Sheffield and District CAMRA are again using eBay to invite bids for three full sets of beermats which advertise the forthcoming beer festival. All proceeds will be donated to the festival charity, Weston Park Cancer Care (WPCC).
The full set for 2024 consists of nine mats, sponsored by Abbeydale Brewery, Abel Magnets, Blue Bee Brewery, Bradfield Brewery, Chantry Brewery, Heist Brewery, MKM Builders Merchants, Peak Brewery and Triple Point Brewery.
Following its residency for the last few years at Burton on Trent, 2025 sees the winter edition of CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) move to its new home for the next four years – Yorkshire – with the venue being the Magna Centre on the edge of Rotherham.
The festival takes place from 12 to 15 February 2025.
Magna is a former steel works that has been converted into a science museum and events space and is big enough for the festival to grow and have a number of features added to it that visitors to the summer GBBF are used to such as the Learn & Discover bar, Bieres Sans Frontier bar and a dedicated Champion Winter beer of Britain bar – as well as a number of cask ale bars, real cider & perry and live music. The bars will be spread across a main hall hosting the music stage and a number of smaller rooms which you can explore, the venue’s cafes will also be open serving hot food.
The bigger capacity also means there should be no problems turning up and paying on the door if you make a last minute decision to go, however advance tickets will still be sold online with a separate admissions desk offering advance ticket holders quicker entry.
Magna is no stranger to hosting beer festivals, 2024 was the final year of the long established Rotherham Real Ale & Music Festival which was a charity fundraiser assisted by the Rotherham CAMRA branch and GBBF Winter will be picking up where they left off.
Magna is on bus route X3, operated by First bus, which runs between Sheffield, Meadowhall, Rotherham and Doncaster. Buses connect with trains and trams at Meadowhall Interchange or you may wish to combine your trip to the festival with pubs in Rotherham or Sheffield.
As with all CAMRA festivals, this is organised and staffed by volunteers and the staffing form will be launched for CAMRA members to sign up to volunteer soon.
The 2024 Steel City Beer and Cider Festival will be opened by local legend, and South Yorkshire firefighter, Bronte Jones, runner-up in the 2024 series of the BBC hit TV programme, Gladiators.
The BBC reboot was a huge success, reeling in 8.7 million viewers across its first seven days on air. Filmed in the Utility Arena, the show began in January and showed 16 competitors complete various challenges for the chance to be crowned Gladiators Champion.
Bronte recently ran the Sheffield Half Marathon in memory of her boyfriend’s cousin Molly Midgley, who tragically died aged just 27 of a rare cancer, adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). She and the rest of ‘Team Molly’ were raising money for our festival charity, Weston Park Cancer Charity.
The Steel City Beer & Cider Festival is held at Kelham Island Museum from 16 to 19 October featuring a range of around 200 cask ales along with other craft beers, traditional cider & perry, street food, live music and more. See sheffield.camra.org.uk/festival for more details.
A guided walk with a difference – you will explore Sheffield’s Little Chicago Quarter before your fast-track entry to our Beer Festival. Led by local author, John Stocks and editor of ‘Sheffield’s Real Heritage pubs,’ Dave Pickersgill, you will explore the beer, social and Industrial heritage of the area. The walk will explore streets that feature in John’s book ‘Sheffield 1925: Gang Wars and Wembley Glory,’ and also explore the beer, social and Industrial heritage of the area.
The comfortable walk, with one minor ascent, is just over a mile. It will last for approximately 90 minutes before concluding at Kelham Island Museum for a post-walk drink and discussion.
Tutored tasting – Abbeydale Brewery – Thursday
A tutored beer tasting and discussion led by experts from the oldest brewery in Sheffield. Established in 1996, last year Abbeydale produced over 200 Bbl./week of which over 75% was cask. They produce at least one new beer each week, including both the Funk Dungeon and Dr.Morton’s brands.
You will be introduced to five beers:
three cask, one key-keg and one bottled beer from the Abbeydale Funk Dungeon collection: Blood Orange Sour (abv 6.0%).
the latter is from a limited release of only 100 bottles: a collaboration made with Sicilian Moro blood oranges left over from the production of Locksley Distilling citrus liqueur. Abbeydale have added the flesh of the fruit (around 150g/l) directly into the barrel with a simple sour base beer, hopped with UK grown Opus hops. Sour, light and refreshing.
the cask beers will include the one-off dry-hopped cask which is available in support of the festival’s chosen charity: Weston Park Cancer Charity.
Pub Heritage Talk: Little Chicago – Friday
A short pub heritage talk which will concentrate on the Little Chicago area of Sheffield, taking you back from the C19th and up to the current day. Along the way, mention will be made of the 1884 ‘Sheffield Drinks Map,’ the establishment of a coaching inn and the Sheffield pub with the most CAMRA awards.
The talk will also act as a launch event for a new Sheffield Pub Heritage walk booklet.
More information on the Steel City Beer & Cider Festival is available here
Whilst the main ticketed event takes place in Hillsborough Park over the weekend of 26-28 July, a whole bunch of pubs, bars and clubs across the City Centre, Kelham Island and beyond take part in the fringe festival, which also includes an outdoor stage on Devonshire Green. The majority of fringe events offer free entry. We’ve taken a look at what some of the real ale serving venues are doing to help you plan an enjoyable weekend featuring live music, DJs and good beer!
Of course there will be much more going on than we’ve been able to include here – this should give you a flavour – keep an eye on venues social media for the latest or there is a page on the Welcome to Sheffield website for the official fringe or the Clashfinder website provides a handy listings service for all venues.
The Dorothy Pax at Victoria Quays despite being a small, cosy, railway arch bar has a busy programme of live music and if its busy they’ll be piping the audio outside to their waterside seating area! Their “Canal Lines” kicks off early on Thursday 25th at 6:30pm with a line up curated by Waterbear the college of music then on Friday from 6pm it’s an indie showcase. Saturday is an all-dayer with music kicking off at 1:30pm with a mix of live music and DJs under the “Dorothy Pax presents” banner.
At the Washington on Fitzwilliam Street they have live music inside and DJs outside until 10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday followed by the usual late night DJs keeping the party going until 4am (3am Sunday!). On Friday festivities kick off at 4pm with 5 bands on, headlined by “Bag of Cans”, Saturday they’re open from 2pm and the headline band is “The Hot Soles”. Sunday is also a 2pm opening with 7 bands on the roster with “We Hate The Sharkman” headlining.
The Dove & Rainbow at Hartshead Square (off High Street) also has live entertainment over Friday to Sunday and as you’d expect is a little more alternative. Friday is “Reyt Against the Machine” and “Play Dead”, Saturday is “Firegarden” and “Baranovich” whilst Sunday the stage is graced by “Skip Rat”, “Inequality Street” and “Ball Britain”.
The Church House, located by the Cathedral tram stop (and of course by the cathedral too!) is well known for having bands on at the weekend, usually but not always of the classic rock genre, naturally has live music for the Tramlines Fringe and have really pushed the boat out with 15 acts over 3 days. Things kick off at 5:30pm on Friday with Saturday and Sunday seeing all day entertainment – from 2:45pm Saturday and 1:30pm Sunday.
Shakespeares Ale & Cider House on Gibraltar Street is a well known Tramlines fringe venue with a busy programme of gigs in the upstairs room on Friday and Saturday. Friday is “Shamlines” presented by Earwig featuring “Queen Cult”, “Guts”, “Mouthparts” and “Dearthworms” whilst Saturday is “Shakelines” presented by Jarred Up featuring 10 different bands.
Another pub well known for its Fringe action is the Frog & Parrot on Division Street. On the Saturday they will be opening their doors at 11am ready for the first act of 12 coming on at midday!
Alder has goings on all weekend. Things kick off Friday night with a gig by Mass House at 8:30pm (ish) then Saturday has 5 bands on stage from 6pm onwards with a whole mix of genres ranging from pop to post punk whilst Sunday is a more chilled out vinyl playing affair.
Saw Grinders Union have their own little festival on the Friday with food, drink, music and an exhibition.
The Fat Cat starts their party on Friday night with blues from Rocket 88 at 8pm; then on Saturday 11am to 11pm the entertainment is both kicked off and concluded by DJ sets from Big Shaun, in-between are performances from Sarah Mac, Banjo Jen and Kiziah & The Kings. The weekend here is finished off on Sunday with Billy & The Axe Man playing at 3pm.
If you are wanting to go somewhere a bit fun, perhaps after seeing a few bands, then the Three Tuns has karaoke from 8pm until 2am on Friday and Saturday night then on Sunday it’s a “Laughternoon” with comedy and music from 4pm.
Meanwhile out at Heeley (get there by bus 20, 24, 25, 43, 43a, 44 or X17) the Sheaf View are hosting “Sheaf Lines” with live acts over the weekend.
Jabbarwocky on London Road are also participating in the festivities on Saturday with “Jabzlines” featuring live entertainment from 3pm until 11:30pm. Buses 20, 43, 43a, 44, 75, 76, 86, 97 and 98 go there.
If you are looking for something more laid back the Old Shoe in Orchard Square have acoustic live music along with vinyl DJ sets. If you want something to eat whilst in the area the Sheffield Plate food hall across the square will be open and also have entertainment!
If you’re visiting the outdoor stage on Devonshire Green on the Saturday and fancy some decent beer and a burger then True North Brewery is next door and hosting an open day.
The Red Deer, freshly reopened, has live performances on Saturday with Harri Larkin from 4pm and Martha Makes Mistakes from 6:30pm.
The Dog & Partridge have their usual Sunday acoustic session in the back from from 6pm.
Your editor recently spent a day volunteering behind the bar at the brand new Swinton (near Rotherham) beer festival, held at St Margaret’s Anglo-Catholic church to help them raise funds for a new community hall. The beer festival was run alongside the annual town fair which is held in a field attached to the church with a variety of stalls along with a kiddies ride, ice cream van and a couple of hot food traders.
Inside the church the ladies who run the regular coffee morning there were assembled serving coffee, pop and crisps from the kitchen area as well as manning a stall selling home made cakes.
At the front of the church there was an all day live entertainment programme with a number of different singers, dancers and bands of different genres helping to maintain a great atmosphere!
Down one side of the church was a huge bar with lots of real ales on handpump, this was flanked at one end by a bar serving wine and spirits and the other end by a bar serving craft beer and lager on keg via a tap wall, borrowed from Maison du Biere of Elsecar.
The cask range was all sourced from Yorkshire and included beer from Woodlands brewery of Penistone which isn’t often seen out and about, also a couple of rare cask ales from Emmanuales of Sheffield. Nailmaker brewery had supplied a festival special – “Ale Mary” which was a regular pale ale infused with Juniper berries, this was one of the first to sell out!
The beer festival was kept busy by a wonderful mix of people – families popping in for refreshment after visiting the fair, priests and staff from this and other nearby churches relaxing with a beer knowing they were supporting the fundraiser and beery folk who had made the effort to visit having seen the beer list!
The venue was easy enough to get to – 20 minutes on the local train from Sheffield to Swinton station from where you can either walk or do as I did jump on a bus for the short ride up to the church! On the way back I got a bus from outside the church to Rotherham Interchange and connected with the Tram Train to Sheffield Cathedral, from where I walked up to the Dog & Partridge for a pint and a chat to another customer about how the England match had gone whilst I’d been busy chucking beer at people (we won on penalties).
All in all, a great little do and worth a visit next year should it happen again!
Check out our beer festival listings for other upcoming events in or near Sheffield
Between Wednesday October 16th and Saturday 19th later this year, Sheffield CAMRA will be holding its 48th annual Beer and Cider Festival down at the famous Kelham Island Museum. We hope you can join us for some or all of it.
Over those 4 days we’ll be bringing you a choice of over 200 different cask beers, a further 50 keykeg beers, 30 ciders and food stalls, along with talks, tastings and music most nights, but like all beer festivals it is completely organised and staffed by volunteers, who gather together from Sheffield and beyond to set it up, staff and otherwise make it happen.
Set up starts on the Sunday beforehand (13th) with getting the floors protected and the stillage erected. The casks start arriving on the Monday and need to be put in place so the beer is allowed to settle. The bars are then erected and stalls set out. Glasses arrive and need to be washed and made ready, banners erected, tables and chairs set out, etc, etc, etc.
Lots of jobs which need lots of people. Could you help us out and help by doing a shift?
You don’t have to be a member of CAMRA or have a background in hospitality or bar work or worked at a previous beer festival but obviously such experiences all would be helpful. There’s also lots of other jobs which will need doing and are just as important.
Training will be given for anything you’re not sure of or have never done before.
We have shifts starting at 09:00 right through to after 23:00 when we close and need to clear up. We especially need people who can arrive and stay late to cover all our shifts. Food tokens are available to everyone who does two or more shifts and drink tokens are available for everyone who helps. You should also get a specially designed T-Shirt to keep as a souvenir.
After the festival we also arrange a volunteers reunion social trip, this year it is on 9 November with our coach taking us to Nottingham for the day to enjoy a number of good pubs and tap rooms there!
An online volunteer form, along with all other information, is available at our Festival Website at sheffield.camra.org.uk/festival – just click on the ‘volunteers’ tab or get in touch on 0792-341-6865 and we’ll post out a printed version for you to fill in & return.
Please get your form filled in asap as we have already started allocating jobs. We need everyone to be as flexible as possible as we won’t necessarily be able to give you the job you most want to do but we’ll try and find a suitable alternative if we can.
Do help us make this 48th Sheffield Beer & Cider Festival yet another successful one whether you join us as either as a visitor or as a volunteer. Whichever you come as – we can promise you an enjoyable time.
Malcolm Dixon, SCBF48 Staffing Officer: (festivalstaffing@sheffield.camra.org.uk or 0792-361-6865
One Valley Festival sees numerous venues across the Dronfield area including pubs, clubs and brewery tap rooms all put on special events involving beer, cider, street food and music all on the same day. The 2024 event takes place on Saturday 8 June.
Here is a quick guide to the venues expected to take part. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for the latest updates.
Most of the venues are close to the railway station and can be walked between; All the venues are served by one of the four local Stagecoach bus services – 15, 16, 43 and 44 – all charge just £2 per ride or a Silver DayRider pass is available offering unlimited travel on them all (£6.20 adult or £16 for a group of 5, buy from the driver or on the Stagecoach app).
Until 5pm there is also the Travel Derbyshire On Demand minibus that can be booked on their app for any journey in North East Derbyshire at a cost of £4 per ride, subject to availability.
CORE ONE VALLEY FESTIVAL VENUES
Manor House Hotel, High Street, Dronfield (get there by bus 15 or 16): As normal their coffee shop will be open serving cooked breakfasts from 8am and the hotel bar will open at 10am, however festivities kick off outdoors at the rear of the building from noon with two outside bars – one of them serving Abbeydale cask beers. Pellizco will be there slinging Mexican food and Britpop Resurrection will be performing live at 5pm and 6pm, followed by DJ Brad Gee playing an outdoor set from 7:30pm. https://www.facebook.com/manorhousehotel.co.uk
Blue Stoops, High Street, Dronfield (get there by bus 15, 16 or 43): Features a large outdoor drinking area and outside bars will be in place for the festival. Inside the normal bar and restaurant will be operating. https://www.facebook.com/thebluestoopsdronfield
Victoria, Stubley Lane, Dronfield (get there by bus 15, 16 or 43): Old Skool street corner local boozer with a small outdoor drinking area.
Green Dragon, Church Street, Dronfield (walkable from Dronfield station and bus 44): The car park will be closed off to make a bigger outdoor area with an outside bar open from midday, Smiths fish & chip van and music – DJ Higgz 2pm to 4pm, Vocalist Hayley-Lou 4pm to 6pm and DJ Higgz from 6:30pm until late. https://www.facebook.com/GreenDragonDronfield
Dronfield Arms, Chesterfield Road, Dronfield (walkable from Dronfield station, bus 44 stops close by): This pub is the home to Temper Brewing and a branch of Pizza Pi, for the festival the car park is closed off for a party with outside bar and music stage with live acts during the afternoon from 1pm then a DJ taking over at 6pm to keep things swinging as the sun sets. (stage line up: 1pm Magenta Apricot, 2pm Kickback, 3pm Issac, 4pm Dronny Bottom Buskers, 5pm Chris Paul, 6pm to midnight DJ Phil). https://www.facebook.com/dronfieldarms
Underdog, Chesterfield Road, Dronfield (walkable from Dronfield station, bus 44 stops close by): A barely noticable passageway runs down the side of the building to a rear courtyard area where for the festival an outside bar will be serving a range of craft beer, flavoured ciders and alcoholic slushies. Also present will be Butlers Family Bakers’ selling hot pork sandwiches. https://www.facebook.com/TheUnderdogDronfield
White Swan, Chesterfield Road, Dronfield (walkable from Dronfield station, bus 44 stops close by): If the weather is good their patio area proves popular and for the festival they have an outside bottle bar. Also featured is a pizza van and Bethany Grace will be singing between 1pm and 3pm. https://www.facebook.com/whiteswandronfield2023
Pioneer Club, Stonelow Road, Dronfield (get there on bus 15 or 44): Expect a full range of drinks on the club bar inside, live entertainment, DJ and food stalls. It will be a family friendly venue too with a bouncy castle, childrens entertainer and other kids activities. https://www.facebook.com/PioneerClubS18
Miners Arms, Carr Lane, Dronfield Woodhouse (bus 16 stops outside or bus 43 is a short walk away): This is a suburban community local with a decent beer garden. On festival day real ale on the pub bar will be joined by a cider shack outside, there will be live music at 1pm and 8pm with a DJ providing the music inbetween, returning later on in the evening to host a throwback disco once the band has finished. BBQ food will be served from midday to 6pm and there will be a dessert van from 4pm to 7pm. In the daytime there will be a bouncy castle for the kids. https://www.facebook.com/theminersarmsdronfieldwoodhouse
Jolly Farmer, Pentland Road, Dronfield Woodhouse (get there on bus 43): A suburban community pub that serves food. Festival day routine sees them open early serving cooked breakfasts (advance booking essential!) then into the afternoon their outdoor area hosts a pop up bar, BBQ and live entertainment. https://www.facebook.com/jollyfarmerdronfield
ONE VALLEY EXTRA VENUES
Beer Stop, Callywhite Lane, Dronfield (walkable from Dronfield station or bus 44 stops right outside): A small craft beer shop that offers on site drinking with a patio area at the front – expect as usual a choice of beers in keg, can and bottle www.facebook.com/BeerStopDronfield
Drone Valley Brewery, Unstone Industrial Complex, Main Road, Unstone (bus 43 and 44 stop at the end of the drive): For the festival their brewery tap operation cranks it up a gear or two – bigger bar in the brewery showcasing their range of cask ales plus lager and cider, separate outside cocktail bar and a food stall provided by Gow’s Kitchen of Coal Aston. There will be live music throughout the afternoon: Simon Lancaster at midday, Tony Bovill at 12:45pm, Ed Hulse at 1:30pm, Dog & The Enigmas at 2:15pm, Shambles Duo at 3pm, Charlotte Hall at 4pm and Cobalt Tales at 5pm. https://www.facebook.com/dronevalleybrewery
Miners Arms, Hundall Lane, Hundall (get there on bus 15): Always a popular destination on festival day is this rural pub up in the hills! On the day the beer garden gains an outside bar with a range of ales, lagers and ciders along with a food stall and outdoor live music stage. Music kicks off from 2pm with Steve Birks and Hallowed Travellers. https://www.facebook.com/minershundall
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND DJ SCHEDULE
Here is a summary of what all the venues have announced so far. Please check for any changes directly with the venues before making any special journeys!
12:00 – Drone Valley Brewery: Simon Lancaster
12:00 – Pioneer Club: DJ John
12:45 – Drone Valley Brewery: Tony Bovill
13:00 – Dronfield Arms: Magenta Apricot
13:00 – Jolly Farmer: Ding & John – live singing and DJ sets throughout the afternoon
18:00 – Pioneer Club: Alan Squires (guitar & vocals)
18:30 – Green Dragon: DJ Higgz
19:30 – Manor House: DJ Brad Gee (until closing time)
20:00 – Miners Arms (Dronfield Woodhouse): Brude (classic rock band)
BUS STOPS / RAIL STATION
Use these links to view the next buses scheduled from the nearest stop to each venue, there are separate links for each side of the road. Click on the time of the bus and it will show you where the bus is and if it is on time or click on the map link so you can see on a map where the bus stop is and where the buses are.
1 June sees the first ever Kelham Pride celebration. This is a free all day festival that kicks off with a parade starting from Kelham Island Museum at 1pm via Ball Street Bridge to the event’s main stage at Burton Street (Peddler Warehouse). There will also be events taking place in venues around the area including Happy’s Bar, Grafters Bar and Alder and a couple of local breweries have brewed a special Pride beer for the occasion.
On cask look out for Blue Bee’s special.
For more details of the event visit their website – Kelham Pride.com