Category: Inn Brief

The Bankers Draft (JD Wetherspoon) is running a mini cider festival with a choice of 7 ciders throughout the summer at discounted prices.

The Tunnel Tap at Totley, a keg only micropub offering some craft options on tap as well a range of canned beers, temporarily closed during June for a refit following experience and customer feedback since opening. There will be a new keg wall, improved seating area downstairs and bar stools and standing room upstairs.

The Cross Scythes Hotel in Totley reopened on Monday 12 June as part of Stonegate’s “Pub & Dining” chain. They open from 9am daily with the bar closing 11pm midweek and midnight Friday & Saturday with food served all day until 9pm. Accommodation is also offered. The launch party was on the Friday 16 June including a beer tasting with Abbeydale Brewery and samples from the food menu.

The Three Tuns on Silver Street Head in Sheffield City Centre now has a Wednesday evening quiz. Get tables at 6:30pm for a 7pm start and it runs until about 10pm.

The Dog & Partridge on Trippet Lane sees the return of hot food including the infamous chips of doom along with burgers, sandwiches and curry from 6 July with landlord Conor in the kitchen. Until then pork pies and sausage rolls continue to be available as well as the usual crisps (Tayto from Ireland) and nuts and when the kitchen reopens it is expected the pork pies will also be available as part of a ploughman’s style platter. On the beer front their cask ale loyalty card scheme continues, get a stamp every time you buy a pint and exchange a full card for a free pint.

The White Lion at Heeley has reopened under the same management as the Crown (just up the road) following a refurbishment. This pub oozes with heritage and the character of this multi-room venue has not been lost, its just been smartened up and the opportunity taken to fix a few things. The quiz night is back on Wednesdays and live music features into the weekend with jam sessions on the Thursday and Sunday. New opening hours are from 2pm Monday to Friday, midday Saturday and 1pm Sunday, closing at 11pm Sunday and either 11:30pm or midnight the rest of the week.

The Brown Bear in Sheffield City Centre, A Samuel Smiths brewery pub, closed temporarily in early June and will reopen once a new live in management couple of recruited.

The Old Shoe bar in Orchard Square is aiming for an opening date of 30 June (so probably already launched by the time you read this in the printed edition of Beer Matters!). This is the joint venture between Mike Pomranz (from Cider Hole and Exemption Cider which has relocated to the new bar) and Matt who continues to run BEAR on Abbeydale Road. The bar will feature artisan cider, craft beer (including cask), natural wines and other nice drinks! The general manager is someone you may well recognise – Nath Hehir has been behind the bar of quite a few good beer pubs including Shakespeares, Bar Stewards, Three Tuns and Walkley beer Co as well as being involved with the University of Sheffield real ale society “back in the day”. Keep an eye on their Instagram account for the latest on the opening, special events and more.

Perch on Garden Street, on the edge of Sheffield City Centre, has a calendar of events planned for the year ahead, mostly for the yard at the rear. Next up is a beer festival the end of July, a Belgian beer showcase in early September, an Octoberfest in late September, a Steel City warm up beer festival in early October and a Christmas market in December.

The British Oak in Mosborough host their annual Oakstock from 7-8 July which sees a programme of live music outside the pub over the weekend. It is on Friday 5-10pm and Saturday midday to 10pm and also features an outside bar, food stalls, ice cream van and kids entertainment.

A planning application has been put in to turn the former Simmonites shop on Division Street into a micropub.

The Milestone at Crystal Peaks is hosting “Bobfest” over the weekend of 1 and 2 July, a free music festival raising funds for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, featuring an outdoor stage and bar, stalls, raffle, real ales, carvery and more. The pub is next to the bus station and near the tram stop too.

The two Sheffield City Centre Stonegate pubs that closed for a minor refurbishment – the Beehive on West Street and Globe on Howard Street, are now both open again and operating as “Craft Union” venues, which are Stonegate wet let pubs run in partnership with self employed managers and their staff. The focus is on drinks deals and entertainment with the Beehive open until 2am at the weekend with a DJ on. Cask ale remains available at the Beehive with Timothy Taylor Landlord, Marston’s Hobgoblin Gold and Robinsons Dizzy Blonde on the bar on the opening weekend.

The Wharncliffe Arms is set to close temporarily at the end of May for renovation work which will see an extension of the seating area, installation of a commercial kitchen and relocation of the bar area.

The Ladybower Inn reopened at the beginning of April although just serving drinks – beers, wines, spirits, cocktails and hot drinks. The kitchen was scheduled to open on 17 May so by the time this issue of Beer Matters hits the pubs the food menu should have been launched! Also by the time you read this in print the rooms upstairs should be available to book for overnight stays.

The Cross Scythes Hotel in Totley, which was leased from the Stonegate pub company by a local independent operator, closed on the 18 April after 5 years being run by Ben & Scott – a good chunk of which was through the Coronavirus pandemic! The pub and restaurant reopens on 12 June following refurbishment as part of Stonegate Pub & Dining chain.

It has been announced which Dronfield area pubs and clubs are taking part in the annual One Valley festival on Saturday 3 June. The main town event involves the Victoria, Blue Stoops, Manor House Hotel, Green Dragon, White Swan, Dronfield Arms, Underdog, Jolly Farmer and Dronfield Woodhouse Sports & Social Club. Running alongside this is “One Valley Extra” at Drone Valley Brewery. There are four Stagecoach bus routes serving Dronfield and most of the venues – 15, 16, 43 and 44 with a “Silver DayRider” pass offering all day travel on Stagecoach services in the area for £5.90 per adult or £15 for a group of 5, this can be purchased and use on the Stagecoach app, alternatively a flat fare of £2 per ride applies, paid to the driver – see stagecoachbus.com for more information.

The Cremorne on London Road has a new manager and the pub is back on form with a good range of well kept cask ales and music has returned too!

The Cricketers Arms on Bramall Lane has been voted as a top fans pub for an award by football supporters. The pub only opens on match days and has lots of Blades memorabilia on display, Abbeydale Moonshine is on the bar at a reasonable price.

The Globe closed on 10 April for a refurbishment and was expected to reopen on 22 April as one of Stonegate’s Craft Union partnership pubs.

The White Lion at Heeley is expected to reopen at the beginning of May under the same management as the Crown, just up the road!

The Bear on Abbeydale Road is hosting an event with Balance Brewing & Blending on 27 April, they will be treating ticket holders to a few of their fantastic mixed fermentation beers and blended wild ales, accompanied by a snack or two.

The Ladybower Inn reopened on 7 April. Initially it was just the bar that was open, by the time this issue of Beer Matters hits the street it is expected the kitchen and accommodation will be up and running too.

The Rose House at Walkley has now lost its “wooden curtains” and has new windows with the pub being prepared to reopen at the end of April. The pub is owned by Stonegate and is being leased to a local operator.

Vocation & Co launched their Sheffield bar on 14 April. This is the former Old House on Devonshire Street. It features 5 cask ales and 22 keg lines with beers from Vocation and guests, cocktails are also available. Food is described as “upmarket burgers and subs”.

The Hallamshire Hotel on West Street, Sheffield City Centre, reopened on 20 April, under the same management as the Washington. It nailed its colours to the mast of being a music orientated venue from the word go with Barry Krisp & The Bangers performing on opening night and they are keen to reclaim the pub’s musical heritage with an ongoing programme of live music and DJs! The initial opening saw the venue still configured as it was when it closed as Bloo88 but there are plans longer term to make changes which will include bringing back the upstairs function room into use and a bar refit that will introduce cask ale alongside craft beers and cocktails.

Following the retirement of Tom & Barbara from running Fagan’s pub, a new consortium have taken on the lease (the pub is owned by Heineken’s Star Pub Company). They have revealed their plans in Exposed magazine with the main changes being the end of the hot food service, new opening hours (no longer open in the daytime on weekdays but open until 1:30am at the weekend), a bit of decorating and the introduction of a card payment machine! The consortium is made up of the Rockingham Group’s James O’Hara and James Hill (they run Picture House Social, Great Gatsby and Public cocktail bar), Matt Helders, Warp’s Mark Herbert and Niall Shamma, Ian Stayner, David House, Ben Pickup and Tom O’Hara.

Conor threw a party at the Dog & Partridge on 10 February to celebrate running the pub for 10 years – he took it over in 2013. As well as a buffet and birthday cake there were drinks on offer at retro prices including all the cask ales at £3 a pint. There was talk of a 2013 music playlist too but apparently the music that year was terrible! A short speech was made by Conor featuring his best Mrs Doyle impression. for those that are a fan of Father Ted!

The Gardeners Rest is hosting an event with Drone Valley Community Brewery from 2 to 5 March with 8 of their beers on the bar. Paul & Craig from the brewery will be presenting a talk about the brewery on the opening day of the event whilst on the Sunday afternoon there will be live music with Tom Killner.

The Railway at Wadsley Bridge now opens every day. The new opening hours are 17:30-22:30 Monday to Thursday (different hours if Sheffield Wednesday are playing at home), 16:00-23:00 on Fridays, midday to midnight on Saturdays and 14:00-22:00 on Sundays. There is regular live music now too, normally on a Friday night. Additionally sport is shown on the TV screens of this classic multi-roomed pub.

The British Oak at Mosborough, owned by True North Brewery, is expected to close for a couple of weeks in early April for a refurbishment which will include new interior design and changes to the beer garden.

Work has begun to convert a shop unit into a sister venue to Ecclesall Road’s Beer House, which was amongst the first micropubs to open in the city. The new one is to be located on the inbound platform of Hillsborough tram stop.

The Old House on Devonshire Street in Sheffield City Centre has closed as a True North Brewery venue and by the time this issue of Beer Matters is out should have had a refurbishment and reopened as a Vocation Brewery bar.

Various pubs in Dronfield have announced they will be once again teaming up on the first Saturday in June to put on the One Valley Festival. This year that is 3 June.

Heist Brew Co. are celebrating their 6th birthday at their tap room this April with collaboration beers, tap takeovers and more.

A photograph of the huge bottle of Hendersons Relish on an optic behind the bar of the Dorothy Pax recently went viral after Elliot from the Antics Improv comedy troupe did a shot to be convinced it really was Hendos in the bottle. It was installed to provide emergency rations to those living on boats in Victoria Quay who have run short at dinner time!

In related news, the next Antics Improvised comedy show at the Dorothy Pax bar is on 23 March from 7:30pm, no tickets required, just pay what you feel in the collection bucket!

The Woodseats branch of Sports Shack has closed and following a refit will reopen under the same ownership as the Bulldog where the focus is on value for money with a promise to price match the nearby Wetherspoons! The changes probably won’t include the introduction of cask beer at this venue but let us know if they do!

The Graduate in Sheffield City Centre reportedly no longer serves real ale.

The Bull’s Head at Ranmoor has closed pending a new tenant taking it on (it’s a pub company lease). The Plough on Sandygate Road (near the Hallam FC football ground) has been demolished and the land is up for sale. The Rose House at Walkley is closed and boarded up (again this is a pub company lease and awaiting a new tenant to take it on).

Kate & Josh Barnsley have recently taken over the management of the Cross Scythes at Norton Woodseats. Local, John Stocks comments ‘They have done a remarkable job in dressing the pub and making it welcoming, and are passionate about saving the Cross Scythes as a community hub’. We wish them good luck and hope their venture succeeds.

The White Hart at Bradwell have announced they are under new ownership – it was previously an Admiral Taverns lease; it is now owned by Bradfield Brewery and features a range of their beer.

Jon & Mandy have handed in their notice to end the lease on the White Lion in Heeley and will be leaving in April. Their business, having survived the lockdowns, now faces the triple whammy of customers tightening their purse strings due to the cost of living crisis, significantly increased energy bills impacting the cost of running the pub and their sole tied supplier, Heineken, significantly increasing their prices. Star Pubs & Bars will be looking for someone new to take on the pub’s lease. The White Lion has been in good hands under Jon & Mandy’s stewardship, with well kept beer, community values, a friendly atmosphere and live entertainment most nights. We wish them both well for the future!

The Dog & Partridge on Trippet Lane celebrates the tenth anniversary under the current management this year and are throwing a party on Friday 10 February. Keep an eye on their social media for details.

Alder bar reopened on 18 January following a new year break and are running some promotional prices on rounds of drinks during the six weeks up to March, including a four pints for £12 deal on cask ale. The weekly quiz night is back and a number of live music gigs are planned.

Voting and surveying for our Sheffield & District Pub of the Year competition is now underway, as is the selection process for pubs to be awarded places in the 2024 edition of the Good Beer Guide. All our local CAMRA members are invited to take part in the process. Please look out for an email with details if your contact preferences are set to permit this or come along to the February branch meeting.

The Railway at Wadsley Bridge is to have a wood fired pizza ovens and music on 7 inch vinyls for New Years Eve.

The Rutland Arms is hosting their annual Christmas lights switch on party along with a “Funky Fluids” tap takeover on Thursday 8 December.

Walkley Beer Company are celebrating their 8th birthday on Saturday 3 December with some banging beers on tap and a bit of a buffet!

Crow Inn are hosting a Turning Point tap takeover on Friday 2 December. On cask will be three different imperial stouts while the keg taps will see four beers, a mixture of IPAs and sours.

The Railway Hotel at Wadsley Bridge has been running a “Cask Wednesday” promotion with 50p off the cask ales on that day of the week, except for Sheffield Wednesday match days.

The Old Hall Hotel in Hope have announced their beer festival dates for 2023. As usual all the bank holiday weekends from Easter through to late summer have an event, they’ve also crowbarred an extra event in for the King’s Coronation weekend. See our festival listings for all the dates.

The Tunnel Tap at Totley Rise has finally opened. No cask ale is available here but there are some quite acceptable craft beer choices on keg, usually including options from Abbeydale and Buxton. This micropub is on two floors with a bar on each and seating downstairs. They also have bottles, cans and minikegs available to take away.

Shakespeares Ale & Cider House at West Bar is planning one of their regular beer festivals for January, as usual featuring some interesting, experimental and silly one off special cask beers on gravity upstairs as well as a full range on the main bar. Keep an eye on their social media for details.

The Bar Stewards at West Bar has had a change of name and is now known as West Bar Tap. There have been some changes to the business behind the scenes but otherwise its the same place and people, other than a minor refit to part of the venue that has added some extra tables where the self service fridges were.

The Social bar on Snig Hill has closed down, unfortunately although it was a great little bar everyone enjoyed it didn’t prove financially successful. The associated brewery based in Attercliffe, BrewSocial, continues to produce beer and will keep going as long as it sells! Pictured is Juliet who managed the bar with a pump clip from every BrewSocial beer so far.

The Friendship Hotel in Stocksbridge recently opened their nine new contemporary first floor en suite letting rooms. This is a welcome addition to Stocksbridge and another contribution to its’ growing reputation as the centre of one of the best walking areas in the North of England.

Under new management, the Olde Mustard Pot (Midhopestones) reopened in mid-November. David and Nicola Briggs and Jonathan Wright, licensees of the Three Merry Lads (Lodge Moor) have added the pub to their portfolio. A change of beers and a new menu are in place. The pub opens daily from 11:30, food is available until 20:00. 

The Pioneer Club in Dronfield has resumed their Sunday carvery.

A new sports bar in Hillsborough’s Barracks complex called Monkey Bar Club is opening. Food is provided by Smokin’ Bull, serving burgers etc.

The Alehouse micropub in Chesterfield recently celebrated their 9th birthday with a special line up of beer!

Fans of the Antics improvised comedy troupe will be pleased to know that another free show (tips welcome!) is planned at the Dorothy Pax bar for 17 November.

The Dog & Partridge is now free of tie and as well as the beer range starting to evolve there are now cask ale drinkers loyalty cards available – buy 9 pints and get one free.

The Blue Stoops in Dronfield closed temporarily in October, it has been sold by True North Brewery to the Chilled Out Pub Company.

The Tunnel Tap in Totley is expected to open on 21 October at 6pm with craft beer available on keg.

Another successful Gillyfest at the Sportsman Inn, Lodgemoor. It was a day live music and fun for all the family and raised £2,271.52 for St Luke’s Hospice.

Also at Lodgemoor there is a new landlady at the Shiny Sheff. Donna Davis is now running the pub which has wonderful views across Rivelin Valley towards Stannington. Sunday is games night, general knowledge quiz on Tuesday with karaoke on Thursday. Marston’s 61 Deep is the regular beer with other Marston’s beer rotating including Pedigree and Hobgoblin Gold.

The last day of trading as a Thornbridge/Brewkitchen venue for the Eagle and Graze Inn on Ecclesall Road was Saturday 3 September.

theSocial bar on Snig Hill introduced food from 12 September. A range of sandwiches, salads, savouries and cakes are on sale weekdays until 3pm. Food to go is available from 9am with the bar open from midday until 9pm.

The Green Room bar on Devonshire Street in Sheffield City Centre has had a bit of a refurbishment and general overhaul, relaunching on 15 September. We are told to expect a new line up of beers (including cask), pool table, beer pong, a “barcade” and of course, music.

Perch on Garden Street, the Dead Parrot Brewery tap, is hosting a northern soul all day music festival in the back yard on Saturday 8 October from 3pm until late. Tickets are required, £10 in advance or £15 on the door.

19 September saw Shakespeares on Gibraltar Street launch a new weekly open mic music night in the upstairs “Bards Bar” room. It takes place every Monday from 8pm, more details on the pub’s Facebook page.

The Peacock Inn in Stannington is offering CAMRA members 20p off a pint of cask ale.

The Boston Arms at Woodseats and Clubhouse on London Road both at the time of writing continue to offer pints of real ale at a bargain price on Mondays – check their social media for details. Talking of the Boston Arms, food is now available with Pellizco resident upstairs serving tacos and more. Table bookings available.

The JD Wetherspoons chain hold their regular real ale festival from 12-23 October. Branches in Sheffield include the Rawson Spring in Hillsborough, Bankers Draft, Sheffield Water Works Company and Benjamin Huntsman in the City Centre, Sheaf Island on Ecclesall Road, Woodseats Palace in Woodseats, Francis Newton in Broomhall, Wagon & Horses in Chapeltown, Steel Foundry in Meadowhall and Scarsdale Hundred at Beighton.

The Gardeners Rest is holding a mini beer festival from 30 September to 2 October featuring beer from the old 3 Ridings of Yorkshire.

The Bull’s Head in Ranmoor is under the new management of Sam Hall who is running the pub with an outlook of “simple things done well”. Sam is aiming to welcome locals to a friendly community pub. He usually has a traditional bitter and a lighter beer from regional brewers and local ones including Abbeydale and Bradfield. There is live music most Friday nights and the pub boasts a south facing terrace and beer garden.

After a good few years of whispers and ideas, The Bar Stewards, The Crow Inn, and Shakespeares Ale & Cider House have decided it’s about time to shout about the area of which they stand as (sort of…) the three corners and have formed “The West Bar Triangle“. The three pubs will be launching what they hope will be an exciting initiative that promotes the area and all of its local, independent businesses while coming together to put on a regular good old knees up – starting with a launch festival from 2 to 4 September that will see the bars put on simultaneous tap takeovers across cask and keg, featuring some of the UK’s best breweries. With other bits and bobs to be confirmed, this looks to be a smashing weekend to kick off a fantastic local partnership.

Firepit Rocks on West Street closed during August for a refurbishment.

With Magic Rock Brewing of Huddersfield now under new, less controversial ownership the annual Cannonball Run event returned to some bars in Sheffield. This saw three versions of their Cannonball beer on bars alongside each other – Human Cannonball (9.2% ABV West Coast DIPA), Neo Human Cannonball (9.2% New England DIPA) and Super Human Cannonball (10% Imperial IPA) at the Dark Horse in Banner Cross and Abbeydale Tap on Abbeydale Road.

Time for another mention of the Tunnel Tap at Totley Rise shops which has been a long time coming with the conversion work from a shop/office unit into a neighbourhood bar, August saw staff recruitment taking place and shopfitting work including building the bar and fixed seating, it is now expected to open early September, keep an eye on their social media for announcements!

Some of you may have noticed the Three Tuns in Sheffield City Centre closed, the pub is owned by Star Pubs & Bars (part of Heineken) who lease it out to an independent local operator with a tied supply contract, they are currently looking for a new long term tenant and in the meantime intend to reopen it with a licensee on a short term deal according to reports in the Sheffield Star newspaper.

The Antics Improv comedy troupe have been doing some free gigs in pubs alongside their main ticketed shows at the Lantern Theatre. 18 August saw them perform at the Dorothy Pax and they have a show at Grafters Bar on 1 September.

The winners of the Yorkshire Pub and Club of the Year awards have been announced. Pub of the Year is Heaven & Ale in Barnsley whilst Club of the Year is Hanging Heaton Cricket Club in Hanging Heaton (near Dewsbury).

Hop Hideout based in Kommune in Sheffield City Centre, reports the recent hot weather led to a boom in sales of craft cider and perry from their shop’s fridges. Popular brands included Purbeck Cider, Artistraw Cider and Olivers.

Jack Cater, who had the Railway on Bramall Lane before Covid, is back in the pub game with another Railway Hotel – the one on Penistone Road North in Wadsley Bridge. As before expect a selection of real ales and additional craft options on keg.

The Ball at Crookes has had a refurbishment and reopened on the 16 July with live entertainment to celebrate.

The people behind the Indie-go bar at Steel Yard Kelham in Neepsend have announced they are opening a second bar, Indie-go Resurrection in the City Centre premises that was previously the Devonshire Cat. It is expected to open until 3am and feature live music at the weekend. They are hoping to have opened at the end of July in time for Tramlines fringe.

Neepsend Social Club & Canteen is now open on Burton Road, next to the Parrot Club and Peddlers Market. This venue is themed on a traditional working mans club and membership is available offering various perks, however it is open to all Wednesday to Sunday. They serve food until 9pm with a limited seasonal modern British food menu, with dishes like sausage and mash, scampi and chips and chicken in a basket. They also have games including a table football and darts and have quiz nights and bingo! There is no cask ale currently, however local breweries including Abbeydale and Thornbridge are represented on the keg taps.

The Boston Arms at Woodseats have been running a Monday Cask Ale Club with beer reduced to a very affordable £2.80 a pint. Also offering discounts on a Monday to keep the ale flowing on a typically quiet day is the Clubhouse on London Road offering bargain £2.50 pints.

The opening of the Tunnel Tap at Totley Rise gets closer, at the time of writing the flooring was in and the bar was under construction!

1st July saw a beer launch at Heist Brew Co.‘s tap room involving a collaboration with Emperors. The beer involved was “Something Something Dark Side”, an 11% salted caramel imperial stout with three versions available – the base beer, a version aged in a rum barrel and a version aged in a bourbon barrel, the latter being on cask.

The first beer out of Brew Social hit the bar at the Social on Snig Hill on Friday 15 July with brewer Richard Hough and the team there to make it a bit of a launch event. The beer was “Out to Launch” a 4.5% pale ale with Cascade hops. All the BrewSocial beers are to be unfined therefore suitable for vegans and naturally slightly hazy. The first few beers to be brewed will be pale and hoppy at various strengths and with various hop varieties, once they are established a dark beer will follow in time for winter!

The Little John Inn at Hathersage continues to offer a changing selection of beers on both cask and keg and have recently been featuring the relatively local Eyam Brewery with their premium bitter on handpump and strong stouts on keg such as the Bubonic Orange (6%) and Imperial Black Death (11%). A Jam night has been launched on Tuesdays from 8pm and they continue to have a pool table and table football.

The Dog & Partridge on Trippet Lane in Sheffield City Centre have announced they are now free of tie from the pub company they lease the pub from, meaning they can now go to any brewer or wholesale for all their beer lines rather than just the pub company. We can look forward to seeing what interesting different beers start appearing on their bar!

There has been a change of management at the Old Queen’s Head by Sheffield bus Interchange, which is leased from Thwaites Brewery, with Mike and Zuzana calling it a day. The new manager is Josh Tomlinson and there a new chef there, initially serving from a limited menu of pub classics plus lunchtime sandwiches and burgers. We wish every success to Josh and also look forward to seeing Mike and Zuzana on the right side of the bar!