Category: News

We’d been really looking forward to hosting CAMRA’s national members weekend here in Sheffield in 2021, which is also CAMRA’s 50th birthday, this would have seen over a thousand beer tourists come to enjoy Sheffield’s beer scene as well as participate in debates to help direct CAMRA’s campaigning policy.

Sadly with the ongoing uncertainty with Coronavirus, the event at Sheffield City Hall is now cancelled with the AGM and Conference now to take place online instead. Members can register to participate online at camra.org.uk.

As soon as circumstances allow we will resume normal branch activity with meetings, award presentations, surveys, socials, beer tastings, brewery trips etc and we will also be focused on organising the 2021 Steel City Beer & Cider Festival which will hopefully take place in October at Kelham Island Museum after being unable to put on a 2020 event.

Across the UK, pubs, taprooms, social clubs and hospitality venues are at the centre of their communities. Looking after their regulars, providing services to their communities, raising money for charity and tackling loneliness and social isolation.

From 13-16 December, we want to flood social media and MPs’ inboxes with messages about why pubs matter, as we head into a festive season that is very different to normal.

There has never been a more important time to send a clear message to politicians and the media that pubs matter.

Pubs need fair treatment and better financial support from the government to get them through the festive period, which would usually be the busiest time of year.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, pubs have faced more restrictions than other businesses. This has reduced trade, left many at risk of closure, and means that people can’t benefit from the social and wellbeing benefits of going to the pub this Christmas.

Publicans have spent thousands making their pubs Covid-secure, improving ventilation, and helping with Test and Trace. But in most parts of the UK people can’t meet in pubs, regardless of what pubs have done to help people socialise safely in small groups.

You can help share the word by tweeting why pubs matter to you with #PubsMatter and also you can email your MP on the subject using CAMRA’s online tool.

For more on the #PubsMatter campaign visit whypubsmatter.org.uk.

One of the most recent added CAMRA membership benefits is access to content in the CAMRA Learn & Discover hub, perfect to keep you occupied at home whilst the pubs are shut!

Whilst normally we would like to take CAMRA members on a voyage of discovery in the world of beer and cider at socials and meetings, hopefully this is the next best thing.

The latest addition to the content is a video about pairing beer with food including understanding how to taste beer and appreciate the flavour profiles that work well together.

To access this content, sign in as a member on the national CAMRA website.

Details on what will happen post lockdown, from 2 December, has now been announced by the Government.

We’ll be returning to a 3 tier system but with some changes to the rules.

In tier 1 areas pubs can open with the rule of 6 applying to group sizes both indoors and outdoors. In tier 2 areas as before mixing of households is not permitted indoors but additionally alcohol will only be served with a substantial meal (there are exceptions for theatres, cinemas, concert halls and sports grounds). Pubs that don’t serve food will have to remain closed. In tier 3 areas pubs and restaurants will be takeaway only.

South Yorkshire and Derbyshire has been put into tier 3 – this means pubs cannot open, except for take away sales (scroll down for a link to our list of pubs we have been advised are offering this).

In areas where pubs can open table service will continue to be a requirement as will social distancing, wearing face coverings when not seated, enhanced cleaning regimes, giving contact details for test and trace and the rest of the requirements to be considered Covid-Secure. The existing 10pm curfew is replaced by 10pm last orders with everyone out by 11pm

This isn’t looking great for pubs – outside tier 1 the majority of pubs cannot open, this is disappointing as we continue to believe that a well run pub in line with Covid-secure guidelines is the safest place to socialise and the hospitality sector seems to have been disproportionately hit with damaging restrictions and no evidence presented to justify this.

Traditionally December – Christmas party season – is the busiest time for pubs and for many pubs the money made in December is needed to survive the typically quiet January so if pubs cannot open or are allowed only very restricted trading in the run up to Christmas this could cause a lot of pubs to go out of business and close without increased government support. It looks like for pubs and pub-goers, Christmas is cancelled.

Details of new tier system from 2 December

Save our pubs campaign – email your MP.

Sheffield City Council Covid News – including business support

Local breweries offering home delivery

Pubs and bars open for food and drink takeaway/home delivery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new charity has launched to support people across Sheffield in memory of Tramlines director Sarah Nulty.  You may recall we presented her an award to recognise that her music festival made an effort to also featured good beer.

The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation provides grant funding to community groups, schools and socially and economically disadvantaged people to access the transformative power of music.  

From funding music therapy for community groups and grants to purchase instruments to enabling people to access online music classes throughout lockdown, The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation aims to spread happiness, through music.  

Headed up by Sarah’s mum Julie Voisey, the Charity’s trustees include Sarah’s family members and friends.

Julie said: “Since we lost Sarah, we have been overwhelmed by the way her friends and the people across the city came together to support local charities in her memory.  In creating the Power of Music Foundation, we hope to spread happiness and joy throughout Sheffield in a new way. We know that music has the ability to improve people’s mental wellbeing and in these very difficult times, I truly hope we can make a difference to people’s lives.   

“Music was such an enormous part of Sarah’s life and something so close to her heart. This feels like the right way to remember her.” 

Speaking about the Foundation’s grant funding launch, Julia Waldron, Development Manager from Under The Stars, the arts and events charity for people with learning disabilities, said: “Sarah was a passionate supporter of Under The Stars, she gave our artists exposure on prominent stages they are often excluded from.  This fund will give lots more people with a disability in Sheffield opportunities in music that would otherwise be unavailable. We are really looking forward to working with the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation in the future.”

TrusteeJulie Voisey added: “The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation is now open for grant applications from charities, community groups and individuals across Sheffield. We support people of any age in the city who are socially or economically disadvantaged, and we work with individuals and organisations helping people with disabilities and complex needs, with children and schools, and with anyone experiencing hardship.  

“From funding music lessons to purchasing musical equipment and everything in between, we’re open to helping people to experience the power and joy that music can bring in whatever way that works for them.”   

Individuals and businesses across Sheffield can support by making regular or one-off donations via TotalGiving and by purchasing a range of limited-edition merchandise.  

In the Foundation’s shop online at www.thesarahnultypowerofmusicfoundation.co.uk, supporters can buy the iconic ‘Be More Nulty’ t-shirts as well as tote bags with an exclusive new design to represent the charity’s new beginnings. Tote bags are also now on sale with all proceeds going directly to the Foundation.   

Supporting organisations are invited to apply for the Power of Music Foundation’s first round of grant funding by visiting the Foundation’s website. Individual grants of up to around £300 will be considered and might be used to: 

·       Support children and adults to develop their musical talents by funding music lessons, clubs, instruments, and live music events 

·       Fund music therapies and musical experiences for people in the community; through groups supporting children and families experiencing hardship, people with disabilities, asylum seeker and refugee groups and similar 

·       Sponsor a school’s music room, by purchasing musical instruments and equipment, so children of all backgrounds and abilities can learn to play  

·       Provide funds for existing charitable groups to provide music-based activities and therapies for the people they support 

For more information on The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, how to get involved, donate or sponsor, contact Julie Voisey at thesarahnultypom@gmail.com. You can also visit the website at www.thesarahnultypowerofmusicfoundation.co.uk.

The government have announced that a second national Coronavirus lockdown, where you are asked to stay home as much as possible, will be in force from 5 November until at least 2 December.

Non essential retail and leisure will be closed down for the duration, which of course means pubs and bars will be closed for eating and drinking on the premises.

As a food and drink retailer, pubs will be allowed to do takeaway sales and home delivery (the same as supermarkets etc.) like in the first lockdown, however this time there is a requirement that all sales must be ordered ahead either online or by phone.

If your local pubs aren’t offering take home beer sales, it however doesn’t mean you are limited to what the supermarket chains have to offer – don’t forget you can get an interesting selection of quality beers including some from local breweries from the various independent specialist beer shops around our area or alternatively many brewers offer home delivery on bottles, cans, bag-in-box and mini-kegs!

THE FINAL DAY OF LOCKDOWN 2.0 IS 1 DECEMBER 2020. FROM 2 DECEMBER WE MOVE TO THE NEW TIER 3

Saturday 24 October sees Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster move up to tier 3 which means you aren’t allowed to mix with anyone outside your own household or support bubble except in parks and the countryside, additionally pubs are only allowed to remain open to serve meals.

You will still be able to go to the pub for food (and have a drink with your meal) but of course not with anyone you don’t live with.

This will see any pub that doesn’t serve food closed down and most that do starved of custom, putting them at risk of going out of business. Those that have to close get some government help with wages and possibly a small grant, but this is expected to be inadequate to keep them in business.

The situation has been described as heartbreaking that the hospitality sector is being targeted in this way when many others others haven’t despite investing a lot of effort and money adapting to be clean, safe and covid-secure.

Like with the 10pm curfew, there are likely to be side effects, for example encouraging groups of friends to eat and drink in potentially busy public parks where there isn’t the same kind of regulation as licenced premises.

We encourage all our members (and anyone else reading this!) to keep supporting local pubs and breweries through this wherever possible – consider going to the pub for lunch; or buying cans, bottles or minikegs to drink at home directly from local breweries.

If you haven’t already, please email your MP to call for proper government financial support for pubs to help them survive whilst doing their bit to keep everyone safe – the Save Our Pubs campaign page makes it easy to do.

PUBLICANS: please let us know if you are remaining open serving food and beer from Saturday so we can add you to our list online.

Government information regarding tier 3 (very high alert)

Statement from Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis

BBC News coverage

Commenting on the announcement that Heineken UK’s pub arm, Star Pubs & Bars, has been fined £2m after being found to have seriously and repeatedly breached the Pubs Code, CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said:

“This is a good and deserved outcome for Star tenants – and a landmark moment for the Pubs Code Adjudicator. We are glad that the PCA has used their financial penalty powers for the first time. 

“We hope this will send a clear message to regulated pub companies that they cannot get away with breaching the Code. In this case, the PCA found repeated breaches of the Code in multiple areas – we want to see further investigations from the PCA to make sure that other regulated pub companies are complying.

“The pub sector as we know it is currently under threat due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, and lack of proper financial support from central Government. Pub companies need to be supporting their tied tenants through this, and at a very minimum this should mean fulfilling their basic obligations under the Code. As we see further local lockdowns and forced closures periods, we are again calling on pub companies to do the right thing and cancel rent for publicans that are unable to trade.

“We are also looking forward to the publication on the Pubs Code Review, which we hope will expand the enforcement options available to the PCA so that they can act more quickly and decisively to clamp down on abuse of the Code in future.” 

Nik Anita, CAMRA National Chairman