CAMRA branches are entirely volunteer run and likewise Beer Matters magazine – our branch newsletter for Sheffield & District – is written by volunteers – mostly CAMRA members – to share their interests in pubs, real ale and the campaign. Design and print costs are funded by advertisers.
We’re looking for more people to contribute to the content of the magazine (and website) with relevant local content that will interest our readers. If this is something that would interest you please get in touch!
We also always appreciate bits of news from pubs, clubs and breweries!
Throughout May, the Dorothy Pax at Victoria Quays will be home to an art display with a difference: PUMP-CLIPS. Richard Hough (noted local Brewer, and ale toper) will take you on a journey to some of the beers he has brewed in the past – via the medium of art we know as The Pump-clip.
This humble item provides a splash of colour on the bar, and vital information as well. They are the first point-of-sale for millions of pints sold in pubs across the UK every day.
Yet so often overlooked, every pump-clip has its own story to tell.
Rich has some gaps in the collection. If any of you hoarders out there have copies of BM411, BM415, BM418, BM426 for the art installation at DPx, please get in touch. Your copies of Beer Matters will be returned after the event. Many thanks!
Sheffield has retained its position as the real ale capital of the world, with the thriving brewing industry driving tourism and regeneration in the steel city, a new report reveals.
The new report, commissioned by the University of Sheffield, found the brewing scene in Sheffield and the wider South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority area is bucking the national trend for closures, despite the challenges of Covid and the cost-of-living crisis. The region is now home to 58 breweries, more per head of population than anywhere else in the country, producing around 1,800 different beers every year.
A strong culture of traditional pubs that “feel different” to elsewhere in the country, and which see over 600 different beers being served every day on its bars, means Sheffield is experiencing a beer tourism boom, the report found. Dozens of events are taking advantage of, and supporting, this pub culture.
First produced in 2016, the new report has been written by Norwich-based, award-winning beer writer, Pete Brown. The report surveyed breweries across Sheffield and the wider region about the state of the industry in the area. Key findings included:
Sheffield has four breweries per 100,000 head of population, many times higher than other cities. These breweries produce around 780 beers each year. Around 70% of the beer brewed by local brewers is drunk locally with 70% of cask ale brands sold in Sheffield brewed within 20 miles of the city centre. Around 300 different real ales are on sale in Sheffield on a daily basis, with the city and region’s breweries and pubs predominately cask focussed.
Sheffield remains the real ale capital of the world.
Author, Pete Brown, said: “Sheffield’s prowess as a beer city won’t come as a surprise to anyone who drinks here. But it’s fascinating that when you do the research and generate the numbers, the claim of being one of the best beer cities in the world really stands up.”
The report also notes that while breweries in the region have been resilient and adaptable thus far, they are in “survival mode”, with no capacity to expand. In 2016, two-thirds of the breweries surveyed said that they were planning significant expansion over the next twelve months; today that figure has dropped to around one in five. There is also a lack of support from local authorities which means that while Sheffield in many ways out-performs its brewing rivals, it could do even better with more active, broader involvement and promotion.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City Culture and Public Engagement at the University of Sheffield, said: “Sheffield has always been a city of makers and what makes the report’s findings really interesting is the added value this industry of modern-day little mesters are bringing to the region. They are not just brewing beer; they are providing a huge tourism pull for people from far afield, while also regenerating neighbourhoods in organic, unplanned ways.
“To anyone living in Sheffield and visiting its pubs, it will come as no surprise that this new report has reaffirmed what we discovered in 2016; that Sheffield really can lay claim to being the ‘real ale capital of the world’.”
Strengthening planning laws and enforcement powers would save more historic pubs, says CAMRA
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is marking the six-month anniversary of the demolition of the Crooked House pub in Himley, Staffordshire by calling on government ministers to commit to extra protections for pubs to avoid them being illegally converted or demolished.
The consumer organisation, which last week met with Levelling Up minister Lee Rowley MP to discuss protecting the nation’s pubs, wants more enforcement powers for local councils in England to stop pubs being illegally converted or demolished – including the ability for councils to force demolished locals to be rebuilt brick by brick.
In England, changing the use of a pub or demolishing one requires planning permission – but figures compiled by CAMRA showed that last year up to a third of closures and demolitions may be happening without the required planning permission.
The Campaign is also calling for similar protections for pubs in the planning system in Wales which don’t currently exist, and for a tightening of loopholes in Scotland to prevent pubs being allowed to be demolished without planning permission.
CAMRA also produces a range of pub-saving guides offering advice for individuals and community groups looking to save their pub from conversion or demolition and is working with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Mayor Andy Street to list heritage pubs in that region to offer them better protections.
Commenting on the six-month anniversary since the fire and subsequent demolition of the Crooked House pub, CAMRA’s National Chairman Nik Antona said:
“Six months on, this national scandal rightly still angers people up and down the country. Our pubs are at the heart of community life across the UK and must be protected as a vital part of our social fabric.
“Local people deserve to have a chance, through the planning system, to save their local pub from demolition or conversion to another use. Where this is done illegally, it is vital that local authorities have the powers and resources to force buildings back into use as pubs – or for them to be rebuilt brick by brick if they have been knocked down.
“That’s why on this anniversary we are renewing calls for governments in Westminster, Cardiff and Edinburgh to commit to improving planning protection laws and to make sure local authority planning departments are equipped to stop pubs being illegally converted or demolished without permission. Otherwise, we risk seeing more beloved locals across the UK being illegally taken away from the communities they serve.”
In response to the news that Elland Brewery is facing liquidation, and reports that Adnams is looking at options to bolster its funding, CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona commented:
“To hear that Elland Brewery is facing liquidation just six months after their 1872 Porter was crowned CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain 2023 is a major cause for concern. This, coupled with the reports that Adnams has been working with a management consultancy to explore options to shore up its finances – including the possibility of an injection of private capital – is a one-two punch at the heart of the UK brewing industry.
“The news raises the issue of fair competition, access to market and consumer choice. CAMRA does not want any brewery or cider producer to close their doors for good, be it a contemporary small independent brewer or larger family-owned establishments with decades of history.
“The worrying news that two prestigious, award-winning breweries are both facing pressure to remain trading and survive is indicative of the wider problems the brewing and pub trade are experiencing. CAMRA, along with the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and the Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB), is calling on the Government to increase Draught Relief to 20% from its current figure of 9.2% in the Chancellor’s upcoming Budget. Cutting tax specifically on draught beer and cider in pubs would encourage people to support their community local and help secure jobs and businesses in the pub and beer sector – particularly small and independent breweries that sell more of their products into pubs and taprooms.
“CAMRA is encouraging everyone to email their MPs asking them to support the ‘Make it 20%’ campaign and call on the Government to show their support for pubs, social clubs, breweries and cider producers.”
CAMRA’s Members’ Weekend, AGM & Conference is held annually in April and is open to all CAMRA members. Not only is it a chance to discuss motions at Conference, it also gives members the opportunity to socialise in the onsite bar, attend information sessions and explore the beer scene of different cities around the UK.
After hosting the event here in Sheffield last year, this year sees it held in Dundee, celebrating the 50th anniversary of CAMRA in Scotland. It is being held over the weekend of 26-28 April. You can register to attend on the CAMRA website and receive details in advance via email, alternatively you can just turn up and register on the door if capacity is available.
Many members make a longer break of the Members’ Weekend rather than just travelling up for the conference. As well as checking out the pubs of Dundee it is a base for day trips to other nearby Scottish towns and cities. There are also other things to do aside from drink, for example Dundee is home to the V&A Design museum and the opportunity to experience life in the Antarctic with Captain Scott and his crew on the RRS Discovery at Discovery Point!
The CAMRA event is being hosted at Caird Hall, located in the City Square. As well as the AGM & Conference this features a Members’ Bar which is a small beer & cider festival open exclusively to members and will principally showcase real ale brewed in Scotland.
Whilst it is a long way to travel from Sheffield it is easy enough to get to on the train with just one change – catch a Cross Country service up to Edinburgh and connect with Scotrail services to Dundee. The cheapest train tickets are available in limited numbers if you book a specific time in advance, they are also most likely to be available at the less busy times/days. See the Cross Country Trains website for availability and to book. Alternative LNER run a daily service between York and Dundee with connections available to/from Sheffield. Various third party agencies also sell train tickets such as Uber or Trainline.
If you need cheaper but slower options it is possible by coach – some direct coaches operate, otherwise it requires a connection in Edinburgh – check out Megabus.com, Flixbus and National Express.
Dundee fairly recently hosted a previous Members’ Weekend, in 2019. Read about that here.
A rather good number of 14 members attended our annual gathering of a trip round the pubs in this traditionally quiet time of early January.
The meeting point was the Bath Hotel on Victoria Street, a very ornate, traditional pub with interesting features. Beers tend to be from Abbeydale, Ashover, and other local sources. I plumped for a pint of Abbeydale Deception, a 4.1% New Zealand pale ale, before giving a half of Ashover Light Mild, 3.8%, a go.
We then hopped over a damp West Street to the Red Deer, another traditional backstreet pub frequented by both visitors, locals and students. Again there was a good choice of wickets where I went for a pint of Citra, a hazy pale of 4.2% from Oakham Ales, which seemed to be the choice of the majority.
Next was the short walk down to Division Street to Vocation & Co, a nice modern real ale and craft keg bar. Lots of their beer is on pump, keg, and in cans. Being a flavoured stout lover the Naughty & Nice, a 5.9% chocolate flavour stout, hit the spot.
We then walked to Orchard Square and the Old Shoe. This is surprisingly in an old Schuh shop and sells a large variety of ale, cider, gin and wine. Again the majority went for Chinook in Your Heart, a Cloudwater New England hazy pale weighing in at 4.4%.
We had around 75 minutes until last buses, so headed over the short distance to the Head of Steam, a pub set in the old Sheffield & Hallamshire Savings Bank. Beers on offer included Camerons 3 Kings, a red ale of 3.8% and my choice Clever Gyle, a nice 5.1% APA from the excellent Brew York.
As we all said our farewells, we can reflect on a well attended, good night out, with even better beer. Roll on next year.
Each year students new to the BA Hons Illustration course at Sheffield Hallam University are given an introductory illustration brief which helps them to find out, and report back, on aspects of the cultural heritage of the city – this year the focus was to draw our fantastic Sheffield pubs.
The underpinning intention of the brief is for students to practice and celebrate their drawing ability while coupled with getting to know each other a bit better as they are invited to draw on location together. For students new to the city this helps them to orientate the city helping them to seek and find out a little more about what it has to offer more generally.
Students were asked to produce a large body of observational drawings of their favourite chosen pub then, through selection, apply one of their designs, including the pub name, to a drink’s coaster. The designs were then digitally printed on Campus at our Fitzalan Square, Head Post Office location by our brilliant technical team.
Some of our students even returned to the pubs and took photos of them in situ with several requests to purchase a set of the designs after they were posted on the course Instagram page.
Frazer Hudson, senior lecturer on the illustration course comments, “Our pubs are special meeting places not only to share the news of the day but where ideas are formed, bonds are made, and culture is created.”
Members of Sheffield CAMRA gathered for their Christmas meal at the Ball, Crookes on Saturday 9 December.
Some members sampled the delights in Two Sheds first of all. I met them a little later in the Punchbowl, where there was a good selection of beers including a True North Dry Irish Stout of 5%, and a Black Iris Snake Eyes, a 3.8% APA.
We then decamped to the Ball, where they had seven to eight wickets. A popular choice was a dark ale named Rocking Rudolph, admittedly a Greene King beer, but tasty with a little spice. For my second, I plumped for a paler ale in Saltaire South Island, a NZ pale ale at a sessional 3.5%. Plus 10% discount with your CAMRA membership card.
The meal consisted of three courses, soup, prawn cocktail or chicken goujons. Followed almost unanimously by a turkey dinner. For those of a sweet tooth, there was a fruit cheesecake or Christmas pudding, while a few of us had the cheese and biscuits which included a tasty blue cheese.
Kevin Thompson
For details of future events for local CAMRA members see the diary page.
One of the features of our Steel City Beer & Cider festival is branded glasses to drink from and take home as a souvenir. This year we had pint glasses in partnership with Hendersons Relish and half pint glasses in partnership with Bradfield Brewery. If you didn’t make it to the festival and still want to get hold of a glass – either for yourself or maybe as a Christmas present for someone you know – then good news – we have some left and our friends at Beer Central are selling them for just £3 each. You can also bundle them up with beer, cider or mead to create a gift pack.
Beer Central is located in Sheffield City Centre in the Moor Market building.
CAMRA books also publishes a range of titles including the well known Good Beer Guide which can be ordered along with other merchandise online from the CAMRA shop.
