Presentation night at the Crow

The evening of Tuesday 10 September saw Adam Swithenbank, along with staff Amber, Michael, Kizzie, Trudi, and Charl, receive a Sheffield CAMRA September Pub of the Month Award.

The pub that started life as the Crown Inn, or Old Crown, was mentioned during the 1840s Chartist protests. The Outrages saw the murder of James Lindley, a saw grinder, in the Crown Inn. The gang wars prevalent in the Shalesmoor area during the 1920s also gained the pub some notoriety.

Fortunately, the pub has evolved far beyond that unrest and violence. Today, the boutique hotel and bar offers five real ales, many keg options on an ever-changing blackboard, and a couple of specialist German lagers.

The business owners, Kate and Chris, also run the Harlequin and Rutland Arms, two real ale staples in Sheffield. 

Paul Manning Sheffield CAMRA Chair presenting the award to Adam Swithenbank and staff. 
Manager Adam Swithenbank receives the award from Sheffield CAMRA Chairman Paul Manning. Photo by John Beardshaw.

Pub of the Month September 2024

Congratulations to Adam and the team at the Crow Inn, our Pub of the Month for September 2024: Adam Swithenbank, Amber Raven, Charlotte Walker, Chris Bamford, Kate Major, Lizzie Dabner and Michael Deakin.

Originally opened in 1797 as a Thomas Rawson house, 2010 saw the pub becoming a small hotel, the Sleep Inn. In June 2019, with assistance from local entrepreneur, Wendy Woodhouse, it reopened under the same management as the Rutland: this pub chain has recently expanded to include the Harlequin.

The pub logo shows a crow stealing the ‘N,’ from the Crown, the previous name of the pub.

Beer-wise, the Crow features five cask beers and 14 keg lines. The beer range is innovative, including both hard-to-find limited-edition and obscure imports, with gluten-free Abbeydale Heathen (4.3%) the only permanent resident.

Regular beer events are held: these have included hosting Cantillon Zwanze Day, a Tilquin
takeover, a Yonder meet-the-brewer and a talk about Victorian drinks maps. There is also a selection of cans and bottles, an extensive range of malt whiskies and bourbons, a selection of ports and wines and plenty of rums and gins.

Kev’s Pies are sold and there are seven comfortable en-suite hotel rooms. 

Apart from the opening-out of the room on the right, the basic layout of the interior is relatively unchanged. Unusually, the off-sales was approached via the entrance to the rear yard, purchasers entering through a small door. This entrance was removed in 1972. The décor in the room on the left includes fourteen framed pieces of artwork by Lewis (Lewy) Ryan. These images were originally produced as labels for canned beers, mostly Abbeydale.
 
Historically, the pub was a key player in the 1840s Chartist protests. Two decades later, the Sheffield Outrages saw the murder, in the Crown, of James Linley and in the 1920s, the pub was at the heart of the Sheffield Gang Wars. In the Victorian era the area was home to many pubs: a pub on every corner, open from dawn to well beyond dusk. The 1884 Sheffield Drink Map indicates 14 licensed premises and one off-licence on Scotland Street, a concentration repeated across the city. A framed black and white copy is on display in the Crow. These maps were originally produced by temperance societies in order to guide users regarding premises it was felt they should avoid. They were also extensively used at annual meetings of local magistrates as they made decisions regarding the renewal of drinks licences.

The Crow fully deserves its place in the CAMRA national Good Beer Guide and also features in the new Sheffield Pub Heritage Walk booklet which focuses on the Little Chicago area. Congratulations to all at the Crow on achieving Pub of the Month: join us for the presentation on Tuesday 10 September and/or the heritage walk which is one of the events at the forthcoming Steel City 48 Beer & Cider Fest. 

August Pub of the Month presentation

Andrew Cater and son Jack are no strangers to the Pub of the Month Award for a pub called the Railway, as they won one when running the Bramall Lane establishment.

This however, is a first for the Sheffield 6 venue on Penistone Road North since opening in September 2022, after the previous landlady Jean’s retirement, from the licensed trade.

Andy and Jack went to work on making the pub a fun place to be. Arcade games were introduced (Andy’s other business is renting games machines from Walkley Road premises), along with sports TV and live music.

The whole pub has been revamped including seating, the bar, opening the whole concert room up and introducing two pool tables, and dartboards on the stage. The pub also hosts home and away fans on match days, peacefully may I add.

Andrew Cater and bar member Shaun being awarded his PotM award by Sheffield CAMRA Press Officer, Kevin Thompson.

New Barrack Tavern presentation

The evening of Saturday 3 August saw CAMRA members visit a very busy New Barrack Tavern which as well as their regulars drinking there was hosting a birthday celebration. We were there to present our Cider Pub of the Year award which is voted for by members and was handed over by our social secretary & press officer Kevin Thompson. As our winner it went forward to be judged in the Yorkshire competition where it came second place in the region, Christine presented the runners up certificate and gave a short speech!

Read more about the pub and award here.

The full list of our pub & club of the year winners:

  • Cider Pub of the Year – New Barrack Tavern, Penistone Road (near Hillsborough)
  • Club of the Year – Crookes Social Club, Crookes
  • North Sheffield Pub of the Year – Blake Hotel, Walkley
  • East Sheffield Pub of the Year – Chantry Inn, Handsworth
  • South Sheffield Pub of the Year – Sheaf View, Heeley
  • West Sheffield Pub of the Year – Itchy Pig Alehouse, Broomhill
  • City Centre Pub of the Year – Bath Hotel
  • District Pub of the Year – Old Hall Hotel, Hope
  • Overall Sheffield Pub of the Year – Kelham Island Tavern, Kelham Island

Blake Hotel presentation

The Blake Hotel towered (literally) above its North Sheffield rivals to win the Pub of the Year 2024 (North) on Thursday 18 July.

Situated at the top of one of Sheffield’s steepest hills, the Blake serves a range of six-seven cask ales to both regulars, and younger student drinkers. You can even take your pooch with you. There is also a large range of single malts and rums for the spirits connoisseur. Outside sees a nice beer garden to enjoy the sun. 

In 2009, the pub was resurrected from it being boarded up. The cellar was dug out, the floor relaid and the décor revived. It is now a traditional local, without the usual trappings such as trinkets and horse brasses. 

The pub serves a very good range of casks ales, at reasonable prices. There are also pork pies to accompany the beer. 

Dom (pictured) receiving the award from Sheffield CAMRA Branch Secretary, Phil Ellet. 

Pub of the Year (Cider)

The New Barrack Tavern on Penistone Road, although standing out on its own away from the centre of Hillsborough and the trendy hotspot of Kelham Island, has been a local stalwart on the real ale scene for many years now.

Also well established is Kev, Steph and daughter Rebecca being at the helm making it something of a family business with regulars that attend nearby sporting events at Hillsborough and Owlerton stadiums almost becoming part of an extended family!

Real ale drinkers are catered for with beers from Castle Rock brewery plus guests and regular live entertainment events are hosted including live music and a comedy club in this classic multi-roomed roadhouse style pub which also has an excellent beer garden (with outdoor stage!). It also has a function/meeting room with its own bar and a pool table.

The pub is also on CAMRA’s heritage pub inventory as a one star listing with an interior of special national historic interest.

The award we are presenting however recognises what a great destination the pub is for cider drinkers. Investment has been made replacing the kitchen with a cider cellar adjacent to the bar and a large range is available covering both traditional and flavoured options and the availability of cider is well promoted!

Our local CAMRA members in Sheffield & District voted the New Barrack Tavern as our branch Cider Pub of the Year, as a result it went forward into the Yorkshire competition in which it was runner up.

Join us there on Saturday 3 August from 7pm for a drink or two as we present both award certificates.

The New Barrack Tavern has won Yorkshire cider pub awards before!

Pub of the Year gallery

On the evening of Wednesday 3 July CAMRA members and regulars joined Josh, Louise and the team at the Kelham Island Tavern to celebrate again being judged Sheffield & District Pub of the Year. The certificate was presented, beer was drunk, cheese & biscuits and pork pie was enjoyed! Well done to all involved and thanks for an enjoyable evening!

Paul Manning with the management and staff of the Kelham Island Tavern at their Pub of the Year presentation

ALL THE PUB OF THE YEAR WINNERS:

WEST SHEFFIELDItchy Pig Ale House, Broomhill

SOUTH SHEFFIELD Sheaf View, Heeley

EAST SHEFFIELDChantry Inn, Handsworth

DISTRICT (DERBYSHIRE) Old Hall Hotel, Hope

KELHAM ISLAND & NEESPENDKelham Island Tavern

CITY CENTRE Bath Hotel

NORTH SHEFFIELDBlake Hotel

CIDER PUB OF THE YEARNew Barrack Tavern

CLUB OF THE YEARCrookes Social Club

Pub of the Month August 2024

After previously running the Railway Hotel, Bramall Lane and winning a CAMRA PotM award, Andy and Jack Cater were given the nod that the Railway in S6 was coming to the market in 2022.

Already owning an arcade games company, they set about transforming this little music and ale gem which opened in September of that year. While retaining its charm, the pub now boasts entertainment in an arcade game room, a pool table, two dart board set-ups and a singles/album jukebox. Live bands play Saturdays, with special events like Tramlines fringe and beer festivals throughout the year.

The award takes place on Tuesday 13 August from 8pm. 

19 Penistone Road North, Wadsley Bridge, S6 1LP. Get there by bus 7, 8, 86 or 97.