Saturday 17 February saw the presentation of our Autumn 2017 District Pub of the Season award at the Rambler Inn in Edale. A minibus full of Sheffield & District CAMRA members headed out into the Peak District for the occasion, with stops made in Calver, Wardlow Mires and Tideswell en route to Edale.
The Rambler was a stop on one of our recent trips out to the Derbyshire part of our branch, and it subsequently saw a late run of votes to take the Autumn award. The pub, which is especially popular with walkers (if the name didn’t already give it away!), so dogs and muddy boots are more than welcome. There are up to five real ales on offer, with beers from local breweries sometimes available as guests.
Left to right: Helen Metcalf, Mick Saxton and Steve Elliott. Credit: John Beardshaw
The day we visited was especially busy, but a couple of minutes and a little space by the bar were found so that the presentation could be made. Branch chairman Mick Saxton handed over the award, which was gratefully received by landlord Steve Elliott. Congratulations again to Steve and his team on their award.
All of our awards are voted for by our branch members. However, due to a lack of votes, we have been unable to name a District Pub of the Season winner for Winter 2017. The existing nominees have therefore been carried forward to the Spring 2018 vote. As always, votes can be cast via the website or at any branch meeting.
Dominic Nelson
This month’s Pub of the Month winner, as voted for by our members, is a pub well-known around the Sheffield real ale scene. The Rutland Arms on Brown Street is a city-centre haven for beer drinkers, with seven cask ales on offer (including regulars from local brewery Blue Bee), plus up to two real ciders, seven craft keg lines and a range of lagers. To top it all off, there’s also a legendary food menu.
The Rutland is a small, traditional pub with the tiled exterior and windows (most of them) saved from its days as a multi-room Gilmour’s pub. There is also a comfortable, heated beer garden out the back. Despite the classic characteristics, the atmosphere is helped by a changing exhibition of art on the walls and a jukebox with a list of banned songs to be ignored at your peril! There’s a fairly young, fun and friendly team behind the bar, and a great team in the kitchen too. Food is served until 9pm every day except Sunday, when the kitchen closes at 6pm.
The pub hosts regular events, such as tap takeovers and Christmas parties, and has a very active social media presence to keep its punters up-to-date on the latest goings-on.
We’ll be presenting the Pub of the Month winner’s certificate to the Rutland team on the evening of Tuesday 13 March. Everyone is welcome to join us on the night; we’ll be arriving from around 8ish for a presentation at about 9pm.
Since last month’s Beer Matters came out, we have had the pleasure of presenting two pubs with their Sheffield & District CAMRA Pub of the Month awards.
Patrick Johnson presents Eyre Arms landlord Sam Smith with the January Pub of the Month award (Credit: John Beardshaw)
On Saturday 27 January, a minibus-load of members headed out into the Peak District for the first of the two presentations. After visiting a few other excellent pubs along the way, we arrived at the Old Eyre Arms in Hassop to hand over the January award. This was actually the first time in almost three years that a pub in the Derbyshire part of our branch had been voted Pub of the Month, so the accolade was even more notable. Our social secretary, Patrick Johnson, was on hand to present the certificate to pub owner Sam Smith, who expressed his delight and especially thanked the CAMRA members for their votes.
Branch chairman Mick Saxton hands over the February Pub of the Month award to the Sheaf View’s Josh Hayton (Credit: John Beardshaw)
Two weeks later on 13 February, we visited one of Sheffield’s more well-known real ale pubs for the February award. The Sheaf View was filled with CAMRA members and pub regulars alike for an evening of celebration, where all were kindly treated to complimentary chilli and crusty bread. Beers on offer included the usual selection of regular and seasonal beers from Neepsend Brew Co, plus four guest ales. Branch chairman Mick Saxton presented Josh Hayton and his staff with the certificate, which will join the sizeable collection from the pub’s previous wins.
Congratulations once again to both of our winners on their awards.
Dominic Nelson
Our Pub of the Month winner for February 2018, voted for as always by CAMRA members, is a pub that needs little introduction. Since being refurbished and reopened as a freehouse in 2000 by James Birkett (who also owns the Wellington at Shalesmoor and the Blake Hotel in Walkley), the Sheaf View in Heeley has won our monthly award several times, most recently back in June 2015.
Anyone who has visited the Sheaf View will know that the priority here is the provision of high-quality drinks, especially real ales. Kelham Island’s Easy Rider is always available, as well as a seasonal beer from Neepsend Brewery and a selection of up to six guests from around Yorkshire (and further afield) on offer at any time. The pub is decorated with a fantastic range of brewing memorabilia and the layout, including the conservatory to the rear, provides the ideal setting to drink and relax. As well as cask ales, there is an extensive selection of bottled beers available, including several Belgian beers, at least one real cider and a good selection of Scotch malt whiskies.
A regular entry in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide, the Sheaf View attracts real ale aficionados from all over the country and is popular with Sheffield United fans, so it can get quite busy on match days. There is also a well-attended pub quiz which takes place every Wednesday evening.
The award celebration will take place on Tuesday 13 February, with the presentation of the certificate around 9pm. For those travelling by public transport, the pub is 200 yards from Gleadless Road bus stop on London Road (routes 10, 20, 25, 43 and 44), or about the same distance from Richards Road stop (routes 18, 19 and 56). We look forward to seeing you there.
On 12 December 2017, around 15 members from Sheffield & District CAMRA visited the Head of Steam on Norfolk Street for the presentation of the December Pub of the Month award.
Branch chairman Mick Saxton made the presentation to the pub’s general manager, Mark Connor. There were 10 real ales available on the night, and with a 20p per pint discount on offer for CAMRA members, an enjoyable pre-Christmas pint was enjoyed by all.
Congratulations once again to Mark and all the staff at the Head of Steam on their award.
We are pleased to announce that the award for District Pub of the Season for Autumn 2017, voted for by branch members, has gone to the Rambler Country House Hotel in Edale.
This large country pub, situated right next to Edale railway station, is ever-popular with Peak District walkers, with dogs and muddy boots welcome. Five real ales are available here, with regular offerings Otter Ale and Wychwood Hobgoblin joined by three guest ales, which often include beers from local breweries such as Bradfield. The pub also features a children’s animal area with ponies, goats and chickens.
Sheffield & District CAMRA will be running a minibus trip to the Rambler for the award presentation on 17 February; the full itinerary will be announced soon. Places can be booked through our social secretary, Patrick Johnson.
Congratulations to Steve and everyone at the Rambler on their award!
We are delighted to announce that our first Pub of the Month award for 2018 goes to one of the more remote pubs in our branch area, the Eyre Arms in Hassop. In reaching the required 10 votes, it has become the first of our Derbyshire pubs to win the award since the Angler’s Rest in Bamford did so back in April 2015.
This 300-year-old ale house has hardly changed over the centuries, and still features the impressive arms of the Eyre family above an open fireplace. It is a true country pub, with a cosy interior, immaculate beer garden and high-quality, home-cooked food – not forgetting the real ale on offer.
The bar features regular cask beers from Derby’s Brunswick Brewery and the Peak District’s own Peak Ales alongside up to two guest beers, which often include Sheffield breweries such as Bradfield and Kelham Island.
At the time of going to print, the date of the presentation is yet to be arranged although owing to the pub’s rural location it is likely we will arrange a minibus for one Saturday in January, weather permitting. Keep an eye out on our website and social media channels for more information.
Dominic Nelson
On Saturday 18 November, CAMRA members from around the county descended on the Kelham Island Tavern on Russell Street for the presentation of the Yorkshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2017 Joint Winners award. The pub, Sheffield & District CAMRA’s Pub of the Year 2017, shared the award with the George & Dragon in Hudswell, North Yorkshire.
Yorkshire CAMRA Deputy Regional Director, Peter Goddard, made the presentation talked for around 15 minutes covering the history of the area and the Kelham Island Tavern, which is still the only pub ever to have won the national CAMRA Pub of the Year two years running, in 2008 and 2009. Following the presentation, there was a free buffet for all the customers.
Congratulations once again to Trevor, Lewis and everyone at the Kelham Island Tavern.
Every month (votes permitting), we try to recognise one pub in the Sheffield & District CAMRA branch area that consistently serves high-quality real ale in a pleasant environment. We are pleased to reveal that our Pub of the Month award for December 2017 goes to one of the newer pubs in the city centre, the Head of Steam on Norfolk Street.
In a building that started out life as a bank before becoming a pub (previous incarnations include the Fraternity House and the Old Monk), the Head of Steam is part of a chain of similarly branded pubs owned by the Hartlepool-based Camerons Brewery and was opened in its current guise on 14 April 2016.
With up to 10 real ales and ciders, generally a mixture of the brewery’s own offerings plus guest beers from around Yorkshire, there’s plenty of choice for drinkers. CAMRA members enjoy a discount of 20p per pint on all cask ales. The pub also offers a wide selection of craft keg beers and an extensive range of bottled continental brews and there’s plenty of food available, with modern takes on pub classics alongside a few more exotic choices.
You can join us for the award presentation at the Head of Steam on Tuesday 12 December, arriving from around 8pm for a presentation about an hour later. With the Arundel Gate bus interchange just around the corner, there are plenty of options for public transport, and it is also the last social before Christmas so we are hoping for a good turnout. See you there!
Dominic Nelson
Our Pub of the Month presentation evening proved popular once again as CAMRA members and pub regulars alike turned out in their numbers at the Railway Hotel on Bramall Lane to see a very proud Jack Cater and his team presented with the November award.
Left to right: Andy Cater, Georgie Cooper, Jack Cater and James Saxelby. Credit: John Beardshaw.
Since taking over the pub about two years ago, Jack has worked tirelessly to promote real ale at the Railway and a fine selection was on offer throughout the evening, with breweries such as Brew Foundation, Dukeries and Neepsend all featuring on the pumps. The recent trend (hopefully one that’s here to stay!) of winning pubs providing complimentary food for the occasion was continued, with a selection of chilli, garlic bread, samosas and bhajis, all very much appreciated.
Congratulations again to Jack and all the team at the Railway Hotel on your success.
Dominic Nelson
A regular entry in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide, the Sheaf View attracts real ale aficionados from all over the country and is popular with Sheffield United fans, so it can get quite busy on match days. There is also a well-attended pub quiz which takes place every Wednesday evening.
The award celebration will take place on Tuesday 13 February, with the presentation of the certificate around 9pm. For those travelling by public transport, the pub is 200 yards from Gleadless Road bus stop on London Road (routes 10, 20, 25, 43 and 44), or about the same distance from Richards Road stop (routes 18, 19 and 56). We look forward to seeing you there. 
Branch chairman Mick Saxton made the presentation to the pub’s general manager, Mark Connor. There were 10 real ales available on the night, and with a 20p per pint discount on offer for CAMRA members, an enjoyable pre-Christmas pint was enjoyed by all.
Congratulations once again to Mark and all the staff at the Head of Steam on their award. 
The bar features regular cask beers from Derby’s Brunswick Brewery and the Peak District’s own Peak Ales alongside up to two guest beers, which often include Sheffield breweries such as Bradfield and Kelham Island.
At the time of going to print, the date of the presentation is yet to be arranged although owing to the pub’s rural location it is likely we will arrange a minibus for one Saturday in January, weather permitting. Keep an eye out on our website and social media channels for more information.
Dominic Nelson 
With up to 10 real ales and ciders, generally a mixture of the brewery’s own offerings plus guest beers from around Yorkshire, there’s plenty of choice for drinkers. CAMRA members enjoy a discount of 20p per pint on all cask ales. The pub also offers a wide selection of craft keg beers and an extensive range of bottled continental brews and there’s plenty of food available, with modern takes on pub classics alongside a few more exotic choices.
You can join us for the award presentation at the Head of Steam on Tuesday 12 December, arriving from around 8pm for a presentation about an hour later. With the Arundel Gate bus interchange just around the corner, there are plenty of options for public transport, and it is also the last social before Christmas so we are hoping for a good turnout. See you there!
Dominic Nelson 
