The Old Queen’s Head, next to Sheffield Interchange, is believed to be the oldest domestic building in Sheffield, and is thought to have begun life as a shooting lodge for Sheffield Manor, later becoming he wash house.
It is known to have become a beer house by the 1840’s and passed through the hands of several breweries before being acquired by Thwaites around 20 years ago. 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 4½ years ago, and serve a range of Thwaites beers, usually including Nutty Black, Wainwright and Lancaster Bomber, together with two rotating seasonal beers.
The pub opens from 10am to 11pm every day and food is available 12 to 9pm (4pm Sundays). There are regular food nights – Monday is Czech specialities reflecting Mike and Suzana’s home town Prague, Tuesday is pie night, Fish on Wednesday and burgers Thursday, each with special offers. A traditional roast is available Sundays.
The award will be presented on Tuesday 11 April, and to mark the occasion all cask beers will be reduced to £2.50 from 7pm
Wils Gee
Rutland Arms, Holmesfield
In February Dronfield CAMRA branch presented their Winter Pub of the Season award to the Rutland Arms in Holmesfield.
Seen here is branch Chairman Rob Barwell with award winning publicans Gary and Lucie.
Our members have been voting through the autumn for our latest District Pub of the Season and we are pleased to announce the winner as the Packhorseat Little Longstone.
This award is for pubs in the Derbyshire part of our branch area and is designed to raise the profile with real ale drinkers of those pubs that are beyond the city limits, often in rural areas such as the Peak District.
The Packhorse is a cosy village pub with small rooms, a roaring fire in winter, a beer garden for the summer months, friendly staff, good fresh food and of course well kept ales, usually from Thornbridge Brewery.
We’re running a minibus trip on Saturday 25th February and will be calling in the Pack Horse to present their winners certificate and enjoy a beer, this will be combined with a visit to Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell for a tour where there will be a bar open selling beer and pies! If you want to join us on the minibus, please book your seat via our social secretaries, it costs just £5 per person for the travel for members.
November 2016 Pub of the Month presentation at the Hillsborough HotelThe White Lion, Heeley, our October 2016 Pub of the Month winnerAugust 2016 Pub of the Month presentation at the Beer EngineJuly 2016 Pub of the Month award presentation at the Walkley Beer Company
Now my association with the Hillsborough Hotel goes back a long way. From the heady days of Dell Tilling, when the bar only opened Thursday to Sunday and we packed in to drink Brian Hendry’s excellent Crown HPA and Stannington Stout.
Well since then the Hillsborough has gone through some ups and downs and in recent times more downs, culminating in what looked like the end last October (2015). News of its demise was premature as I received a text from Tom and Brigitte Delaney to turn up as usual for my Tuesday Quiz. Tom who has been involved in a previous management along with his now wife, Brigitte, a former barmaid at the Hotel, had taken over and were re-launching,
There had to be changes, the previous owners had dismantled the brewery, so there was no more of the Wood Street Beers which in the latter days had been of poor quality.
Tom set about trying to regain the Hillsborough’s reputation and started with improving the beer quality. Anyone can slap a handpump on the bar and sell it but to sell it in good condition is an art. Throughput is important but cleanliness is paramount. Tom completely deep cleaned the cellar and lines and looked after his beer from day 1 of re-opening. Now a wise landlord friend of mine had said the secret of good ale was ‘Clean lines and Clean glasses’, this certainly was the rule now. Building up the beer range as the trade increased there are now at least 7 handpulls working selling a variety of LocAle and national ales with two regular beers Tapped Mojo and Acorn Barnsley Bitter both priced competitively at £2.60 a pint.
The quality and consistency is there to be tasted and that is reflected in an increase in punters who can always find a warm welcome coupled with a fine glass of beer.
Tom is also a well respected Chef and the kitchen soon started to turn out good home cooked food using fresh locally sourced produce with wonderful Sunday Lunches.
There is a very popular Quiz run by some Scottish bloke on Tuesday night. Live bands perform regularly on Fridays or Saturdays, usually at least once a month. A Pop Music Quiz on the 2nd Thursday. By popular demand the Folk Music Sessions have returned on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Other events like the Alternative Burns Night and Gin Tasting have also been hosted.
A Year on it has been great to see the Hillsborough filling up again and getting the ‘buzz’ back. With many of the former great members of staff returning behind the bar and also in the kitchen, making a fantastic spirit to Team Hillsborough
Our current Chair Kate Major said about the Hillsborough in a blog about ‘Bars to Visit in Sheffield’ – ‘The Hillsborough Hotel has gone through some lean times but if anyone can revive the place then it is this couple’
Well done Tom, Brigitte and staff on winning this well deserved award.
Jim McDonald
The award will be presented on the evening of Tuesday 8th November, all are welcome.
Buses 57,81,82,85 pass outside, Langsett Primrose View tram stop is just around the corner.
Now and again our branch members put forward a nomination for a special award outside our usual pub and beer awards to recognise people or businesses that have contributed towards the good pub and beer scene in our area.
The latest of these awards presented (after a little delay!) was to Nigel Williams, who retired from the pub trade as licencee of the Ranmoor Inn. Previously he ran a group of iconic Sheffield pubs including the Three Tuns, White Lion and others under the ‘Just William’ pub company, all of which were successful real ale pubs under his watch. During this time he also headed the Licenced Victuallers Association in our area, an organisation designed to represent the interests of self employed licencees.
Previous to Just William, Nigel has worked for breweries and pub companies as area manager.
Following retirement from the pub trade, Nigel hasn’t simply hung up his handpump and enjoyed well deserved rest, he is now involved with the Sheffield Brewery Company and has been very instrumental in getting their programme of special events going and we caught up with him at their May Beer Club to present the certificate.
This proved easier said than done! The event was incredibly popular, beer club is now on the same time as the Peddlers Night Market across the road which also attracts a crowd to the area and Nigel was helping out behind the bar which was coping with rather a large queue. However we did manage to grab him for a couple of minutes for a photograph of him receiving the certificate from Beer Matters editor Andy Cullen.
Incidentally, if you enjoy Sheffield Brewery beer, we’d reccommend their Beer Club, which takes place the first Friday of the month, featuring their latest monthly special as well as some of their regular beers plus food and live music. You can also meet the brewery team and ask any questions about their beer. Beer Club membership is available to buy, which gets you discounted prices at the bar as well as other benefits, however the event is open to all.
The White Lion has not only been a constant fixture on London Road since 1781, it has been a constant favourite on the Sheffield beer scene, appearing in 28 editions of the Good Beer Guide. Its 28th appearance is in 2017. The architectural history of this one pub alone could fill an entire issue of Beer Matters. It has earned Grade II listing (1999), one of a select group of Tetley’s ‘Heritage Inns’ (1989) and, more recently, recognised by CAMRA as having an interior of outstanding historic interest, appearing in CAMRA’s Yorkshire Pub Heritage publication. For visitors to the White Lion it is the beautiful tiles, seemingly eccentric collection of rooms, and the famous reversed ‘N’ in the stained-glass that make it an endearing and comfortably atmospheric place to enjoy a few ales.
Over the years it must have had dozens of licensees but the current incumbents, Jon and Mandy, have not only been running the White Lion for as little as 18 months, but had never managed a pub before. Their story is a fairy-tale. Long-time customers of the White Lion, Jon and Mandy gave-up their public-sector careers to take on the pub they loved, worried that it was in danger of going into a terminal decline. And what a job they’ve done! As well as four regular ales – Abbeydale Moonshine, Kelham Island Lion’s Main, Tetley Bitter, and Wychwood Hobgoblin – there is always a fascinating (and often unusual) selection of up to seven excellently kept guest ales. The pub also has real cider (Weston’s Old Rosie and one guest), and an impressive selection of malt whisky.
The White Lion is a champion music venue, winning the title of best music pub in Yorkshire and the north-east in 2015. Free live music is a feature nearly every night, apart from Wednesdays when it hosts a popular pub quiz.
And given Jon and Mandy’s story, it is hardly surprising that they have made the White Lion a true community pub. It gives rooms over to clubs, groups and the local community, hosts regular charity events, supports local community events and neighbouring businesses. For all these reasons an unincorporated body, consisting of members of the local community and with the support of CAMRA, has just submitted an application to list the White Lion as an asset of community value (ACV) – fingers-crossed!
We’ll be presenting this much-deserved ‘Pub of the Month’ award on Tuesday 11 October from 8pm onwards, so come along (615 London Road, Heeley (next to Ponsford, at the heart of the Heeley Triangle) – on bus routes 10, 10A, 20, 24, 25, 43, 43A, 44, X17), and enjoy a celebration with some fine ales in one of Sheffield’s most fascinating pubs. Normal opening hours are 4pm to midnight Monday to Thursday, 4pm to 1am on Fridays, noon to 1am on Saturdays, and 2pm to midnight on Sundays.
Richard Short
Three Stags Head, Wardlow Mires
Our District Pub of the Season award is a programme that recognises the good ale pubs in the Derbyshire part of our branch area, some of which is rural parts of the Peak District National Park. Pubs are nominated and voted for by our members who drink in those pubs.
The winner of our inaugural award, which has been voted for over the summer, is the Three Stags Head at Wardlow Mires. Words like legendary and personality are often used and either word could apply to both the pub and landlord here.
Jeff and Pat bought the pub originally when they were looking for premises to conduct their pottery business – which is in stables behind the pub – and ran the pub as something of a sideline, open just at the weekend catering for locals including farm workers, walkers and others in the area.
The draught beer choice consists of 4 handpulled ales from Abbeydale including the special, quite strong, house beer called Black Lurcher, named in memory of the pub dogs that used to be resident in the bar area. These days there are still plenty of dogs and sometimes even a hawk to keep you company.
The beer range and Jeff’s attitude to it once made it into the Sheffield Star newspaper thanks to the sign above the bar that read ‘please do not ask for lager as a smack in the gob often offends’. A range of quality European bottled beers is however available!
The pub is listed in CAMRA’s national inventory of unspoilt historic pubs – it has changed little since the 16th century – featuring two rooms with stone flagged floors, low ceilings and proper open fires.
Home cooked, locally sourced food is available at meal times with game often a speciality – especially if the landlord or one of the regulars has been shooting recently! There are also some excellent jumbo pork pies available as bar snacks.
This is a pub run the old fashioned way – embrace the character of the pub and behave accordingly (starting by not leaving the front door wide open!) and you will be made welcome and enjoy yourself. Landlord and staff are all equally straight talking people who have no qualms about encouraging people they don’t like to sling their hook!
We’ll be running a minibus trip from Sheffield out to the Three Stags Head to present their Pub of the Season winners certificate on Saturday 12th November, departing from the Old Queens Head by Sheffield Bus Interchange at 1pm and stopping off at some other pubs along the way (potential future winners?).
If you live in the area and fancy meeting us for a pint the rough schedule is:
Anglers Rest, Bamford 13:30hrs; Queen Anne, Great Hucklow 14:25hrs; Barrel Inn, Bretton 15:15hrs and Bulls Head, Foolow at 15:55hrs with 30-40 minutes at each.
We intend to be at the Three Stags Head from 16:40 to 18:10, returning direct to Sheffield, arriving back by 7pm.
The Wortley Men’s Club in Wortley has been named ‘Yorkshire Club of the Year 2016’ and is now celebrating a hat-trick of wins after also taking the prestigious title in 2014 and 2015.
The club’s run of success actually started four years’ ago when it finished runner-up in 2013. It was particularly successful in 2015 when it went on to win the title of National Club of the Year 2015. The club is situated in a village that is just over 8 miles away from Barnsley in South Yorkshire. It is run by Nigel & Teresa Pickering, who said they were delighted to have won again.
The club is described in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2016 as: “Originally the estate reading rooms, the opulent interior and exterior feature exposed timber frames, ornate ceilings, wooden panelling and a real fire.” Timothy Taylor Landlord is on sale regularly, and two guest ales are obtained from local and national breweries. A changing real cider is always available.
CAMRA’s Yorkshire Regional Director, Kevin Keaveny, said “This third win in a row shows the club’s continued commitment to high standards. It also shows that a club in a village can thrive if the management offer the members the products, facilities, and level of service that they require.”
The Tap Room in York was the Runner–up in the competition. The Tap Room is nestled inside the York Brewery in Toft Green, which is only 10 minutes walk from the railway station. It is managed by Matthew Moore, and sells a good selection of the brewery’s award winning beers.
The Licensees of both clubs will be presented with framed certificates on dates to be arranged in October. Peter Goddard, CAMRA’a Deputy Regional Director, will do the presentation to the Wortley Men’s Club. Kevin Keaveny, CAMRA’s Regional Director, will do the presentation to The Brewery Tap Room.
The eleven clubs nominated for this year’s prestigious title were visited by five judges over a four month period. Each nomination was scored against strict criteria that included an emphasis on the Quality of Real Ale. Also considered were Atmosphere, Style/Decor, Service and Welcome, Value for Money, and Alignment with CAMRA’s Principles,
The other nominations for the title were: Guiseley Factory Workers’ Club, Guiseley; Armitage Bridge Club, Armitage Bridge; Crookes Social Club, Sheffield; Alverthorpe Working Men’s Club, Alverthorpe; Concertina Band Club, Mexborough; Hanging Heaton Cricket Club, Batley; Three Links Club, Skipton; Wickersley Old Village Cricket Club, Wickersley; Crossing Club, Grosmont.
The George & Dragon, Hudswell, North Yorkshire, has been named CAMRA’S ‘Yorkshire Pub of the Year 2016’.
The pub is located 3 miles west of Richmond, on the border of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. It is owned by Hudswell Community Pub Limited, which was formed in 2010 to buy, refurbish, and re-open the only pub in the village. It has achieved this and gone on to develop the pub as a hub for a wide range of activities and services.
Stuart Miller has been running the pub since 28th July 2014. He is supported by an excellent team including his father Keith and his brother Sam, who are both outstanding chefs.
It is described in the new CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2017 as: “At the heart of the village, this homely multi-roomed country inn has a large beer terrace offering fantastic panoramic views over the Swale Valley.” Copper Dragon Best Bitter and Rudgate Ruby Mild, are the beers that are available on a regular basis. Three regularly changing guest beers, sourced mainly from within the Yorkshire region, are also always available.
To celebrate the pub’s first appearance in the Good Beer Guide since it reopened, a regional launch of the Good Geer Guide 2017 will be held in the pub tomorrow (15th). CAMRA National Director and George & Dragon shareholder Ken Davie will be available for interviews in the pub from 1pm onwards.
The Runner-up in the competition was The Sportsman in Huddersfield, which is run by John Fletcher. The pub is owned by Beerhouses; a small Dewsbury based pub group that owns five pubs. It is described in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2017 as: “This 1930s pub has won a CAMRA English Heritage Conservation Pub design award. Eight handpumps include one serving a Mallinson’s beer.”
CAMRA’s Yorkshire Regional Director, Kevin Keaveny, said “The results of this year’s competition highlight the success that can be achieved by an enthusiastic community company and a small wellmanaged pub group.”
The licensee of the George & Dragon will be presented with a framed certificate at 2.00 pm on Saturday 19th November by Kevin Keaveny, CAMRA’s Regional Director. The licensee of The Sportsman will be presented with a framed certificate at 2.00 pm on Saturday 12th November by Peter Goddard, CAMRA’s Deputy Regional Director.
The eighteen nominations for this year’s prestigious title were visited by individual members of a judging panel over a four month period. Each nomination was scored against strict criteria that included an emphasis on the Quality and Choice of Real Ale, Style/Decor, and Service and Value.
THE FINALISTS
Barnsley – Crown, Elsecar
Bradford – Hop, Saltaire
Cleveland – Downe Arms, Castleton
Darlington – Crown Inn, Manfield
Doncaster – Doncaster Brewery Tap, Doncaster
Halifax & Calderdale – Firehouse, Sowerby Bridge
Harrogate – 10 Devonshire Place, Harrogate
Heavy Woollen – New Inn, Roberttown
Huddersfield – Sportsman, Huddersfield
Hull & East Yorkshire – Butcher’s Dog, Driffield
Keighley & Craven – Talbot Arms, Settle
Leeds – Kirkstall Bridge Inn, Kirkstall
North West Yorkshire – George & Dragon, Hudswell
Rotherham – Beehive, Harthill
Scarborough – Sun Inn, Pickering
Sheffield – Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield
Wakefield – Robin Hood, Altofts
York – Rook & Gaskill, York
Previous to Just William, Nigel has worked for breweries and pub companies as area manager.
Following retirement from the pub trade, Nigel hasn’t simply hung up his handpump and enjoyed well deserved rest, he is now involved with the Sheffield Brewery Company and has been very instrumental in getting their programme of special events going and we caught up with him at their May Beer Club to present the certificate.
This proved easier said than done! The event was incredibly popular, beer club is now on the same time as the Peddlers Night Market across the road which also attracts a crowd to the area and Nigel was helping out behind the bar which was coping with rather a large queue. However we did manage to grab him for a couple of minutes for a photograph of him receiving the certificate from Beer Matters editor Andy Cullen.
Incidentally, if you enjoy Sheffield Brewery beer, we’d reccommend their Beer Club, which takes place the first Friday of the month, featuring their latest monthly special as well as some of their regular beers plus food and live music. You can also meet the brewery team and ask any questions about their beer. Beer Club membership is available to buy, which gets you discounted prices at the bar as well as other benefits, however the event is open to all. 
