Voting for the Sheffield & District Pub of the Year concluded on 19 January and judges are now out and about rating the area winners that members voted for to pick the overall winner.
This means we’ve now moved on to select which pubs across Sheffield and our part of Derbyshire get awarded a place in the 2027 edition of the Good Beer Guide, which is published in time for Christmas 2026.
We’re doing things slightly different this year – CAMRA members have been asked to rate their beer in pubs using the CAMRA.org.uk website all year round and that data has been used to create a long list for potential guide entries which we are now asking members to vote on to choose the best of the best pubs in our area to recommend to visitors as the best places to enjoy good real ale. Vote using the form below before 20 February, at the February branch meeting at the Rutland Arms on Brown Street, Sheffield City Centre, on Tuesday 3 February at 8pm.
Only CAMRA members can vote for the Good Beer Guide
The National Beer Scoring System (NBSS) is a 0-5 point scale for judging beer quality in pubs.
It is an easy to use system that has been designed to assist CAMRA branches in selecting pubs for the Good Beer Guide and also monitor beer quality by encouraging CAMRA members from any part of the world to report beer quality on any pub in the UK.
If you are a CAMRA member, we want you to tell us about the quality of beer in the pubs you visit.
Enter your scores by finding the pub you are drinking in at camra.org.uk/pubs.
What Do the Scores Mean?
0: No cask ale available – This can be because the pub never has it or it’s run out
1: Poor – Beer that is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment
2: Average – Competently kept, drinkable pint but doesn’t inspire in anyway, not worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing
3: Good – Good beer in good form. You may cancel plans to move to the next pub. You want to stay for another pint and may seek out the beer again
4: Very Good – Good Excellent beer in excellent condition
5: Perfect – Probably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely
The Hope Valley train is the popular local train service operated by Northern between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly that stops at stations in villages down the Hope Valley including Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope and Edale within our branch area. Also within Sheffield it calls at Dore & Totley station. The service is generally hourly and runs all day every day except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The 272 bus, operated jointly by First bus and High Peak, runs on a roughly hourly frequency in the daytime with a couple of evening journeys provided too. It sets off from Sheffield Interchange and heads out the city via Ecclesall Road and Whirlow to Fox House and Surprise Corner before dropping down into the valley at Hathersage and then parrallels the railway though Bamford and Hope before continuing up to Castleton with some journeys branching off to do a double run down to Bradwell, where it does a loop around the village via the infamous “Bradwell Gap”.
As well as the country pubs featured below the 272 bus passes Intrepid Brewery in Brough (keep an eye on their social media for occasional open days held over the summer with a pop up bar and food truck) and the High Peak Wine & Beer shop in Castleton if you want cans or bottles to take home.
On bus 272 and other local buses the maximum single fare is still £3 per ride or a Derbyshire wayfarer pass offers all day unlimited travel for £9. There is also a train inclusive Wayfarer option for £17. A return train ticket from Sheffield to Edale currently costs £11.50 after 9am and allows break of journey on route (prices correct at time of going to press).
The pubs in Castleton were previously featured in our guide to bus route 173 (Castleton to Bakewell) so descriptions aren’t repeated here.
In the summer a “Peak Sightseer” open top bus service usually operates in the area as well, a separate tour ticket is required for this, look out for an announcement from Stagecoach regarding their plans for the 2026 season.
The Fox House is something of a landmark at the Sheffield boundary on the edge of the Peak District and is part of the Mitchell & Butler owned “Vintage Inns” chain offering beer, dining, rooms and a beer garden with views over the moors!
A venue run by the Longbow group, a small local chain. This is primarily a hotel and regularly hosts weddings – however the bar and restaurant is normally open to the public. It is located at the end of the station drive, a short distance outside the village.
A smart bar, restaurant and hotel with patio area at rear operated by Longbow Venues Group who also have venues in Grindleford, Owler Bar, Ashford in the Water, Rowsley and Bakewell. The cask ale choice includes a house badged beer from Thornbridge.
A down to earth, lively pub with a mix of younger locals playing pool or table football, older regulars propping up the bar whilst hikers and other visitors to the areas dining with a typical pub grub menu. Accommodation is also available here
The only pub left in the village and is community owned but leased out to a local company to operate. A recent refurbishment has cleverly divided the pub into sections to give the feel of tap room, games room, lounge and restaurant. The cask ale range features local beers, usually from Intrepid and Eyam, alongside a well known brand. The pub shares the building with a post office and tea room and there is an outdoor drinking area alongside the car park. The pub is a 1 mile uphill walk from the railway station and 272 bus, the 257 bus will take you there.
Large roadside pub, open plan but with distinct areas around the island bar. There is a big screen showing sporting events and pool table. Dogs and walkers welcome.
Welcoming village inn traditionally decorated with multiple drinking areas including a pool room and area laid out for good value food. French windows overlook the large beer garden. Walkers and dogs welcome.
Imposing roadside pub opposite the village church. A spacious interior includes two large open plan areas either side of the bar, one area a comfortable lounge, and the other a tap room including traditional pub games.
Exposed low beams and stone walls lend a rustic feel to this quiet relaxed village local, dating from 1676 and just uphill from the village green. A popular community pub offering a very diverse range of entertainments, complemented by a choice of cask ales from Bradfield Brewery.
Historical pub with bar, restaurant, hotel rooms and an attached tea room. The pub bit is spread across two rooms, both with a fire lit in winter! A range of traditional cask ales can be found on the bar along with an extensive Scotch whisky collection. Beer festivals are held most bank holiday weekends in a marquee on the car park.
A cosy country inn dating from 1578 with an open plan bar area and a smaller room at a lower level that was probably originally used to house animals, but now is mainly used as a dining area. Home cooked meals using local produce are served lunchtimes and evenings. 4 cask ales are available and the pub also offers accommodation.
A pub and hotel located next to the railway station surrounded by hills! The range of cask ales usually includes choices from Abbeydale and Torrside among others and a food menu of pub classics is offered.
Located in the part of the village up the hill from the railway station and at the start of the Pennine Way footpath, this classic old pub offers beer, food and accommodation with outdoor seating at the rear.
Following a £1m interior renovation, the Fargate opened on 22nd October 2025. The venue brings together the storied elegance of a large former bank with a carefully designed pub interior (SCC planning application: 24/02165/FUL). Located in the Sheffield City Centre Conservation Area, this new pub is part of the regeneration of Fargate: the road was pedestrianised back in 1973, revitalisation commencing in 2022.
On the ground floor (2680 ft.2), brass accents, chandeliers, curated artwork, dark polished wood, elegant leather seating and herringbone floors create the impression of a bar that could have been built in Victorian times. This level also features screened booths, a snug, banquette seating, and full-height glazing to the front, offering a light and inviting space. The striking horseshoe bar serves ten cask beers and sixteen keg lines. The cask offering tends to be six from the extensive, and well-regarded, Thornbridge range complimented by four interesting guest beers.
The original spiral staircase leads to the first floor (2017 ft.2). Here, a pizza kitchen with an Italian corner oven, is visible through glazed screens. The design combines reclaimed timber walls, decorated ceilings, and original architectural details to create a bright contemporary setting. Now used for storage, the basement includes the original strong rooms.
Branded, ‘Thornbridge & Co,’ the two-storey pub is a joint venture from Peak District-based Thornbridge Brewery and York-based importer and distributor, Pivovar. The other pubs in the chain are:
Banker’s Cat: Leeds (opened 2019)
Colmore: Birmingham (2019)
Market Cat: York (2018)
Wild Swan: City of London (expected to open in Spring 2026)
In the 1880s, the directors of the Yorkshire Penny Bank (previously the West Riding of Yorkshire Penny Savings Bank) bought the land to erect a new bank. Leeds-based architects Henry Perkin and George Bertram Bulmer took on the task. The corner stones were laid on 18th January 1888 by builders Armitage and Hodgson of Leeds and the building was officially opened by the president of the bank, Lord Lascelles, on 25th July 1889. It is late-Gothic design, with five-storeys and a long curved Holmfirth stone front.
The Bank occupied two floors. The basement contained the strong-room: ground level was the large banking hall, fitted out in polished wainscot oak with a mosaic-tiled floor.
The upper floors became a restaurant and high quality hotel. It was initially leased by Sheffield Café Company, formed in 1877 as part of a growing movement of temperance houses: their Albany Hotel opened in September with electric light throughout, a restaurant, billiard room, coffee and smoking rooms, private dining rooms and 40 bedrooms. By the 1920s, the Company was struggling financially, ceasing trading in 1922. Their assets were bought by Sheffield Refreshment Houses, who operated the hotel until closure in 1958.
In its centenary year, 1959, the Yorkshire Penny Bank became the Yorkshire Bank Ltd. The ex-hotel was converted into offices: Yorkshire Bank Chambers. The bank closed in August 2020. The external appearance remains relatively unchanged, with carved winged lions, medieval figures, shields and gargoyles on the outside of the building. Gabled dormers, lofty chimneys and a crenelated parapet were sacrificed during the 1960s.
As for the pub, following a pre-Christmas visit, respected beer bloggers Boak & Bailey stated: ‘the quality of the service, and the presentation of the staff, was impeccable. Despite the scrum at the bar we were served within seconds by a calm, polite, smartly-dressed young man. He was one of many people gliding about behind the counter and we got the sense that our expensive pints were covering the cost of proper levels of staffing for the season.’
I totally agree with their comments: the Fargate is not a cheap pub, but, as always, you get what you pay for. It’s also a welcome addition to local beer attractions.
The pub is located on the corner of Fargate and Surrey Street, Sheffield City Centre, S1 1LL. The nearest tram stop is Cathedral and there are numerous bus routes close by on High Street and Arundel Gate along with the free City Centre Connect bus SC1 on Leopold Street.
We are very concerned by the increasing number of retrospective planning applications which have been submitted to Sheffield City Council.
The law is clear: to change the use of a building (‘a material change of use’) from that of a pub (use class ‘sui generis’) requires planning permission.
Recent local examples of such changes, without prior planning permission, include: the Big Gun, the Highcliffe Club, the Royal Oak (Mosborough) and the Royal Standard.Two of these examples have involved closing the pub, trashing the interior and, later, applying for retrospective planning permission.
The application for the Royal Standard is currently in progress whereas the application for the Big Gun was recently approved (‘Grant Conditionally,’ reference: 25/03230/FUL). On expiry of the lease, this pub closed in September 2023: the historic interior was gutted and, over two years later, planning permission has been obtained. This is despite flawed documentation, which included several errors. For example, the Big Gun was not ‘a former’ public house and its use class was not E(b). These, and other, errors should have invalidated this recent application.
At the time of closure, the Big Gun had many historical features. For example, the right-hand side of the snug had two bays of unique Victorian fixed seating with decorative bench ends that resembled a (acanthus) leaf. This heritage is lost forever.
For this, and other, retrospective applications, we would expect a rigorous reaction from the planning authorities: a response which makes it clear that this is potentially a serious breach of the law, not a simple administrative error: a response which clearly references Sheffield as one of the best beer cities in the world, a city which cares about its pubs!
Councillor Ben Miskell, chairman of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Pubs and working men’s clubs are a vital part of our shared heritage and community life, and every effort needs to be made to keep them open for the benefit of the community they serve.
“In the incredibly unfortunate event of one closing, it is vitally important that the new owners follow the correct process when planning permission is required, breaking planning rules will lead to the council taking a robust approach and use all the powers available to us.
“We also work closely with residents across the city to protect valued community buildings from village shops and community centres to local pubs – including by registering them as Assets of Community Value. Developers must respect Sheffield’s heritage, including the importance of our public houses.”
The Mount Pleasant at Norton Woodseats has a refurbishment planned in February.
The Pig & Whistle micropub at Gleadless Townend opened on 7 February in premised on White Lane that used to be a vets.It has 2 real ales available which on the opening weekend were from Abbeydale and Ossett breweries but will regularly change, there are also 8 keg taps including some craft options on rotation. Look out for live entertainment here at weekends.
A planning application has been made to open another micropub in Sharrow Vale. The unit is the former Roney’s butchers shop at 276 Sharrow Vale Road, that has since been used as a gluten free cafe. It isn’t far from No.3 Sharrow and Beer House micropubs; combined with the Lescar Hotel, Porter Cottage and Porter Brook adds another link to quite a circuit locally!
Shakespeares Ale & Cider House are doing a set of collaborations with local breweries to produce special beers that will be on the bar during Sheffield Beer Week.
The Old Hall Hotel in Hope made a shameless attempt at luring in folk doing “Dry January” with their “Pie January” relaunch of an ongoing menu item there – Steak & Old Peculiar Ale pie. It is now an individually pressed pie, but still served with beef dripping cooked chips, seasonal vegetables and gravy!
The Chequers Inn at Froggatt Edge is up for sale. It has been owned by Jonathan and Joanne Tindall for nearly 25 years.
The Queen Anne in Great Hucklow is another Peak District pub where a long standing management is selling up and retiring, this time after 19 years at the helm. The last day of trading will be 1 March.
The Castle Inn at Bakewell hosted a charity darts tournament on 31 January.
The Blue Bell Inn at Harthill was closed from 25 to 29 January for a change of management. They are running a pie night every Wednesday.
The 2026 edition of Woodseats Live, a community music festival that sees a number of pubs team up hosting live music on the same day, will be taking place on 28 March. As well as venues along the main Chesterfield Road the Cross Scythes up the hill on Derbyshire Lane is also taking part.
Among the Sheffield venues in Heineken Star Pub company portfolio currently available to lease is the Red Deer, where a refurbishment is proposed for whoever the new management is.
Saw Grinders Union at Shalesmoor is having a refurbishment and refocus featuring a turkish culinery concept and new cocktail list.
There are changes on the food front at the Old Grindstone in Crookes with Forge Bakehouse taking over the kitchen.
Sad news from the Pioneer Club in Dronfield which is run by husband and wife team Tony and Alison Hartigan – it has been announced that Tony has recently passed away following a long illness. Tony was a very friendly, helpful guy and was very supportive of local CAMRA initiatives including the new Dronfield & District branch when it was formed. RIP.
The new management at the Shepley Spitfire in Totley held their relaunch at the start of February with a new menu and two cask ales on the bar – Greene King IPA and Timothy Taylors Landlord.
The Benjamin Huntsman (JD Wetherspoon) in Sheffield City Centre was closed for a refurbishment 9 to 13 February.
The Heeley Tap is now open and has three handpumps on the bar for cask ale.
The Dog & Partridge in Sheffield City Centre seems to be enjoying a lot of limelight and popularity at the moment – hot on the heels of winning our Sheffield City Centre Pub of the Year it was named Pub of the Year by the Great British Pub Crawl Vlog! The pub is a fantastic all rounder with a choice of cask ales plus a range of keg beers of both the craft and mainstream variety, Irish bar food menu, quiz night on Tuesdays and a live music programme including the occasional “Dogfest”, the most recent of which was held on 7 February.
At the time of going to press, Abbeydale Brewery were teasing on social media about a new Beer Works tap room opening but with the location yet to be revealed!
The Shoulder of Mutton in Bradwell has returned to the normal Saturday opening time of midday after 3 weeks in January/February where it had been altered to 3pm.
The Hyde Park Inn at Dronfield Hill Top now has a pool table.
The Green Room bar in Sheffield City Centre will be closing in its current guise on 25 May after nearly 23 years. It has however been sold to a company that will be reopening it as a bar with live music and it will be trading again in time for Tramlines weekend!
Wenue6, previously the Forum, in Wincobank looks set for redevelopment with a car home planned for the site. The nearest alternative pub for local residents is the Steel Foundry Wetherspoons in the Meadowhall shopping centre.
Lance Worthington took over the Portland House on Ecclesall Road from Wellbeck Abbey in 2017. The bar offers two rotating cask options – these have recently included Osset’s ‘Rat’ range, Triple Point and Neepsend. Also on offer are 4 rotating craft keg beers and other beers.
When he took it over Lance put his own stamp on the bar – he turned his design and carpentry skills to the pub’s furniture needs, making the pub’s tables and reupholstering all the seating. Outside he installed a canopy, created windowed screens and attached bench seating to the frontage – all of which all folds up and neatly locks away each night. In late 2025 he went a step further by designing and making what might be Sheffield’s first sofa that transforms into a stage! This is used to host open mic events most Sundays, and other music events which can be found on the bar’s socials.
Lance takes commissions for his furniture and can be contacted through his Instagram account (@lanceworthingtonphotography).
He is also the main organiser of ‘Eccyfest’, the now twice annual event involving a changing cast of Ecclesall Road’s bars. The next of these is 3-5 April 2026 with another planned for the first weekend of October. Details of participating venues can be found on Eccyfest’s Facebook feed as well as the individual bars’ social media pages.
The 257 bus, operated by Andrews of Tideswell, is one of the regular but lesser known bus links from Sheffield to the Peak District, leaving Sheffield Interchange hourly in the daytime every day except Sunday, running to Eyam and Bakewell via “the scenic route” taking in Crosspool, Yorkshire Bridge, Bamford, Hathersage, Grindleford, Calver, Stoney Middleton, Eyam, Baslow and Bakewell.
The 65 bus, operated by Stagecoach, runs from Sheffield Interchange a more direct route to Grindleford via Ecclesall and Fox House then follows the same route to Eyam as the 257. It continues beyond Eyam to Foolow and on to Buxton via Great Hucklow, Tideswell, Litton and Millers Dale. This bus is less regular, running about once every 2 hours, although it does operate seven days a week!
Most of both bus routes are within the Sheffield & District CAMRA branch area – our patch stretches to Millers Dale on the 65 whilst on the 257 Baslow and Bakewell is the only part not in our area. The majority of both routes offer some breathtaking Peak District scenery as well as great country pubs!
This pub sits quite close to the junction on the A57 where the road heads on a viaduct over the reservoirs and up onto the Snake Pass. The recently reopened pub is leased from Batemans Brewery (a family business based in Wainfleet, Lincolnshire) by the same people at the Psalter in Sharrow, Sheffield and has a cosy bar and restaurant (full food menu launches in January) plus hotel rooms. Bus 257, 257a or 257b.
This pub is on the road to Bamford just a short distance beyond Derwent dam with a traditional bar, separate restaurant and hotel rooms. Bus 257, 257a or 257b.
The only pub left in the village and is community owned but leased out to a local company to operate. A recent refurbishment has cleverly divided the pub into sections to give the feel of tap room, games room, lounge and restaurant. The cask ale range features local beers, usually from Intrepid and Eyam, alongside a well known brand. The pub shares the building with a post office and tea room and there is an outdoor drinking area alongside the car park. Bus 257, 257a or 257b.
A smart bar, restaurant and hotel with patio area at rear operated by Longbow Venues Group who also have venues in Grindleford, Owler Bar, Ashford in the Water, Rowsley and Bakewell. The cask ale choice includes a house badged beer from Thornbridge. Bus 257, 257a or 272.
A down to earth, lively pub with a mix of younger locals playing pool or table football, older regulars propping up the bar whilst hikers and other visitors to the areas dining with a typical pub grub menu. Accommodation is also available here. Bus 257, 257a or 272.
Located a short distance out of Hathersage on the road to Grindleford is this traditional pub, restaurant and hotel that also benefits from a choice of outdoor drinking areas in a rural setting. Bus 257 or 257a.
Another Longbow venue, this is primarily a hotel and regularly hosts weddings, however the bar and restaurant is normally open to the public. It is located at the end of the station drive, a short distance outside the village. Bus 65.
In the centre of the village on Sir Willam Road, this hotel, bar and restaurant sits on the side of the hill that rises out of the village, which is in the bottom of the Hope Valley with the beer garden enjoying an attractive setting! Bus 65, 257 or 257a.
Reopened in August 2025 when the Refined Pub Group took on the lease, this is a cosy pub with food located at the cusp of the river Derwent that manages to be both traditional and modern in style at the same time! It also has a great beer garden. The beer range includes some local choices such as Abbeydale, Peak Ales and Thornbridge alongside the mainstream brands. Bus 66, X66, 257 or 257b (or walk from routes 65 at Calver Sough).
Handpumps on the bar at the Calver Arms. Photo: James Brown.Calver Arms. Photo: Richard Allen
Recently bought by a local businessman, renamed and refurbished. It has a modern, smart feel but with some cosy, traditional touches. There are two rooms, the smaller of which can be used for functions or dining occasions – at other times it adopts the role of a sports bar. Food is a menu of pub classics. Three cask ales available.Buses 65, 66, X66, 257, 257a or 257b.
A freehouse that has been a village pub since 1821 with a changing selection of real ales, extensive gin range, pub classic food menu, beer garden and hotel rooms. Buses 65, 66, X66, 257, 257a or 257b.
Toll Bar Fish & Chips – photo: Richard Allen
A special mention in Stoney Middleton is the Toll Bar fish & chip shop. As well as excellent food they stock bottled beer from Eyam Brewery and the riverside garden has a local history information board that tells you about all the pubs that used to exist in the village!
Village pub, restaurant and hotel rooms. Three cask ales are available, generally from local breweries such as Peak Ales or Eyam. Has a beer garden. Bus 65, 66, 257, 257a or 257b.
Standing in the picturesque, limestone hamlet of Foolow, this pub has several rooms including a cosy bar and restaurant. There are hotel rooms upstairs and a beer garden outside. Their mantra is old skool done well. Bus 65, 66 or 257b.
Hidden off the main road down below by the river Wye, this pub has three rooms including a tap room with pool table, traditional lounge and dining room. Bus 65.
Watch out for a small number of route variations on the 257 around 3/4pm – the 257a uses a different route between Eyam and Bakewell (via Wardlow Mires and Monsal Head) whilst the 257b uses a different route between Eyam and Bamford (via Foolow, Bradwell and Hope)!
Bus timetables and route maps are available from Travel Derbyshire. Fares are currently capped at £3 per ride, however if you are exploring the area then a Derbyshire Wayfarer all day bus pass may be better value costing £9. Those tickets are available from the bus driver or on the Travelmaster app, which also offers live bus departure information.
The Royal Standard – retrospective planning application
A retrospective Planning Application (25/030409/FUL) has been submitted for the Royal Standard (156 St.Marys Gate, S2 4AX). It is evident from both the application and outside observation, that the proposed changes have already occurred: the premises are functioning as a fast-food restaurant.
In planning terms, the key questions are:
(i) can the loss of a pub be justified in terms of local and national planning policies?
(ii) can the loss of a valuable community facility be justified?
This is a decision for the planning authorities. We are sure they will check that the applicants have carried out a full feasibility study as to the continuing use of the building as a public house before they commenced alterations.
We also note two heritage aspects of the building:
(i) the stone representations of the ‘Royal Standard’ flag above the two ground floor windows. As far as we are aware, this distinctive stonework is unique.
(ii) the ceramic tiling above the main entrance which says ‘Royal Standard.’ After many years of obscurity, this signage was revealed in early 2015 when the obscuring placard was storm-damaged.
It is not possible to accurately date these artefacts, except to say that they have been in place for many years, possibility for over a century. We hope that these heritage aspects will remain after this planning process is complete. We hope that the relevant SCC planning reports for this planning application will make appropriate references.
We look forward to the result of this planning application with interest: a retrospective application which has involved the loss of a public house.
A new bar has opened on Victoria Quays in the unit where Dorothy Pax was previously found. The Lock Inn is brought to you by the same people as the Dark Horse at Banner Cross and has cask ale from Little Mesters brewing on handpump. There are now three bars at Victoria Quay (the others being the Tavern on the Quays and True Loves), however the Lock Inn is the only one with real ale and is offering a discount to CAMRA members.
Hot on the heels of the Lock Inn has been a second new opening in Sheffield! The Botanical Arms is a new micropub at 507 Ecclesall Road and two handpumps adourn the bar with cask ales available on the opening day being from Kelham Island (Thornbridge) and Acorn Brewery.
The Castle Inn at Bradway is open again. with the lease taken on by Tom South. This is the second pub in the hands of Tom and his team after the Masons Arms in Thorpe Hesley. The food menu is the same at both pubs with pub classics served along with a Sunday roast. Some of you may recognise Tom having worked in a number of pubs including the Cross Scythes in Totley and the Cremorne on London Road in the past.
The Florist in Walkley is expected to reopen before Christmas after a three month closure. It is a pub company lease and the new operator is Bala Kata, who has run pubs in Manchester previously.
The recent sale of micropubs Mesters Tap and Heeley Artisan to Boston Brewery has fallen though after that brewery appeared to cease trading, and ownership of the two pubs have now reverted to one of the original owners. The Mesters Tap reopened just before Christmas, and Heeley Artisan has been renamed Heeley Tap and will be open by the time this Beer Matters appears. Both bars will be featuring beers from Little Mesters Brewery, as well as rotating guest beers. Initially the lines are all keg, but a cask line is imminent at Mesters Tap, and currently being considered at Heeley Tap. The bar at Heeley had been refitted by Boston Brewery and opened with 8 cask beers to choose from until the financial problems hit and it closed!
The Fat Cat in Kelham Island held their Christmas beer festival on 13 December.
The Boston Arms in Woodseats held a dark beer takeover from 11 December. The two cask ales featured were Thornbridge Jaipur Noir (5.9% ABV black IPA) and an Ossett / Amundsen collaboration which was a 5% ABV chocolate stout.
The Rutland Arms in Sheffield City Centre held their annual Christmas lights switch on party on 4 December. Naturally lots of delicious beer were available!
The Banner Cross now offers a discount to CAMRA members.
The Wobbly Dagger in Walkley has had a cask line installed and is serving handpulled Abbeydale Moonshine.
The Walkley Cottage Inn reopened under new management in December with four cask ales available. A bar snack menu was launched initially with plans to develop the pub’s offering more in the new year.
A planning application has been made to convert the former Chiquito restaurant at Valley Centertainment into a JD Wetherspoon pub.
You may recall back in 2019 there was talk of converting the old substation on Charles Street in Sheffield City Centre (between the Red Lion and Rutland Arms, near Hallam University student union) into a bar called “WattBar” with building work starting then all going quiet. The project is back on and the bar is expected to open in “early 2026”.
The Railway at Wadsley Bridge has been closing on weekdays during early/mid January to allow the pub to receive a bit of a fettle but continued to open Friday to Sunday.
The Waggon & Horses in Millhouses closed for 2 weeks after the new year for a refurbishment, reopening on 15 January.
Also taking advantage of the January lull to undertake repairs or refurbishment has been the Riverside Kelham and the Swan in Ridgeway.
A licensing application to open a new micropub on White Lane at Gleadless Townend was facing objections from Sheffield City Council Environmental Protection service and South Yorkshire Police according to the Sheffield Star newspaper. Issues to work through include documentation for electrical systems and proposed opening hours. The good news is they now have the appropriate approvals and coming soon is the “Pig & Whistle”, this is the unit that was previously a vets.
Turner’s Bottle & Tap on Abbeydale Road have announced they are closing after 7 years with a combination of factors leading them to the decision. January saw them selling off remaining stock and equipment.
The currently disused Ball Inn at Darnall is up for sale and expected to be converted to other uses.
The Queen’s Ground Hotel in Hillsborough no longer has cask ale permanently available, although it does apparently get put on from time to time if they expect to be busy for a football fixture.
The Closed Shop on Commonside saw Sophie and the team close the pub after Sunday 11 January due to financial pressures. It is leased from Heineken Star Pubs who are looking for new tenants to open it.
Nether Green micropub The Wonky Labradorclosed for a refurbishment in early January. This popular venue features 8 keg lines and a well stocked bottle & can fridge. The initial batch of events are also booked in, featuring Meet The Brewer events with Wiper & True (Non-Alcoholic range) in January; Tartarus in March, as part of Sheffield Beer Week; Only With Love Brewery in May; Duration Brewing in June and Yonder Brewery in July. Full details will be on their website shortly.
The former Middlewood Tavern in Oughtibridge has gone on the market having been converted into a 4 bedroom house.
Greene King brewery are proposing to rename the Big Tree as the Masons Arms following a refurbishment and lease it out on their Nest franchise scheme. It is currently a managed pub.
The Ladybower Inn, a Batemans brewery lease, has reopened under the same management as the Psalter in Sheffield. Both venues offer a public bar, restaurant and hotel rooms. That management is Tom Lawson, his values are hospitality, community and quality.
The Midland in Killamarsh, we assumed was being converted to residential use since is closure and sale, however in fact it has reopened as the 1873 bistro and bar following significant refurbishment.
The Castle Inn at Castleton closed on Sunday 5 January for a refurbishment and is expected to reopen on Saturday 7 February.
The Eckington Beer & Music festival is planned for Saturday 27 June. This sees a number of pubs and bars in the area putting on live music, usually with a minibus service linking them at regular intervals.
The Angel in Holmesfield has been suffering a bit of a run of bad luck with their premises, the most recent was a closure caused by a water leak which damaged their electrics! The pub was hoping to reopen again after that on 14 January but got delayed another few days after more issues were found in the property, which is leased from Stonegate pub co.
The Chantry Brewery Tap in Parkgate, Rotherham, operates as a live music venue, mostly featuring classic rock and retro tribute bands. However they are organising a battle of the bands competition for local bands that perform their own original material. The first round of gigs will be late May and early June with a semi final and grand final to come after. The brewery is a short walk from the Tram Train terminus.
The Canary, on Olive Lane shopping street in Waverley, has started the year as they mean to go on with regular events. Sundays tea time sees music – either DJ based or a live performer, alternate Tuesdays is quiz & pizza truck and various other evenings see a food vendor in attendance or music/entertainment of some description! Check their social media pages for the latest diary. The bar features 3 cask ales and 7 keg beers, including some good quality craft options.
Bus 173 is a handy little rural bus operated by Andrew’s of Tideswell that shuttles up and down once every two hours between Castleton and Bakewell via a number of villages passing some fantastic country pubs along the way. The route from Castleton as far as Great Longstone is in the Sheffield & District CAMRA branch area. Ashford in the Water and Bakewell is covered by the Chesterfield CAMRA branch.
A number of branch members including your Beer Matters editor have recently enjoyed a few days out visiting some of the pubs on the route and we’ve featured a few of the highlights here, however a full list of pubs along our part of the route is provided!
On our trips we’ve travelled from Sheffield using the 218 bus to Bakewell or the 65 to Tideswell or Litton in order to connect with the 173 and travel up and down between some of the pubs on the route, finishing in one of Bradwell, Hope or Castleton and catching the 272 bus back to Sheffield.
All the buses in the area charge no more than £3 a ride for single fares, however better value is the Derbyshire Wayfarer all day bus pass costing £9, you can buy that from the bus driver or on the Travelmaster app.
A Robinsons pub with a range of their cask ales, including Old Tom strong dark ale on our visit and traditional pub grub. It is a characterful pub with huge displays of tankards and ornaments, pub cat and friendly bar service.
A cosy Thornbridge Brewery pub known for its food. If you can’t get a table in the pub itself head for the beer garden at rear with both indoor and outdoor areas available!
Stables Bar, Monsal Head (also served by bus 257a once a day!)
Run by the same management as the Packhorse Inn, the Stables bar is in an outbuilding behind the Monsal Head Hotel and has a range of cask ales and serves food. Head outside for a breathtaking view over the valley!
Three Stags’ Heads, Wardlow Mires (also served by bus 257a and X66, both once a day! Note two buses a day on the 173 use an alternative route via Cressbrookdale and bypass Wardlow)
An absolutely legendary little pub where time has stood still. Leave your attitude and expectation at the door, buy a pint of ale (cash only), sit down in front of the fire and enjoy beer & conversation whilst taking in some of the eccentricities and history on display. Included in CAMRA’s national inventory of historic pub interiors.
Cosy old multi roomed country pub with a range of mainly local cask ales, home cooked food and hotel rooms. Management and staff are friendly and organise special events from time to time.
Friendly local pub split into three areas. As you walk in there are lounge areas to your left and right with the bar at the far left, then up some steps there is a further area with a pool table. Two cask ales are available.
Recently reopened under the new management of Atlantik Inns, this pub is leased from Greene King Brewery and has a lounge, dining room, games room and courtyard.
Open in November and December on selected Fridays and Saturdays as a pop up bar, this is in an empty industrial unit and featuring a range of their beer on cask and keg with merchandise also available to buy. The unit is due to be converted into a proper tap bar and shop in the new year following a crowdfunding campaign. The Friday night sessions also feature Sunshine Pizza Oven trading outside.
Operated by Atlantik Inns who lease the pub from Robinsons Brewery, this is a classic pub that has recently benefited from a huge investment in renovation and refurbishment. It still has a multi room style layout with areas for both drinkers and diners. Cask ale from Robinsons brewery is available. The pub made headlines recently for having a dedicated space in the car park for tractors.
Classic village multi roomed pub with a couple of real ales and food available.
Blind Bull, Little Hucklow (a 7 minute walk from the bus stop, also served by bus 257b once a day)
In a village located down a country lane off the main road the buses use, this 12th century Inn spent a few years derelict before recently being restored and reopened, winning a national CAMRA Pub Design Award in the process. It is independently run, smart and offers ale, good food and hotel rooms.
White Hart, Bradwell (also served by bus 257b and 272)
A traditional stone flag floored local pub, now run by Bradfield Brewery. Note being in Derbyshire the Yorkshire Farmer ale is rebadged as White Hart ale!
Old Hall Hotel, Hope (also served by bus 62, 257b and 272)
This is a popular venue featuring a bar with cask ales (mainly well known brands including Theakstons) and an extensive Scotch Whisky selection, restaurant, tea room and hotel rooms. A beer festival is held in a marquee outside on most bank holiday weekends featuring beers from Derbyshire and Scotland along with live music and food.
Woodroffe Arms, Hope (also served by bus 62, 257b and 272)
Traditional local pub offering ale, food and sport on tv.
Cosy old pub down a country lane towards Edale with two rooms on split levels and a beer garden. Cask ales and food available, also offers accommodation.
SwissTap Tap, Castleton (also served by bus 62 and 272)
A micropub located across two rooms on the ground floor of the Swiss House Bed & Breakfast house. Two cask ales from Abbeydale brewery are available and TV screens show sporting action.
