Category: Pubs

There’s another new bar on the Kelham Island and Neepsend circuit!

Happy’s Bar, on Rutland Road, describes itself as a neighbourhood bar. It is a modern style of venue in a converted old building that has retained some of the character.

The bar opens from midday Wednesday to Sunday with food available until 9pm each day. On Friday and Saturday nights the bar will stay open until 4am, with a DJ to keep everyone partying, while the rest of the week it closes at midnight. Various events are planned for the future, such as live music, with entertainment envisaged in the outdoor drinking area come the summer.

On the bar there are two handpumps for cask ales, with beer from Abbeydale and Vocation. There is also another Abbeydale beer on keg, along with the usual mainstream brands. A ground floor cellar has been purpose built with cooled piping to the bar. The manager is passionate about serving beer fresh and at the right temperature.

Food is a simple bar snack menu, mainly burgers and hot dogs, at reasonable prices.

Craftworks is a bar on Mosborough High Street that describes itself as a micropub. It is probably a little bigger and more modern than what many think of as a micropub in reality, however it fulfils its role nicely as a small community local with a broad appeal.

It opened in 2019, and hadn’t been trading long when the first lockdown kicked in. It was still finding its feet when it was able to reopen with restrictions such as table service.

Now with restrictions all but a memory, Craftworks does still offer the facility for groups to make reservations, however it is now operating like a normal pub where you can walk in and order a pint from the friendly bar staff!

The bar has four handpumps dispensing Abbeydale Deception NZ pale ale (rebadged as the their house ale), along with three regularly changing guests. In addition a number of craft beers on keg are available plus other beers, wines and spirits. You can also buy craft beer in cans to take home, usually with a discount available.

Craftworks has recently established a programme of entertainment including a quiz night and live music.

The newest development has been the addition of an espresso coffee machine, with the bar now opening from 9am serving coffee and cake – plus they are licenced to serve alcohol in the morning if you prefer beer with your cake. I’m told the record so far for the earliest pint served is 9:35am.

If you are looking to take a bus trip to Mosborough then buses 50, 50a and 53 pass the front door, while a short walk away on Station Road are buses 30a, 55 and 80a.

Tom & Barbara Boulding took over as licensees at Fagan’s pub back in 1985, and by the time they retire next year will have been running this classic unspoilt pub for 38 years, breaking the record of previous landlord Joe Fagan! You can read more about this here.

Our pub heritage champion, Dave Pickersgill, presented Tom & Barbara with a certificate recognising their outstanding contribution to Sheffield’s pub scene, on an evening that also included a shortened branch meeting and their regular folk music session.

Unexpectedly, Tom then returned the favour and presented Dave with a framed image of Grains Court and Brewhouse from 1860 – which became Tetley’s Brewery in Leeds. Fagan’s used to be a Tetley’s owned pub.

Jamie Tuxford and Brad Welsh, co-hosts at the Peacock, Stannington, provided the opportunity for regulars to meet-the-brewer as part of their autumn programme. The evening was hosted in the pub’s conservatory and attracted a strong turnout.

There was a presentation by Harry Brunt (Thwaites’ experienced brewer) accompanied by Louise Watson (head of customer relations) and the publicity team. There was the opportunity to handle the ingredients and ask questions. Attendees were treated to samples from the core range including Original, Gold and IPA. Each beer was paired with hot food specially prepared by Brad and his team. The pub has recently gained the accolade of Thwaites’ Area Winner for Best Pub Food Provider.

Future plans for practically-minded cask ale enthusiasts include an opportunity to be involved in a brew at the local Blue Bee Brewery. The pub offers the core Thwaites’ range accompanied by two guest beers which have recently included Marston’s Pedigree and Bradfield’s Belgian Blue. Thursday is Cask Ale Night with cask beers reduced by 30p. The pub also hosts a popular Tuesday evening quiz commencing at 8pm.

Small business success sees Sheffield indie beer shop collaborate to celebrate

At a time when we’re hearing the hardships many small businesses face, it’s also a good time to reflect on those who continue to survive and thrive. As one of a handful of 100% female owned beer shops in the UK, Jules Gray has from the very start championed women brewers and breweries as a passionate core ethos of Hop Hideout. She knows and values how much visibility counts in making the beer world a broader, diverse and ultimately more rounder and improved place to be for those in it and providing her customers with outstanding beers to enjoy. After a two year challenging period over the Covid-19 pandemic, Jules stated, ”I wanted to celebrate women that really light up the beer scene, who I not only look up to, but who provide so much positivity and inspiration to the whole beer community.”

This November Hop Hideout celebrated their ninth anniversary as an independent beer shop and tasting room, releasing their beer collaboration, a flapjack stout, brewed at Wild Card Brewery with Crafty Beer Girls. From Friday 11 November they poured Wild Card Brewery beers as part of a tap takeover including their special birthday collaboration release with Crafty Beer Girls and the brewery.

On Saturday 12 November, they hosted a relaxed celebration tasting with Jaega from Wild Card and Crafty Beer Girls organisers in attendance.

On Sunday 13 November they hosted a free and fun family social. As a new parent Jules knows how much of a challenge it can be to find a welcoming social space that’s easily accessible and with baby changing.

She continued, ”I’m absolutely delighted Jaega Wise of Wild Card Brewery and Natasha and Natalya of Crafty Beer Girls agreed to this collaboration. Jaega is a phenomenal technical brewer, having just released her first brewing book and presents on national shows such as the BBC Food Programme. The Crafty Beer Girls is a beer community safe space created for women and non-binary folks to come together in their enjoyment of beer. Co-organised by two passionate and brilliant women Natasha and Natalya. Through the pandemic I turned to this group for support and really valued their virtual meet-ups.”

The celebrations continued at Wild Card Brewery’s new pub in Walthamstow, London – The Tavern On The Hill on Thursday 17 November with a Crafty Beer Girls London meet-up.