an extension and the introduction of a regularly changing UK craft keg line.
At the end of last year Trevor retired and the management of the pub has been taken over by Josh and Louise – who also run Blue Bee Brewery and have been involved in Sheffield’s Steel City Beer & Cider Festival in the last few years. Josh is also no stranger to the Kelham, having worked behind the bar when he was at University.
Only subtle changes have been made under the new management – the lunchtime food menu has been overhauled and cask beer from some of the more fashionable brewers such as Cloudwater and Buxton has appeared on the bar for example whilst Bradfield Farmers Blonde has also given way to Blue Bee Reyt Blonde. The bar has recently benefited from a refit of the handpumps and taps, allowing an increased choice of beers.
Sheffield South Pub of the Year – Sheaf View, Heeley
Thursday 27th June saw CAMRA members and pub regulars head down to the Sheaf View at Heeley for their South Sheffield Pub of the Year certificate presentation, some fantastic beer and a much enjoyed buffet including hot pork sandwiches.
The Sheaf View has been operating under the current ownership for 19 years now, having been bought by James Birkett in 2000 as a failed, boarded up former Marstons pub. It reopened as a real ale freehouse and was a hit from the start. You can now always find beers from Neepsend brewery on the bar as it is under the same ownership, along with some great guest beers. The pub also hosts an impressive whiskey selection, usually has sandwiches available and there is a weekly quiz night.
Well done to Josh Hayton and team at the Sheaf View for running a great real ale pub and being voted the best in South Sheffield by CAMRA members.
Sheffield West Pub of the Year – Itchy Pig Alehouse
A number of CAMRA members and pub regulars gathered at the Itchy Pig Alehouse on Thursday 4th July for the presentation of the West Sheffield Pub of the Year certificate. They also enjoyed some great beers and tasty pasties and sausage rolls. Congratulations and thanks for the hospitality!
Pictured – Paul Crofts presenting the certificate to Ted Finley, Richard Storey and Richard Hollis. Photo by John Beardshaw.
Yorkshire Cider Pub of the Year – New Barrack Tavern
On Friday 7th June the New Barrack Tavern on Penistone Road celebrated being voted our Cider Pub of the Year with our Cider Champion Sarah Mills presenting the winners certificate, this was followed by an evening of live music and a few pints!
The New Barrack Tavern recently converted the former kitchen area into a new room of the pub that allowed the bar to be extended to accommodate an extended choice of traditional ciders. The pub has gone on to be named Yorkshire Cider Pub of the Year.
Sheffield Club of the Year – Royal British Legion Club, Chapeltown
The Legion is a members club located near Chapeltown railway station with a good
selection of guest ales, and many forms of entertainment. The club organises an annual BBQ & Beer Festival in July. Three handpumps offer Abbeydale Moonshine, one changing dark beer, and one other changing beer from a wide variety of local brewers, including Acorn, Chantry, Pennine, Sheffield, Stancill, and Toolmakers. During 2016 they had 124 different real ales from 14 different local breweries. The club organises race nights, Chase the Ace and occasional live music. There is a full-size snooker table, darts, and Sky & BT Sports for the big match.
Our Club of the Year award recognises a club making the effort to serve good real ale.
North Derbyshire Pub of the Year – Miners Arms, Hundall
The Miners Arms at Hundall, near Dronfield, has been named North Derbyshire Pub of the Year. This is a great community local in a rural spot with views over the valley. A choice of well priced real ales feature on the bar along with an extensive selection of cider and gin. Food is limited to a selection of simple pub snacks including sausage rolls and pasties. There are several distinctive areas to the pub – one with a pool table, one with sports on TV and a comfortable quieter lounge area along with a conservatory and beer garden.
Derbyshire Club of the Year – Pioneer Club, Dronfield
The Pioneer Club on Stonelow Road in Dronfield (which recently hosted Dronfield CAMRA’s beer festival), was named Derbyshire Club of the Year. The club is quite community focused hosting meetings and trips out as well as having a busy programme of events including quiz nights, bingo, pool league, sports teams and live music. The bar has 4 handpumps offering a mix of local and regional ales at reasonable prices.
The presentation at the Pioneer Club took place on a Friday evening in early August with a pie supper and entertainment included! 