Category: Pubs

Pubs on bus route 173

Posted on by Andy Cullen

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.

White Lion, Great Longstone

A Robinsons pub with two cask ales, typical local pub lounge and smart dining area.

Crispin, Great Longstone.

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.

Packhorse Inn, Little Longstone

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.

Red Lion, Litton (also served by bus 65)

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.

Horse & Jockey, Tideswell (also served by bus 65)

Star, Tideswell (also served by bus 65)

George Inn, Tideswell (also served by bus 65)

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.

Eyam Brewery Tap, Tideswell (also served by bus 65)

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.

Anchor, Tideswell (also served by bus 65)

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.

Queen Anne, Great Hucklow (also serve by bus 65)

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.

Shoulder of Mutton, Bradwell (also served by bus 257b and 272)

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!

Olde Bowling Green Inn, Bradwell (also served by bus 257b and 272)

Travellers Rest, Brough (also served by bus 257b and 272)

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.

Cheshire Cheese Inn, Hope (a short walk from the 173 stop or use bus 62)

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.

Olde Cheshire Cheese, Castleton (also served by bus 62 and 272)

Classic pub & restaurant with low beams and a range of cask ales, including some local beers.

Peak Hotel, Castleton (also served by bus 62 and 272)

Quirky old pub with separate restaurant area, hotel rooms and beer garden. Cask ale range is mainly well known brands.

Olde Nag’s Head, Castleton (also served by bus 62 and 272)

bar and hotel popular for food. Range of mostly local cask ales available.

Bulls Head Hotel, Castleton (also served by bus 62 and 272)

Owned by Robinson brewery, serving their beers plus food.

Castle Inn, Castleton (also served by bus 62 and 272)

George, Castleton (also served by bus 62 and 272)

You can download a PDF bus timetable from travelderbyshire.co.uk and track buses live on a map at bustimes.org.

AND 173-Bakewell-Castleton from 27 03 2025Download

Bottling it 2

Posted on by Dan Rowe

In the second part of a series on local bottle shops, I’ve paired two venues that have something quite interesting in common – cask ale, but not as we know it. 

Archer Road Beer Stop

Archer Road Beer Stop has been running for 43 years, the last 7 of which have been under the ownership of Richard Hattersley (with additional oversight from 16 year old shop cat Butters). Richard spent many years at the House Skate Park in Neepsend but was a regular at Archer Road under its prior owner Dave. While his initial purchases were mostly lagers and Guinness, Dave suggested trying Acorn’s Gorlovka imperial stout (7%) and Richard was hooked – he still stocks Gorlovka today. 

The shop is known locally for having no on-license but providing cask real ale for takeaway. 4 pint containers are available, or bring your own clean container, growler, or even a plastic milk bottle for refilling – as long as it has a lid on it when it leaves, it’s fine! One cask always on and a second in busier periods – Richard expects to have pins of stout or Christmas beers on this second line in the lead up to Christmas. 

On the shelves the Beer Stop stocks a range of local bottled and canned ales, and Belgian beers. Bottles include Welbeck, Acorn, Great Newsome and Wold Top (the latter usually being gluten free). There’s also an extensive range of German lagers and craft cans in the fridges.

Hop Hideout

Jules Gray reopened her bar and bottle shop Hop Hideout in its new location of Leah’s Yard in August 2024, and the business is in its 12th year overall.

Hop Hideout often stocks bottled beer from Bradfield and Thornbridge, with cans from other Sheffield breweries and beyond. The bar also offers 7 craft keg lines, a keg cider and a bag in box cider as well as a range of wines. Jules has also curated her own cellar of aged belgian beers, predominantly lambics – although there are often a variety of vintage years of Orval available, as it’s one of Jules’ favourites. 

While the shop doesn’t have hand pull, Jules owns a wooden pin which was restored by master cooper Jonathan Manby at Jensen’s Cooperage in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. It’s refilled by various breweries (often by Abbeydale or Thornbridge) and is poured with gravity. The pin tends to rapidly empty when available, so keep an eye on socials to not miss it!

Hop Hideout is often host to tap takeovers, launches, readings and other non-beer events, and Jules runs the annual Sheffield Beer Week (which often creeps into more than a week!). The city-wide event celebrated its 11th year in 2025 with Indie Beer Feast and numerous events across a large number of venues.

Fargate opens

Posted on by Paul Crofts

Last month, after a major fitout and over 3 years planning, The Fargate finally opened. The joint venture between Thornbridge and Pivovar has been highly anticipated and didn’t disappoint when the crowds flocked in on opening day.

The dark wood interior gives the impression of a traditional pub, albeit a very stylish one, whilst the upstairs room features lighter colours to make the most of the light flooding through the large windows facing Fargate itself.

The central bar features 10 handpulls and 16 keg lines, with roughly a 50/50 split between Thornbridge beers and guests.

It’s certainly a great addition to the city’s main shopping street and with The Old Shoe and Head of Steam nearby, it seems a nice little city centre pub crawl is developing.

Inn Brief

Posted on by Andy Cullen

Shakespeares Ale & Cider House on Gibraltar Street, West Bar, is hosting a dark beer festival 20 to 23 November.

The Dove & Rainbow in Sheffield City Centre now hosts an open mic night on two Wednesdays each month, including 3 and 17 December. It is open to bands, solo acts, comedians, poets and really anything else deemed appropriate! The Dove (in its current guise) has also recently celebrated its 19th birthday!

The Railway at Wadsley Bridge launched a fortnightly blues jam night on Thursday 6 November with an 8:30pm start. In December dates are 4th and 18th.

The Old Queen’s Head in Sheffield City Centre (by the bus station) is offering a 10% discount off pints of cask ale for CAMRA members that produce their membership card at the time of ordering – check with the pub for terms & conditions.

The Three Tuns in Sheffield City Centre is also offering a discount on cask ale for CAMRA members – check with the pub for terms & conditions.

The Walkley Cottage Inn has had a change of management with Sophie leaving, she’s now concentrating on the Closed Shop which recently launched a new food menu.

The Masons Arms in Crookes has reopened but is not serving real ale.

The Heeley Artisan bar has had a refurbishment and reopened under the new management of Boston Brewery on 14 November with 8 cask lines! A name change is expected.

Mesters Tap has been sold and is expected to be renamed. Little Mesters are intending to set up a tap room near the brewery in Attercliffe instead. The new owners are believed to be Boston Brewery (no relation to the Boston Arms nearby!)

The Dog & Partridge in Sheffield City Centre has introduced a twice monthly Celtic Sessions event hosted by Sharon Dreadz featuring acoustic traditional & contemporary songs and tunes. This is from 8pm on the first and third Thursday of the month.

The Peacock Inn in Stannington has introduced a pie night on Thursdays, 4pm to 8pm.

The Tunnel Tap micropub at Totley Rise is hosting a Belgian beer night on 12 December.

The Foresters in Sheffield City Centre has reopened and now has a range of 5 cask ales on handpump. Other changes include opening until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights with a DJ on.

The Castle Inn at Bradway closed at the end of November with 2 weeks notice after Stonegate Pubco terminated the lease. New tenants have already been lined up and believed to be the same people who operate the Cross Sycthes in Totley.

The Miners Arms in Dronfield Woodhouse has been running an early bar offer Monday to Thursday with £1 off a pint of cask ale 2pm to 5pm.

The Manor House Hotel on Dronfield High Street is under new ownership with Kevin Gage handing over the reigns to Isobel Ford (his step daughter) and Elliot Hill. They are bringing new energy, enthusiasm and ideas and building on what Kevin has achieved with the venue over the last 17 years. The relaunch party was held on Saturday 8 November from 6pm with live music, DJ and food.

The Blue Stoops in Dronfield reopened on 17 November after a major refurbishment.

The Coach & Horses in Dronfield, which is now under the management of Sheffield FC and just opens sporadically for selected football matches, no longer offers real ale or any kind of craft beer and has been deleted from the current Good Beer Guide.

Drone Valley Brewery’s Tap has had another upgrade to the tent to ensure it continues to be a comfortable place to be during the winter months! An increasing number of special events are being hosted there, see their social media for dates and ticket info.

The George & Dragon in Holmesfield, run by Boston Brewery, currently has special beer prices on Wednesdays with all the Boston Brewery ales reduced to £3 a pint. The pub also now has an all day food offering with breakfast served from 8:30am and main menu served from midday until 8pm (hot roast sandwiches on Sundays).

The Hyde Park In Dronfield has reopened under new management with cask ale available and has now launched their new food menu.

Must be Christmas!

Posted on by Andy Cullen

A long established December tradition in some areas including north Sheffield and the Peak District is for brass bands and choirs to tour pubs for Christmas carol concerts, sometimes with pub customers invited to join in the carol singing.

The Unite Brass Band are holding an annual Christmas concert at the Gardeners Rest in Neepsend on Thursday 11 December from 8pm whilst Stannington Brass Band are doing a full “Pub Carols” tour around the city from 3 December onwards. Venues include the Waggon & Horses (Millhouses), Riverside Kelham, Crown & Glove (Stannington), Broadfield, Punchbowl (Crookes), Rose & Crown (Stannington), Bulls Head (Ranmoor), The Ball (Crookes) and Dog & Partridge (Sheffield Centre). They also have a ticketed event at Grafters Bar in Neepsend.

Tideswell band have a number of Christmas concerts planned, including some carol events in pubs – the George Inn, Tideswell, on 19 December; Anchor, Tideswell, on 21 December and the Old Hall Hotel in Hope on 22 December.

No3 Sharrow

Posted on by Guest

The balloons were out recently as No.3 on Sharrow Vale Road celebrated its first birthday. This welcoming micro-pub is operated by Loxley Brewery – the name comes from the fact that it is the 3rd outlet to be opened by them, not the address. Three hand-pumps feature an ever-changing range of Loxley beers, complemented by 7 guest kegs. The unique bar top is something special.

On the (busy!) night, all customers were treated to a free drink, and a buffet was laid on. The ‘Artisan Tiramusu Boutique’ over the road had closed, so we tucked into pastry-encased delicacies and bread’n’dripping. Lovely. Thanks to all for the hospitality, and here’s to number two, No. 3!

Richard Hough

Johnny, Joe and some balloons at No3 Sharrow

Lord Nelson

Posted on by Guest

Branch members attending the November branch meeting received a warm welcome from management at the Lord Nelson on Arundel Street. Fanny’s as the pub is affectionately known, is a small traditional pub a little off the beaten track. It is very much a Sheffield United pub situated fairly near to Bramall Lane. By coincidence United were playing that evening, away at Coventry, the match being televised. We were allowed use of the upstairs function room, and those of us interested could follow the match on the big screen. 

On the night 4 traditional ales were available including Osset White Rat and draught Bass. Members also enjoyed some very nice pork pie compliments of the management.

All in all, a very enjoyable evening, apart from the football, as the Blades lost 3-1!

Notwithstanding that I am sure that many members will be making a return visit in the near future.

Andrew Thorpe

Inn Brief

Posted on by Andy Cullen

A change of management has taken place at the Foresters on Division Street in Sheffield City Centre (although regulars will recognise the new landlord!) and the pub will be temporarily closed for a short period in November for a bar refit. Plans include an increased cask ale range and the return of late night opening.

The Dog & Partridge in Sheffield City Centre is hosting another “Dogfest” (their sixth) on the 29 November with lots of music going on! In other news they are now serving food on Sundays.

A number of venues around Sheffield that feature live music have teamed up to form the Sheffield Independent Venue Alliance (SIVA) with a principle of collaboration making the grassroots scene stronger and more viable. A map is available showing all the venues which includes the Washington, Hallamshire Hotel, Sidney & Matilda, Alder, Crookes Social Club, Hagglers Corner, Dryad Works, Yellow Arch Studios, Forge Warehouse, Gut Level, Cafe No9, Southbank Warehouse, Delicious Clam, Panke Bar and Plot 22.

The Rambler Inn at Edale held a relaunch party to celebrate Jo and Chris taking the reigns as managers. Canapes, live music and a quiz featured on the night whilst on the bar were cask ales from Torrside, Abbeydale, Timothy Taylors and Theakston.

Batemans brewery are looking for new tenants to take on the lease of the Ladybower Inn near Bamford. They held a recruitment open day on 20 October.

The Angler’s Rest in Millers Dale, near Buxton, has introduced a Winter Warmer menu offering two course for £15. Included in the offer is a choice of 4 main course dishes and 4 dessert options. This is available Monday to Thursday 12-2 and 6-8pm.

The Anglers Rest at Bamford will be taking an outside bar to the Bamford Christmas market held at Thornhill Recreation Ground on Saturday 15 November. This is a community event that is raising funs for Bamford Play Park. There will be local makers selling their wares, Sunshine Pizza will have their oven fired up plus there will be stalls doing pie & peas and tea & cake. For the kids there will be a bouncy castle and a hook a duck stall will also be present! Running alongside the market will be two fell races including the Beast of Bamford!

The Scotsman’s Pack in Hathersage now offers a 15% discount on food for Blue Light card holders Monday to Thursday.

The George in Hathersage will be offering festive afternoon teas from 28 November and also has a loyalty card for those that drink coffee there. Being a venue owned by Longbow it also saw the pub represented in the company’s Young Chef of the Year competition!

The Plough Inn at Leadmill Bridge near Hathersage is hosting a wreath making workshop on 18 November.

The Miners Arms in Dronfield Woodhouse has had a change of management and a launch party took place on Saturday 18 October.

The Hyde Park Inn at Dronfield Hill Top has had a short period of closure after Tom and Vee retired from the pub trade at the end of August. The pub is owned by Stonegate pubco and leased out to independent operators and is due to reopen under the new management of Lee and Zoe on 24 October with a launch party featuring a cheesy karaoke disco and finger buffet!

The Coach & Horses in Dronfield, which is owned by Sheffield FC but had been leased to Thornbridge Brewery to operate, has seen the lease end and the football club take on the running themselves. Initially it will only open on matchdays. However coinciding with the C&H closing as a full time pub, the Dronfield Arms have announced a permanent Thornbridge cask line on their bar!

The Manor House Hotel bar on Dronfield High Street are now doing afternoon teas, Sunday lunches, bottomless brunches and cheese boards. Live music is also expected to take place on some Saturday afternoons.

The Winter Green in Waverley closed for refurbishment on 20 October and reopens on 12 November.

The Fargate

Posted on by Guest

Thornbridge & Co (a joint venture between Thornbride Brewery and Pivovar that has already seen success with the Market Cat in York, Bankers Cat in Leeds and The Colmore in Birmingham) are delighted to announce the launch of their flagship new bar, The Fargate, opening in one of Sheffield’s most prominent city centre locations. Doors will officially open at midday on the 22nd of October.

The new venue brings together the storied elegance of the former Yorkshire Bank (previously the Yorkshire Penny Savings Bank) with a carefully designed pub interior created to feel timeless. Dark polished wood, elegant leather seating, herringbone floors, brass accents, chandeliers and curated artwork create the impression of a bar that could have stood here for over a century.

At its heart is a striking horseshoe bar serving 10 cask ales, half of them Thornbridge, as well as 16 draft beer lines. The ground floor also features screened booths, a snug, banquette seating, and full-height glazing to the front, offering a light and inviting space.

A spiral staircase leads to the first floor, where a different atmosphere awaits. Here, a pizza kitchen with an impressive Italian corner oven takes centre stage, visible through glazed screens. The design combines reclaimed timber walls, decorated ceilings, and original architectural details to create a brighter, more contemporary setting. Seating includes both leather banquettes and informal benches, ideal for larger groups. With views across Fargate and towards Sheffield’s City Hall, it promises to be a unique spot to enjoy a pizza and a pint while people-watching in the heart of the city.

Jamie Hawksworth, Thornbridge & Co Director and Pivovar Co-President, said:

“The Fargate is on track to become a defining feature of Sheffield’s pub scene, thanks to a large investment in its unique design. We’re delighted to help shape the vibrant new era of the City Centre.”

Simon Webster, CEO and Co-Founder of Thornbridge, continued:

“We’re eager to open our doors to the people of Sheffield and contribute to the continued growth and character of the area.”

Crosspool Social

Posted on by Paul Crofts

Crosspool Social is a vibrant community cafe on Sandygate Road, Crosspool.

With great coffee and cake by day, from the 9th of October they will be opening every Thursday and Friday night, 6pm till 10.30pm, to sell beers from a number of local breweries. Wines, spirits and soft drinks are also available.

A Lindr unit has been installed to serve 2 keg beers and on the opening night they were Mesters Rouge, a 5.5% Red IPA and Hollis, a 3.8% IPA, both from Little Mesters.

A well-stocked fridge has a range of beers from other breweries including Thornbridge. It was a well attended launch, and the cafe/bar combination will no doubt prove to be a great success in the area.