Category: Awards

Pub of the Year 2025 (Cider)

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Congratulations to Matt Beety, Mike Pomranz and all at the Old Shoe for being voted the 2025 Sheffield and District CAMRA ‘Cider Pub of the Year.’ The Old Shoe (Unit 20, Orchard Square S1 2FB) opened in the summer of 2023 as the new home of Exemption Ciderhouse, when it relocated from its previous home at The Cider Hole.

The Old Shoe is a modern bar serving a variety of drinks from independent producers. In addition to both cask and keg beer from indie breweries, they also serve three draught ciders and a range of bottled options. These are almost invariably from smaller producers. For example: Against the Grain (London), Ascension (Sussex), Iford (Bradford on Avon), Temple (Dorset), Zapiain (Spain) and from Hertfordshire, Little Pomona, Oliver’s and Ross-on-Wye Cider Company. In addition, created on the premises, is Exemption.

The bar has vinyl records spinning all day and also has a well-stocked ‘Shoe Store.’ The latter provides art prints, bags, bottles, cans, chocolate, coffee beans, glasses, local pub heritage books, records and more. The name refers to the previous use of this ex-shop unit.

In 2015, Mike moved from Brooklyn (New York) to Sheffield. In the UK, he continued to produce cider, focusing on using locally-collected garden apples. In 2020, he launched drinks import company, ‘Quality Ferments.’ Then, in September 2021, came The Cider Hole (Shalesmoor), an urban microcidery, bar, and bottle shop – where he made and served his own Exemption Ciderhouse cider along with over 60 other hand-selected canned and bottled ciders, beer and natural wine. The Cider Hole was our 2023 Cider Pub of the Year. It then closed in order to make way for the Old Shoe.

image: Ellie Grace Photography

Pub of the month presentation

Posted on by Andy Cullen

We presented our January 2025 Pub of the Month award to the Two & Six Micropub on Thursday 16 January with a good turnout from pub regulars, CAMRA members and members of “Sons of the Desert”, the Laurel & Hardy appreciation society. Some good beer (and cider) was enjoyed, along with some lovely quiche made by their next door neighbours – Petit Gateau Rora Ha.

Club of the Year 2025 voting

Posted on by Admin

Voting is now underway for the Club of the Year 2025 and all CAMRA Sheffield & District members are able to vote for their favourites from the shortlist of eligible pubs in Sheffield and surrounding parts of Derbyshire.

The eligible pubs have been deemed to have fantastic atmosphere, welcoming surroundings and most importantly, top quality real ale served in great condition and have been nominated by local CAMRA members.

The voting process is the same as for our Pub of the Year award, with members either selecting pubs in order of preference or selecting pubs and then ranking them in the list below. The winning pubs will be announced during our AGM in April.

Please vote using the form below before the deadline of 20 January 2025.

Sorry, voting has closed.

Cider Pub of the Year 2025 voting

Posted on by Admin

Voting is now underway for the Cider Pub of the Year 2025 and all CAMRA Sheffield & District members are able to vote for their favourites from the shortlist of eligible pubs in Sheffield and surrounding parts of Derbyshire.

The eligible clubs serve real cider and/or perry and have been nominated by local CAMRA members.

The voting process is the same as for our Pub of the Year award, with members either selecting pubs in order of preference or selecting pubs and then ranking them in the list below. The winning pubs will be announced during our AGM in April.

Please vote using the form below before the deadline of 20 January 2025.

Sorry, voting has closed.

Pub of the Year 2025 voting

Posted on by Admin

Voting is now underway for the Pub of the Year 2025 and all CAMRA Sheffield & District members are able to vote for their favourites from the shortlist of eligible pubs in Sheffield and surrounding parts of Derbyshire.

The eligible pubs are those that have won a Pub of the Month award or been awarded a place in the Good Beer Guide over this last year.

The voting process remains the same as in previous years, with members either selecting up to ten pubs in order of preference or selecting ten and then ranking them in the list below. The winning pubs will be announced during our AGM in April.

Please vote using the form below before the deadline of 20 January 2025.

Sorry, voting has closed.

Good Beer Guide 2026 voting

Posted on by Admin

Voting is now open for our entries into the Good Beer Guide 2026. As in recent years, we are hoping to nominate 30 pubs within the Sheffield city boundaries and a further six from the Derbyshire part of the branch.

Beer quality at each pub is the main selection criteria to use.

We are now allowing you one wildcard entry in each area but it must serve real ale.

All Sheffield & District CAMRA members are able to take part in voting by selecting the allowed number of pubs on the form below.

Forms must be received by 20 January 2025 to allow the selection committee time to visit the nominated pubs to confirm they are eligible.

Sorry, voting has closed.

Pub of the Month January 2025

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Our January winner, as voted for by local CAMRA members, is the Two & Six Micropub on Snig Hill in Sheffield City Centre. The name and logo of the venue is themed around old fashioned British money, however the inspiration was much simpler – the address of the premises is number 26!

There was a micropub in the same premised previously although it was relatively short lived – The Social was part of a wider social enterprise initiative and only opened limited hours. The Two & Six was opened by Juliet, who was previously employed as the manager of the Social and saw potential of how it could be if she ran it as her own business along with partner Dan.

Before reopening in 2023, the place was redecorated and new furniture was brought in giving it a nice cosy pub feel. There is a second room attached which is used to host events like art exhibitions and is also used by local members of “Sons of the Desert” Laurel & Hardy appreciation society for film screenings!

This micropub attracts a nice mix of people and has a friendly atmosphere and you find some people sat near the bar enjoying chat and maybe a little banter whilst in the window you often find groups playing board games or simply quietly reading a book! There are also some tables outside on the pavement that can be in demand when the weather is a little warmer. A quiz night is hosted every Sunday at 8:45pm.

On the bar there are 4 handpumps serving cask ale with a mix of styles on offer plus one for traditional cider. The keg taps also include one or two interesting craft beers.

We’ll be presenting the award on the evening of Thursday 16 January, join us for a beer or cider there from about 8pm.

Pub of the Month November 2024

Posted on by Guest

The Itchy Pig at Banner Cross is a rare breed indeed. Situated at the top of Ecclesall Road, it’s a true micro-pub in every sense. For starters, it’s small—the premises were formerly a single-fronted greengrocer’s shop. (The first Itchy Pig, at Broomhill, was previously a butcher’s—hence the name.)

In keeping with the true ethos of a micro-pub, the Itchy proudly offers all of the following:

  • NO fruit machines ✔️
  • NO jukebox ✔️
  • NO pool table ✔️
  • NO horse-racing on the telly ✔️
  • NO TV screens full-stop ✔️
  • NO smell of fried food ✔️
  • NO karaoke ✔️
  • NO nonsense ✔️

Instead, you’ll find great beer, good conversation, and convivial surroundings, with attentive bar staff. On the beer front, six hand-pumps serve an ever-changing selection of five cask ales plus one real cider, complemented by a range of craft keg options. Since opening in early 2022, boss Richard Storey has taken pride in seldom (if ever) repeating a cask beer on the pumps.

Add in the pump-clip displays on the walls and ceiling, along with the impressive ‘two pence’ bar counter, and it’s easy to see why the Itchy Pig, Banner Cross, has been voted Pub of the Month for October. The award will take place on Tuesday, 12 November, from 8 pm; all are welcome. Catch buses 81, 88, 272, or the Psalter Lane bus 218.

Richard Hough

Presentation night at the Crow

Posted on by Kevin Thompson

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.