Category: Heritage

Despite on-going turmoil in the licensed trade, Britain remains blessed with many pubs that retain traditional and often beautiful, historic interiors. Over thirty years ago, a group of CAMRA members began formally compiling a National Inventory of such Historic Pub Interiors. Initially, they aimed to identify and record the most intact pre-war pub interiors, regardless of their architectural distinction. Before long, it was decided to also include pubs with special features or rooms of national significance. By then, around 270 pubs had inventory status.

The next step was to develop Regional Inventories, capturing interiors that fell short of the criteria for the national list but were nonetheless of significant historic interest. Around the same time, early post-war pubs built on traditional lines, and still intact, became eligible for inclusion.

Several years ago, CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group (PHG) agreed to move to a single Inventory, based around a grading system. Interiors are eligible for consideration if they have remained essentially unaltered for at least 50 years. There are three key aspects for assessments: –

Layout – survival of historic layout and internal divisions, either intact or readily discernible.

Historic Fittings – particularly old or original bar counters, bar-backs (gantries), fixed seating, fireplaces, vestibules, panelling, tiling and other ceramics

Notable Rooms & Features – such as partitioned snugs; counter-less pubs; tiled paintings; snob screens etc.

The rarity of both historic layouts and historic fittings counts very high in the selection process.

The current grading system is, we hope, simple and easy to understand. Within the single National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors there are three grades:

Three Star pubs are of outstanding historic importance. They have stayed wholly or largely intact, in terms of layout and fittings, and/or retain rooms or features that are truly rare or exceptional. Only limited loss of such components is allowable before an interior fails this standard. Nationally, only 303 pubs are in this category.

Two Star pubs are of very special historic interest. They are highly important but fall just short of Three Star levels of overall intactness and/or rarity. Lost elements, often of layout, are clearly in evidence. There are presently 270 such pubs.

One Star pubs (740) are of special historic interest. They have either readily identifiable historic layouts or retain rooms or features of special interest. More significant changes are allowable than for the first two categories.

Locally, Sheffield has more pubs listed on the National Inventory than any other city in Yorkshire. Two pubs (Bath Hotel and Sheffield Tap) are listed as Three Star with another three as Two Star (Grapes, Sportsman (Hackenthorpe) and White Lion). A further 13 are listed as One Star. However, one of these (the Big Gun) has been closed for over two years: we are unsure if the Heritage interior remains intact. The Derbyshire part of our Branch area includes two Three Star pubs, the Eyre Arms (Hassop) and the Three Stags Head (Wardlow Mires).

PHG also campaigns hard to protect and promote these precious heritage assets. Over the years, we’ve been able to get many of them statutorily listed so that they enjoy an extra layer of protection from unwanted alterations. Where Inventory pubs come under threat of closure or unsympathetic change, we’ll do what we can to save them. On a positive note, we seek to raise awareness of the delights these pubs afford, through our website and a range of publications. One local example is the Sheffield Pub Heritage book (free download at: https://sheffield.camra.org.uk/rhp/ ).

PHG keeps gradings under continual review and makes changes where appropriate. Generally, this is because there have been alterations to an interior that impact on the pub’s historic importance. In other cases, members will re-assess current gradings, especially where a pub has not been surveyed for a long time or where a wider range of views is felt to be beneficial. Unfortunately, some NI pubs close and are subsequently demolished. A local example was the One Star, Silver Fox (Stocksbridge). The footprint of the pub and car park is currently a construction site.

You can find more information about the National Inventory, and heritage pubs, at https://camra.org.uk/heritage-pubs. A complete list of Inventory pubs is at https://camra.org.uk/heritage-pubs/national-inventory. We also issue a monthly bulletin featuring news – to subscribe, email bulletin@pubheritage.camra.org.uk with Subscribe as the subject.

We are always keen to hear from visitors to the listed pubs, especially where there have been changes of which we may not be aware.

Paul Ainsworth & Dave Pickersgill – (CAMRA Pub Heritage Group)

East Sheffield has changed over the years. It was once booming with heavy industry with many of the workers living in housing around the steel works and factories and there were many traditional pubs there to slake their thirst and provide a social hub.

With loss of some of the industry along with slum clearance many of the pubs saw a change of use if not demolition, however the ones that survived included some heritage classics.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s part of the area became the centre of Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ scene with some of the classic pubs keeping going as bars and clubs on that circuit, however none of those venues now survive as pubs.

This article summarizes some of the lost pubs that still stand today, if you are interested in the pub heritage of the area check out our Sheffield Real Heritage Pub book which you can download as a PDF free of charge from sheffield.camra.org.uk/rhp.

A small number of pubs in the area are still trading today, for example along Attercliffe Common the Carlton, Don Valley Hotel and Wentworth House Hotel – see the online pub guide at camra.org.uk for details.

Queens Head – 660 Attercliffe Road, S9 3RP

This pub was closed by 1990. It has planning permission for conversion to retail use and flats.

Horse & Jockey – 638 Attercliffe Road, S9 3RN

This had planning permission to become a restaurant in 2018

Dog & Partridge – 575 Attercliffe Road, S9 3RB

In its final days as a pub under that name it was well known for its adult shows with strippers. After closure there was extensive renovation of the building and a shisha lounge club opened on the site.

Station Hotel – Attercliffe Road, S9 3RQ

was sold at auction in 2013.

Robin Hood (Le Chambre)- 548 Attercliffe Road, S9 3QP

This pub was converted to become a swingers club in 1998 which closed down on the owners retirement in 2019 and the building still stands unused.

Britannia – 24-26 Worksop Road

This pub was built in 1772. It closed in 2014 following a period of opening part time and was converted to residential use.

Greyhound – 822 Attercliffe Road, S9 3RS

Built in 1884, this ex-Gilmours/Tetleys pub has a ceramic greyhound image outside. It is now offices.

Cocked Hat – 73-75 Worksop Road

This was a classic corner pub leased from Marstons Brewery and was one of the few pubs left in Sheffield with a bar billards table. It had been run by the same family for many years and was a Good Beer Guide regular but closed in 2014 following a rent increase and the impending closure of Don Valley Stadium. It was sold off by the brewery and has since been used as a shop and cafe.

Cutlers Arms (Fara’s) – 74 Worksop Road, S9 3TN

This closed in 2014 and was converted to housing in 2016.

Sportsman Inn (Bar Celona) – Attercliffe Road, S9 3QN

Closed in 2008 and converted to retail use.

Norfolk Arms (Boiler Room Sauna) – 208 Saville Street East, S4 7UQ

This is one of the few on the list where you can technically still get a beer to drink inside and it is the last of the gay venues remaining in the area! It’s final incarnation as a pub was a bar called Cavaliers and is now the Boiler Room with sauna, steam room, hot tub, coffee lounge/bar and “adult facilities”.

Back in the day it was a Stones Brewery pub that catered for the Steel Workers and large numbers of pints were pulled in advance ready for crowds of them coming into the pub needing to slake their thirst after working in a hot environment!

Norfolk Arms Hotel (Club Xes) – 195/199 Carlisle Street, S4 7LJ

This ex-Tetleys Pub consists of a three storey brick corner building with a ground floor that has brown glazed stone and a tiled fascia of dark brown lettering on a light brown background interspersed with glazed pilasters and a couple of ornate ceramic panels. Also, at the top of the central part of the pub is a tiled panel with the wording in yellow of The Norfolk Arms Hotel on a turquoise tiled background with a gargoyle type figure at the bottom. In the 1980s, the pub became a ‘Joshua Tetley Heritage Inn.’ In the 1980s, the pub became a ‘Joshua Tetley Heritage Inn.’ The plaque is currently displayed in the rear garden of the Gardeners Rest in Neepsend. It went on to be Club Xes before closing and being converted to residential use.

Staniforth Arms – 261 Staniforth Road, S9 3FP

Closed in 2004 and has since become a restaraunt.

Corner Pin – 231-233 Carlisle Street East, S4 7QN

First licensed to sell beer in 1840, this ex-Tetley pub closed in 2013 to become offices. The exterior stonework remains.

Carlisle Hotel – 5 Carlisle Street East, S4 7QN

Closed in 2014 and converted to residential use.

Crown Inn – 87-89 Forncett Street, S4 7QG

Now Crown House, the offices of T.H.Michaels Construction Ltd.: S.H.Wards signage and windows remain.

Carbrook Hall

Carbrook Hall was purchased by a local company, West Street Leisure, in March 2017 and, after over 150 years as a pub, immediately closed.The following eighteen months saw a number of arson attempts and local press reports regarding the sale of various contents from the building. In the Autumn of 2018, planning permission was achieved to create ‘Starbucks Carbrook Hall,’ a 60-seat, drive-in Starbucks. Almost £1M was invested and the building re-opened on 9th August 2019.

Old Blue Bell – 81 West Bar, S3 8PS

Now the Quba Education Centre. Carved stonework is hidden under the boards: D. Gilmour & Co.Ltd Windsor Ales. Above the central doors are intricate images carved into the stonework

Stumble Inn – 436 Attercliffe Common, S9 2FH

Converted into a restaurant in 2008, this ex-pub was rebuilt by Duncan Gilmour & Co about 1926 on the site of a previous pub which had been open since 1833.

New Inn, 211 Carbrook Street, S9 2TE

Originally opened in 1871, and acquired by Chambers & Co. (Brunswick Brewery) in 1898, this pub closed in 1984. An impressive tilework façade remains (Wm. Stones and Cannon Ales). It includes the arches around the windows, golden brickwork, tiling and two brick plaques bearing the WS initials and the 1912 date of completion: a year after the acquisition by Stones. It is currently local offices for Howco, an International manufacturing and processing company. The front of the building is built in a slight curve.

Andy Cullen & Dave Pickersgill

This year the Sheffield & District branch of CAMRA is 51 years old, Beer Matters magazine is 50 years old (as long as you count its predecessor, the Parish Pump newsletter) and we’ve run 49 annual beer festivals (the festival had two years off for Covid!) although the branch has been involved in more than 49 festivals due to putting on beer festival bars at student union and music festival events in the past!

Over the years we’ve also presented a Pub of the Year award and we have them listed on our website going back as far as 1982.

NO LONGER WITH US

• Hillsborough Hotel (2002 winner)
• Norfolk Arms, City Centre – Suffolk Road (1990 winner)
• Royal Standard (later Emz Lounge), City Centre – St Marys Road (1989 winner)
• Yellow Lion, Apperknowle (1988 winner)
• Cocked Hat, Attercliffe (1987 winner)
• Devonshire Arms, Ecclesall Road (1986 winner)
• Red House, Solly Street (1984 winner)

STILL GOING AND WORTH A VISIT!

• Kelham Island Tavern
• Fat Cat, Kelham Island
• Gardeners Rest, Neepsend
• Shakespeares, Gibraltar Street
• Bath Hotel, City Centre
• Fagan’s, City Centre
• Cask & Cutler (now Wellington), Shalesmoor
• Rutland Arms, City Centre
• Three Stags’ Heads, Wardlow Mires
• New Barrack Tavern, Penistone Road
• Rising Sun, Nether Green

The third booklet in our pub heritage walk series is now available. This concentrates on Neepsend, the ‘new Kelham Island.’ Included are copious images, a map, detail on the various pubs featured and lots of information on the area and its history, including a timeline.

The formal launch will be at the forthcoming Sheffield Steel City Beer Festival (15-18 October 2025).  The first booklet which was produced for the 2023 CAMRA Members’ Weekend, AGM and Conference is sold out and there are relatively few copies left of the second booklet: Little Chicago. The pub heritage walk series will continue with Kelham Island in 2026 and Riverside in 2027. 

In common with the preceding two booklets, it is: 32 pages, A5, full colour throughout, £2.99 rrp and had a print-run of 1000 copies. It is currently available from several local stockists, including: Abbeydale Brewery, Beer Central, Biblioteka, Bradfield Brewery, The Crow, Draughtsman (Doncaster Railway Station), Famous Sheffield Shop, Forest, Gardeners Rest, Hop Hideout, Kelham Island Books and Records, Millennium Galleries, Pangolin, Rhyme and Reason and St.Mars of the Desert.

For copies by post and retail enquiries, please contact: pubheritage@sheffield.camra.org.uk

The Silver Fox was demolished in September 2024.

This large pub, named after the nearly stainless steel manufacturing firm of Samuel Fox and Co. Ltd. opened in April 1963. At the time of closure (Spring 2019), the interior was very little changed with two bars, off sales and a rear passageway with some seating, The upstairs functions room remained virtually untouched. The entrance led into a passage with doors to the tap room on the left and lounge bar on the right. There were two hatches to the servery in the passage that were the original off sales.

The public bar on the left retained the original bar counter front that has a number of mirrored panels and a wooden surround but, like, lounge bar on the right the original light oak wood had a very dark stain. There was a hallway at the rear with one table and a few chairs in a tiny area on the far left. The gents retained the original urinals but had modern wall tiling. Upstairs had the intact original function room had a dado of Japanese quartered oak. It retained the servery with its curved panelled bar counter and bar back of oak still with the original stain.

In June 2020, the pub was purchased from Trust Inns by a local property company, Fish Developments. In September 2022, planning permission was granted in order to demolish the building and erect eleven dwelling houses with associated parking.

Following the success of the 2023 pub heritage guided walk booklet, CAMRA Sheffield & District have produced a second booklet focused on Little Chicago. Publication will coincide with the forthcoming 48th Sheffield Steel City Beer Festival: Kelham Island Museum, 16-19 October.

This new booklet (A5, 32 pages, full colour throughout, £2.99 RRP) takes you up the hill from West Bar to Scotland Street before heading towards Kelham Island. In addition to information about the three excellent pubs en route (the Crow, the Kelham Island Tavern, and Shakespeares), copious historical detail is included. This includes references to George Orwell, the temperance movement, and the Sheffield gang wars.

Festival events concerned with the booklet include both a guided historical walk and an illustrated talk.

The short walk will explore both the pub heritage aspects of the area and the streets featured in the book, Sheffield 1925: Gang Wars and Wembley Glory, with a narrative explaining how Sheffield briefly became the most turbulent city in Britain due to an escalating gang war involving the Gas Tank Gang, the Mooney Gang, the Park Brigade, and many others. The walk will also explore the beer, social, and industrial heritage of the area, examining the myths and reality of a tumultuous period in Sheffield history.

The talk will concentrate on the area covered in the booklet, taking you from the 19th century 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 local CAMRA awards. A similar talk will take place at the Crow on Thursday 10 October at 20:00.

The talks and walks will be led by local historian and writer John Stocks and Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs editor Dave Pickersgill. This booklet is the second in this growing series. The 2025 edition will focus on Neepsend, with the following year looking at Kelham Island.

Full booking details for both the festival events are available at sheffield.camra.org.uk/sc#events

Sponsored by Abbeydale Brewery and the Crow, the booklet is available from a growing number of local outlets, including: the Biblioteka, Crow, Draughtsman (Doncaster), the Famous Sheffield Shop, Hop Hideout, Kelham Island Books and Records, Kelham Island Tavern, Millennium Galleries and Saint Mars of the Desert tap room. For retail inquiries and postal copies, please contact: pubheritage@sheffield.camra.org.uk.