Category: News

1 September sees changes to some Sheffield bus routes following the public consultation last month previously featured in this column. There have been some tweaks following the consultation such as the 6 continuing to serve Greystones and the Walkley buses retaining the traditional 95 number. Some further changes are coming up in October which will be the Chesterfield based buses and at the time of writing this was still at consultation, the only proposals affecting Sheffield is a change to the X17 route near Meadowhall and a renumbering of the 43a to 42.

The biggest changes are in North and East Sheffield, all the details can be found at travelsouthyorkshire.com.

The summer rail replacement works on Supertram conclude on 1 September, however there will be some weekend engineering works in September and October, check their website for details.

So, what are the headlines in terms of going to the pub? Well, the Greystones pub becomes easier to get to with bus 82 (Stannington to Millhouses) changing its route to run via Greystones and this bus has an evening service! The buses serving the Harlequin near Kelham Island are changing, with the 95/95a replaced by the 75/75a (Jordanthorpe to Chapeltown/Fox Hill) – the 7/8 and 83 continue to serve the area with a revised timetable. Those travelling in an evening wanting to get to/from Worrall, Oughtibridge, Deepcar and Stocksbridge will be pleased to see an evening service introduced to route 57a. Travel to the Wisewood Inn on a Sunday becomes possible on the new timetables too with the 52a extended up beyond Hillsborough to Loxley 7 days a week although evening service remains limited to the rural bus 61/62.

There are still frustrations with the bus network and the mayor’s priorities with a lack of funding available for evening and Sunday tendered services, for example Bradway doesn’t have any buses in an evening whilst Nether Edge gets a bus once every 2 hours!

Nominations opening soon for CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain competition

Nominations will be opening on Thursday 12 September for CAMRA members to vote in the Champion Beer of Britain 2026 award. Once nominations close in November, regional heats will take place across the country before the final judging and announcement in 2026.

All beer judging adheres to a vigilant blind tasting process. Last year, Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter was crowned overall winner, and previous winners include Surrey Hills’ Shere Drop and Siren’s Broken Dream Breakfast Stout.

Winning the prestigious title is the ultimate honour for UK breweries and has helped many brewers gain both national and international acclaim. Beer lovers will have until midnight on 4 November to make their submission on CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain platform and can choose up to five beers across each of the categories. This initial vote is exclusive to CAMRA members.

The beer style categories for Champion Beer of Britian are:

• Milds: up to and including 4%
• Session Bitters: up to and including 4.3%
• Premium Bitters: 4.4% – 6.4%
• Session Pale, Blond and Golden Ales: up to and including 4.3%
• Premium Pale, Blond and Golden Ales: 4.4% – 6.4%
• British & New World IPAs: 5.5% and above
• Brown and Red Ales, Old Ales and Strong Milds: up to 6.4%
• Session Stouts and Porters: up to and including 4.9%
• Strong Stouts and Porters including Imperial Stouts and Baltic Porters: 5.0% and above
• Barley Wines and Strong Ales: 6.5% and above
• Speciality Beers – differently produced
• Speciality Beers – flavoured

Recent research has illustrated how alcohol played a unique role in the life of cites, shaping their development, growth, and identity. Now, Prof Phil Withington and Dr Nick Groat from the University of Sheffield are exploring what the slippery label of ‘craft’ has done for the history and future of Sheffield by putting brewers and beer enthusiasts at the forefront of this conversation.

What do you understand by the term ‘craft’? How are ideas about ‘craft’ changing the way alcohol is made, sold, and consumed in Sheffield?

Our new project, Place, Craft and Alcohol in Historical Perspective, funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council,is exploring these questions with the help of locals, brewers, and publicans, and discussing what the city’s relationship with ‘craft’ is. Sheffield’s played a significant role in the ‘craft revolution’, starting back in the 1990s, that helped define the key characteristics of ‘craft’. That relationship between the city and beer though goes back much further, setting the stage for a new ethos of alcohol production that’s flourishing today. We’re mapping the history of alcohol in Sheffield, from when the city came to prominence, to recent explosion of ‘craft’ as a self-identifying term for producers, retailers, and establishments. Understanding how this new idea of craft fits within the deeper story of Sheffield is key to thinking about how the city can, or should, align itself with such an asset. 

There’s been much said and debated about ‘craft’ since the term first started springing up. Multinationals buying out small producers, ‘macro’ craft breweries, and the lack of official terminology have diluted any sense of what craft is supposed to mean. Of course, there’s a big difference between ‘craft’ as a label, and the ideology of craft, or what it represents. Independence, sustainability, locality, authenticity, artisanal, premium – all these and more have been rolled into definitions of craft, irrespective of if these values exist in craft producers. For many, this can be a point of contention, but also one of pride and respect amongst wider maker communities.

Aside from brewing, we’re putting this question into a wider historical and modern picture, working with our network of partners including Sheffield Archives and local distillery, Locksley Distilling Co. Ltd to get a multidimensional view on what craft means, and how the city has responded to changes in alcohol culture.  We’re hoping to collect a wide understanding of what people think about ‘craft’ and how it influenced the city. We’re looking to talk to beer enthusiasts across Sheffield to hear their personal stories, thoughts, and opinions about how our city has been shaped in response to new trends and styles of beer. We’re wanting to hear from Beer Matters readers as people who are interested in the many faces of beer. So, if you’d like to talk to us about your place in Sheffield’s intoxicating history, visit: http://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/place-craft-and-alcohol or scan this QR code to get in touch!

In early 2020, Carlsberg and Marston’s announced a joint venture: the Danish corporation taking 60% of the new Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) with Marston’s holding 40% and receiving a cash payment of over £270m. At the time, we commented that we had concerns regarding the future of both the brewery and the internationally unique Burton Union System as used in Marston’s Albion Brewery. http://tinyurl.com/498ss642

So far this year:

1. the historic Union System has been retired
2. Marston’s pubs have sold non-cask beer via handpumps, the internationally recognised indicator of cask beer, an action described by CAMRA as the ‘handpump hijack’
3. CMBC have recently purchased the remaining 40% of the brewing company, leaving Marstons, famous for both Old Roger and Pedigree, as yet another, large pub company.

This new £206m deal means that Carlsberg now own the Marstons Albion Brewery (Shobnall Road, Burton), and the brands brewed on that site (including Jennings, Marstons and Wychwood). After almost 200 years of brewing, Marstons now have around 1370 pubs and a long-term brand distribution agreement with CMBC.  

Carlsberg have also acquired soft drinks company, Britvic, for £3.3b. They now have a UK business, covering beer and soft drinks, from which they expect to make some £100m of annual savings from combined distribution costs etc. In volume, they are 4^th in UK brewing. The UK is now the companies’ biggest market. As I wrote a few short months ago: Carlsberg seem to have no care for the brewing heritage they have acquired in the UK. In Denmark, they have a reputation as a patron of the arts and a respecter of heritage and tradition. However, not in the UK, where a race to the lowest common destination continues to be the plan

During July bus operators have been holding a consultation on proposed changes to bus timetables and routes from 1 September to reflect demand building back up differently post covid.

Bus route 8 from Ecclesfield to Birley will be split with some journeys running to Dyke Vale Road instead of Birley Lane tram stop, replacing route 41 which will be withdrawn. The 8/8a from Crystal Peaks is withdrawn and replaced by new local minibus services M44/M45.

The 1a and 11 Herdings to Chapeltown will be withdrawn with the 47/48 Herdings-Shiregreen making a comeback with changes to the 75 replacing the 1a to Chapeltown.

The 95/95a is also to be withdrawn with the Meadowhall end of the route replaced by changes to the 75 whilst Walkley will be served by new routes 54/55/55a which will run from Walkley to Handsworth via Sheffield Parkway then continuing to either Rotherham via Treeton (replacing withdrawn route 73) or to Crystal Peaks via either Aston or Woodhouse.

Greystones gets a better service with route 82 diverted that way with the 6 changed to run more directly on Ecclesall Road instead of via Greystones.

On route 52 buses will be extended beyond Crookes to Hillsborough all day whilst on the 52a there will be an improved Loxley/Wisewood service including the introduction of a Sunday service.

There are changes to the 88 Ecclesfield to Bents Green with increased frequencies and a different route in the Firth Park area.

Stocksbridge and Worrall see some improvement too with the 57a running later into the evening.

The 41, 42, X54 and X74 are both withdrawn and replaced by a new network of routes numbered 70/70a/71/71a.

South Pennine Community Transport will be running a series of one day a week buses from Holmfirth – Monday to Meadowhall, Wednesday to Castleton and Thursday to Hillsborough

More information at travelsouthyorkshire.com.

Meanwhile Supertram has a programme of rail replacement works over the summer holidays as follows:

• 20 July to 2 August: Blue route closed between Gleadless Townend and Halfway with trams running to Herdings Park instead of Halfway. Replacement buses to connect Gleadless to Halfway.
• 3 August to 11 August: Blue and Purple route closed between Sheffield Station and Herdings Park. The Blue route to operate in two parts with replacement buses running Sheffield City Centre to Gleadless to connect.
• 12 August to 1 September: Yellow route closed between Hillsborough and Middlewood with trams running to Malin Bridge instead of Middlewood.

There is also expected to be some disruption to Tram Train services to Rotherham at weekends from September onwards as work begins to build a new station at Magna, which the joint SYMCA/Network Rail project team are aiming to have ready for the summer 2025 National Rail timetable commencing next May.

More information at supertram.com.

Meanwhile on the Derbyshire buses there is some disruption caused by long term roadworks affecting bus 272 in Bradwell and bus 65 in Grindleford until September, altered timetables at derbysbus.info.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is making its mark in the 2024 General Election by announcing its Manifesto and e-lobby campaign. As one of the UK’s most successful campaigning organisations, CAMRA is calling on its members up and down the country to lobby candidates in every constituency to make sure MPs elected in this election are committed to protecting and promoting thriving community pubs and great beer and cider. 

CAMRA’s Election Manifesto outlines six key campaigning priorities, these are:  

• Fair tax for beer and pubs. 
• More rights for beer drinkers and pub goers. 
• Access to market for small and independent breweries and cider producers. 
• Recognising traditional cask ale under UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity 
• Better planning protections for pubs. [England-only] 
• Change the business rates system to make it fairer for pubs. [England-only] 

Election campaigns are a prime opportunity for politicians to be seen pulling a pint behind the bar of their local, but this doesn’t always translate into action that supports pubs, social clubs, brewers, cider makers, and consumers. CAMRA is asking for candidates to commit to the campaigning priorities outlined in its Manifesto, and back policy and legislation that can truly help the pub trade, brewers and consumers.  

To ensure that prospective MPs are pledging their support, CAMRA is enlisting its thousands of members to contact their local candidates to ask for their support for beer and pubs if elected. The e-lobby can be accessed here: https://action.camra.org.uk/page/151385/action/1 

CAMRA is also providing a campaign pack for members and pub goers to promote the manifesto and e-lobby, including election guidance and social media assets. As well as this, CAMRA will be providing resources for parliamentary candidates to pledge their support for beer, pubs and CAMRA’s key campaigning asks. 

As each party announces its manifesto, CAMRA will be commenting on them to let consumers know what is being offered to them. To keep up with all CAMRA comments, news and social go to our Media Centre. 

For more information on CAMRA’s Manifesto, as well as other resources and campaigning efforts, go to https://camra.org.uk/take-action/general-election-2024/ 

Responding to the publication of the Liberal Democrats General Election manifesto, CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said: 

“It is encouraging to see commitments to overhauling the broken business rates system in England which is desperately needed to help save our pubs, as well as on strengthening powers to allow community assets like pubs to be protected and introducing a dedicated Minister for Hospitality and Tourism. 

“Whilst the devil will be in the detail, the Liberal Democrats plans to replace the current business rates system with a new Commercial Landowner Levy based on land value rather than entire capital value could see more proportionate business taxes for the hospitality sector in many parts of the country and an end to the current system which disincentives investment in pubs. 

“It is vital that the next Government radically reforms the business rates system to stop pubs overpaying by around £500 million each and every year – and to make sure online businesses pay their fair share compared to bricks and mortar businesses like much-loved community pubs. 

“CAMRA looks forward to working with Lib Dem parliamentarians and those of all parties in the next Parliament to make sure that business rates and community ownership policies better support and protect the nation’s much-loved locals.” 

Responding to the publication of the Green Party of England and Wales’ General Election manifesto, CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said: 

“CAMRA welcomes the Green Party’s continuing commitment to reducing VAT for the hospitality sector alongside their proposals to review planning regulations to protect the night-time economy and give local councils the powers to exempt socially essential local enterprises from paying business rates – which we would argue should definitely apply to pubs which are a vital part of our social fabric. 

“We look forward to working with Green parliamentarians and with the next UK Government to explore how these ideas could be implemented to safeguard pubs and social clubs at the heart of community life up and down the country. 

“This should include cutting the rate of VAT specifically on beer and cider sold in pubs in recognition of their community value, including for traditional ‘wet-led’ pubs that do not serve food. This would help to reduce the rate of pub and brewery closures which deprive consumers of their much-valued locals.” 

Responding to the publication of the Conservative Party General Election manifesto, CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said: 

“It is encouraging to see the Conservative manifesto reconfirming the party’s commitment to the new system of alcohol taxation and the lower rate of duty charged on draught beer and cider served in our pubs, social clubs and brewery taprooms – so that tax on pints in pubs is always lower than that on supermarket alcohol. 

“CAMRA is calling on the next UK Government to commit to extend the discount on tax for draught beer and cider to turbocharge this new alcohol duty system and give consumers, local pubs and independent breweries the boost they need to survive and thrive. 

“Committing to extending the Community Ownership Fund is also a welcome pledge which would make sure that local groups can access funding they need to save their local pub as a community hub if it is under threat of closure, conversion or demolition.  

“In addition, the Conservative proposal to review the night-time economy in England with a view to reversing the decline in pub numbers would provide an opportunity to show how transforming tax, regulation and planning laws could help save the nation’s much-loved pubs being lost to the communities they serve.” 

Responding to the publication of the Labour Party’s General Election manifesto, CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said: 

“CAMRA members will be pleased to see that Labour’s manifesto includes a commitment to change the outdated business rates system to make it fairer between online enterprises and bricks and mortar businesses like pubs which are massively penalised in the current system.  

“Any changed system must make sure that pubs no longer pay a disproportionate share of rates and that a new, fairer business rate regime recognises their community value to help keep our locals open and thriving as a vital part of our social fabric.

“Whilst it does not feature in the manifesto, CAMRA looks forward to working with Labour MPs in the next Parliament to develop their policy for a ‘community right to buy’ giving local communities in England a right in law to have first refusal on buying privately-owned community assets which would be a gamechanger for people who want to save and take over the running of their local pubs if they are under threat of closure, conversion or demolition.” 

Laura Hadland wins CAMRA’s Campaigner of the Year 2024 award

Drinks writer Laura Hadland (pictured above) has been awarded CAMRA’s top campaigning award at the organisation’s Members’ Weekend, AGM and Conference in Dundee. Her nomination spoke of a long list of impressive achievements this year, particularly her commitment to inclusiveness, responsible drinking and her work championing small producers and venues.

Laura was a key voice in calling national attention to the destruction of the Crooked House through her blog, interviews about pub protection for local radio stations across the country, and on social media. The Crooked House case began in August of last year, when the famously wonky 260-year-old pub near Himley in the West Midlands was heavily damaged in a fire and then abruptly bulldozed without authorisation by its new owners. Through Laura’s campaigning, more people were made aware of this scandal and in February the owners were ordered to rebuild the pub.

Laura has since written about the Crooked House fire for CAMRA’s online magazine What’s Brewing where she is a regular contributor on everything from ‘Digital Breweries’ to ‘The Golden Age of Cider and Perry’.

Her nomination also praised her work on her award-winning book, 50 years of CAMRA where members’ stories and memories of CAMRA were recorded. The nominator highlighted that this research preserved oral histories which would otherwise have been lost.

The award also recognised for her championing of cask beer, introducing it to new audiences through her advocacy, and by hosting beer-tastings including the first ever dedicated cask tasting at Ludlow Slow Food Festival last summer. She is a beer judge for prestigious national and international competitions, including the Champion Beer of Britain, SIBA and Great Taste awards and a trusted voice in the world of food and drink.

CAMRA Campaigning Awards Director Laura Emson said:

“Laura was the clear winner, even with all the other fantastic nominations this year. Her campaigning has been a fantastic help in raising awareness for the Crooked House scandal as well as consistently putting her voice out there via local radio stations to help protect our pubs.

“It’s a pleasure to formally recognise her hard work and dedication to making sure that pubs are protected in this most challenging of times for the industry.

“This Campaigner of the Year Award is a testament to the positive impact that Laura has had on the industry, and I look forward to seeing her work in the years to come.”

Accepting the award, Laura Hadland said:

“A huge thank you for bestowing this amazing honour on me. It’s just wonderful how I’ve been welcomed into the CAMRA community.

“Back in 2019, when I first got the commission to write 50 Years of CAMRA, I never expected that my involvement with the organisation would really become so all consuming, but it’s just a huge part of my life now.

“I hope that that we can all keep spreading the good word about cask ale. I think there is loads of great work we can all continue to do, and it’s really, really kind that you’ve recognised the work that I have been doing up until now. I hope that all of you within CAMRA keeps supporting diverse voices, talking about great beer.”