Category: Pubs

Half Pint Marathon is back!

Posted on by Guest

Sheffield breweries, True North Brew Co. and Loxley Brewery have teamed up to bring the Sheffield Half Pint Marathon back for its sixth year.

The month-long charity event will run throughout September in 13 of Sheffield’s favourite bars and pubs, with each brewery creating a brand-new beer especially. One For t’Road from True North Brew Co. and Get Em In from Loxley Brewery will be available in all participating venues and with each Half Pint Marathon beer purchased throughout September, a donation will be made to local charity Sheffield Mind.

Sheffield Mind is a Sheffield based charity which provides support to people with mental health issues. Sheffield Mind Business Development Manager Lindsay Doyle-Price said ‘Sheffield Mind are delighted to be partnering with True North Brew Co. and Loxley Brewery in this year’s Sheffield Half Pint Marathon. We have been lucky enough to be beneficiary of the promotion for the last two years and are grateful to all the participating bars for their ongoing support.

‘We very much hope that the people of Sheffield get behind the promotion, as every penny donated to Sheffield Mind will be invested in local service delivery.

‘It’s been a tough year for local people and local business and talking part in the marathon is a great way to support both.’

The premise of the Sheffield Half Pint Marathon is simple – at the starting venue of your choice you will receive your Half Pint Marathon card, then for each venue you visit and purchase one of the speciality beers you will receive a sticker. When your card is filled simply register via truenorthbrewco.uk/halfpintmarathon by 30 September and you will receive an email to let you know when and where you can collect your limited-edition print.

The Sheffield Half Pint Marathon print features hand drawn illustrations of the participating venues by the incredibly talented Will Rea.

Participants can complete the marathon at their own pace, in a day, week or even over the whole month.

True North Brew Co.’s Marketing Manager Krissie Petfield said ‘Mental health is often ignored in the hospitality industry and there is still a long way to go to improve the mental health and wellbeing of those working within the industry.

‘The last few years have been especially difficult with the ups and downs of the pandemic and we’re working towards providing further support to those suffering at True North Brew Co.

‘We are happy to be bringing back the Sheffield Half Pint Marathon alongside Loxley Brewery to raise money for such a worthy cause.  It’s a brilliant opportunity to get together with friends and family and raise a (half) pint to support one another.’

This month-long celebration of some of Sheffield’s best independent bars and pubs is aimed at giving people a chance to contribute to a great local charity whilst exploring Sheffield.

Hannah Hebb, Loxley Brewery’s Business Coordinator said ‘It was a great honour to be asked to be a part of the Sheffield Half Pint Marathon. Over the last 18 months mental health has become more important than ever, so we at Loxley Brewery are proud to be supporting Sheffield Mind.

‘It would be fantastic to see people get together for such an amazing cause, supporting local businesses as they go, having a pint and putting the world to rights. It is important to remember that mental health is real, and it matters.’

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, beer lover or beer novice, the Sheffield Half Pint Marathon is not to be missed!

The Sheffield Half Pint Marathon runs throughout September 2021. More information is available at truenorthbrewco.uk/halfpintmarathon or on socials @sheffhalfpint.

The venues

Public transport

We’ve listed the bus routes and tram stops by the venues above. You can get network maps and timetables from Travel South Yorkshire and all day travel passes (currently discounted until 27 September) from TravelMaster. You can track buses live on a map using the independent BusTimes.org website.

Indie Beer Feast Trail

Posted on by Andy Cullen

The normal beer festival at Abbeydale Picture House has been unable to happen this year due to Covid, but the Festival trail is here over the weekend of 6 to 8 August. Here is our mini-guide to the venues taking part.

The Indie Beer Feast Festival Trail Facebook event has the latest information.

There are some discount deals on public transport passes at the moment, for example a Citywide pass for all day unlimited travel on any bus or tram in Sheffield costs £3.80 (normally £5.10). More information about this can be found on the Travelmaster ticket website whilst timetables and maps are available from Travel South Yorkshire.

 

THE VENUES

THE BEERS

AT SHAKESPEARE’S

CASK

  • Neptune Enzili Pale Ale 4%
  • Neptune Galene Session IPA 4.3%
  • Neptune Mosaic Pale Ale 4.5%
  • Neptune Nelson Sails Again NZ Pale 4.5%
  • Neptune Camulos Belgian Dubbel 6.9%
  • Torrside If You Build It oak smoked Pale 4%
  • Torrside Slice of Heaven NZ IPA 6.2%
  • Torrside Valour 1917 Imperial Stout 7.7%

KEG

  • Neptune River Runs Free Pale Ale 4.5%
  • Neptune Ostara Currant Bun Saison 5.6%
  • Torrside Franconia Smoked Beer 5.2%
  • Zero Ducks Raspberry IPA 6.2%

AT BAR STEWARDS

  • Abbeydale DRY HOPPED Heathen 4.1% American Pale Ale which has been dry hopped in the cask with extra Mosaic for an extra hoppy kick! ?
  • Abbeydale Double Deception 8.2% Nelson Sauvin DIPA on CASK! An extra special beer to celebrate Abbeydale’s 25th birthday and we’ve only gone and got some on cask ?
  • Abbeydale Celebration 2.8% Mimosa Quarter IPA. To balance out the craziness of that DIPA we’ve got a nice sessionable fruity small IPA, an equally celebratory beer but at a lower ABV.
  • Abbeydale Wanderer 6.0% Outlaws IPA. A lovely Willamette and Nelson Sauvin IPA, a crispier take on the New England IPA.
  • PLUS – beers from Lost Industry and Turning Point.

AT HOP HIDEOUT (INCLUDES CIDER TOO!)

At Hop Hideout we’ll be pouring @rockleopardbrewing@pomonaislandbrew @wildernessbrew @rosscider @hoganscider (bottle only)Each day Jules will be hosting a short mini-tasting, limited samples, once they’re gone they’re gone! Head to the counter:Fri 6th 1pm Rock Leopard Sat 7th 1pm Hogans / Pomona Island 4pmSun 8th 1pm Wilderness / 4pm Ross

AT KELHAM ISLAND TAVERN

AT RUTLAND ARMS

AT THE CROW INN

KEG:

  • Duration: Shifting Bassline – 5.0% Mosaic pale
  • Duration/ Beak: Sail – 4.2% Cellared saision
  • Duration/ DEYA: Crocs in the Coolship – 5.7% Coolship wit
  • Mobberley: Summer IPA – 6.0% IPA with Citra and Mosaic
  • Mobberley: Circuit Breaker – 10.5% Imperial Stout

CASK:

  • Mobberley: Elysium – 4.7% Session IPA.
  • Black Iris: Divine Elements – 6.0% IPA.
  • Black Iris: Stab in the Dark – 5.0% New Zealand stout

Inn Brief

Posted on by Andy Cullen

The new micropub in Mosborough has a name and is now open! Craftworks can be found at 38C-D High Street (the main road through Mosborough, bus route 50/50a) and features a range of beers including four on cask and six craft kegs along with a lager. A double shop unit has been converted into a modern and stylish bar. Whilst Coronavirus restrictions are in place table bookings are being taken and advisable at the more popular times.

Also newly opened is the Beer Dog shop at 108 Charlotte Rd, near Bramall Lane stadium. This is owned by the same people as the Ranmoor Castle off licence and Berlin Calling bar and as well as a range of craft beer in bottle and can there is a range of draught beer to go, including one on cask and is a good place to obtain beer from the Crosspool Ale Makers.

Over in Crookes, the Old Grindstone has now reopened as a True North Brewery pub with a range of their beers plus guests on both cask and keg. The pub will feature sport on tv and live music, food is expected to launch early 2022 when the kitchen has been developed, until then customers are welcome to order takeaway meals to be delivered to the pub!

Jabbarwocky bar on London Road is hosting a tap takeover with Full Circle beers on 5 August.

Many of you will know of Guzzle micropub at Woodseats, a little neighbourhood bar with five real ales, well they are now opening a second one in Killamarsh this summer. It can be found at 193 Sheffield Road in the middle of a row of shops, this road is the main road down the valley and on bus routes 26/26a, 80/80a.

Another micropub planning to add a second location is Itchy Pig, the award winning bar in Broomhill, with plans to convert a shop in Banner Cross into a micropub. Meanwhile also at Banner Cross there are plans to convert an old bank into a pub called the Dark Horse!

The Wagon & Horses in Millhouses has opened their new beer garden located between the pub building and the park. This area of decking has plenty of tables and an ice cream kiosk!

A new bottle shop and bar called the Bear (Beer Emporium Abbeydale Road) is planning to open on Abbeydale Road in the premises that were previously the Rude Shipyard Café & Bookshop. As well as numerous fridges and shelves full of bottles and cans that appeal to most tastes and budgets there will be six keg lines. The shop is planning to open from 23 June with the drink in option likely to be introduced once Coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Talking of new bottle shops, Maison du Biere, who run a popular beer shop and tap room in Elsecar are opening a new shop in Stocksbridge at 492 Manchester Rd, this was previously a butchers shop!

Royal Oak demolished

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Without planning permission, the Royal Oak (Mosborough), was recently demolished. The owners, Bar 24 Ltd., have to apply for retrospective planning permission. Their assertion is that toxic waste was dumped in the car park, and the situation became so bad that the only option was to demolish the pub. The building dated from 1843, becoming a beerhouse in 1870.

Clive Betts, the local MP disagrees, ‘the issue of the toxic waste and chemical spills on the site is in my view a red herring. There has been a problem with toxic chemicals but the explanation from the owners that they contacted the Environment Agency about demolition does not in any way obviate the need to apply for planning permission to demolish: the two are separate issues.’

Sheffield and District CAMRA agree with Clive. In October, environmental experts assessed the situation and didn’t find anything to justify demolition. This suggests that the spillage has been used as a pretext for taking short cuts to potentially secure profitable redevelopment of the site. Surely waste could have been removed without having to knock down the pub.

We also believe objections to the anticipated planning application should initially focus on the importance of retaining pub use on the site and the lack of any justification for the demolition. The Carlton Tavern (London) sets a clear precedent.

This Carlton closed in April 2015: then two days before Historic England was due to recommend the pub be granted Grade II listed status, the owners demolished the building, without planning permission. They expected a £5000 fine. However, Westminster Council had a different opinion. They ordered the owners: CTLX, to rebuild the Carlton brick by brick. Earlier this year, having been totally rebuilt, it re-opened.

Sheffield and District CAMRA will comment when the planning application for demolition is submitted to SCC Planning. We encourage you to do the same.

Cover Photo © Nigel Mykura (cc-by-sa/2.0) /

Royal Oak Mosborough – Kenny Riley

More pubs can reopen on 17 May

Posted on by Andy Cullen

The government have announced that step 3 of the roadmap out of lockdown will be going ahead as hoped on Monday 17 May, which allows indoor hospitality including pubs for the first time this year.

Until 17 May, pubs may only open for outdoor table service – see our list of venues currently open.

Covid safety restrictions are still a requirement from 17th May with table service, reduced capacity for social distancing, checking in to the NHS Test & Trace system, wearing masks when not seated, enhanced cleaning regimes etc and maximum group size indoors is six. From the same date the limit of the group size outdoors increases although table service will still be a requirement.

We suggest checking pubs opening hours and whether they are taking table reservations before setting out, you can find links to social media accounts and websites from WhatPub. Public transport information for getting to the pubs can be found at Travel South Yorkshire.

Happy days!

Posted on by Andy Cullen

From Monday 12th April, a number of pubs reopened for the first time in six months for outdoor table service, as permitted in the latest stage of the government’s road map out of lockdown.

Many of us have been looking forward to this day, not just to drink fresh cask beer but to get together with friends who we haven’t been able to see in a while.

We’d like to celebrate this week by sharing photographs of folk enjoying a drink with friends at pubs, please feel free to tag your pics on Twitter @shfCAMRA or post them on our Facebook page, alternatively email and we’ll consider it for a piece on this website!

Not all pubs are able to open this week – either they don’t have a suitable outdoor space or it simply isn’t financially viable for them, these are expected to open when indoor service is allowed, provisionally 17th May.

The beer gardens are expected to be popular but only have limited capacity, some of those venues that are taking table reservations are fully booked for the first week of opening (so if you can’t make it to a pub you’ve booked don’t forget to call and cancel so someone else can have that table!) whilst others are offering walk ins

What you need to know:

First of all, you can check out our map of pubs that are opening for outdoor table service. Links are provided via whatpub.com to each venue’s social media to check their opening hours and any booking requirements.

Government Covid safety rules are in force (please be nice to the staff having to make them work!):

  • you must wear a face covering when you arrive and whenever you are stood up / moving around the premises. You do not need to wear it when sat at a table.
  • every individual customer must sign in to the NHS Test & Trace system. The easiest and quickest way of doing this is using the app to scan the QR code poster but the alternative of filling in a paper form will generally be available. Staff are required to check you have signed in correctly (minimum £1000 fine to pubs that serve someone not checked in correctly!). They will then direct you to a specific table that has been cleaned ready for you.
  • Measures are in place to facilitate social distancing. This includes one way walking routes and tables & chairs spaced carefully apart.
  • Rule of 6 in force as by law the most we are allowed to meet is 6 people or 2 households, therefore the maximum table size available is 6 people.
  • Table service is in operation – you must be sat at a table to eat/drink, place your order with staff at the table and your order will be delivered to your table. In some venues an app or website will be available to order from your table using your smart phone. Payment at table is also encouraged although where venues cannot facilitate that (for example the signal for the card machine doesn’t reach that far) they are allowed to invite you inside to pay.
  • Pubs are only allowed to serve customers outside for now, however you may still use facilities like toilets inside (but must wear a face covering when indoors).
  • Raised voices can project any germs further so conversation at normal level is encouraged by the government guidelines. For this reason any music, TV etc has to be kept strictly at background volume.

Travel to the pub

Buses, trains, trams and taxis are all operating and you are required to wear a face covering on board unless exempt. On public transport you are also asked to observe social distancing guidelines (one person per double seat unless same household and to sit with rows zig-zagged).

Inn (and Shop) Brief

Posted on by Andy Cullen

James Birkett, who owns Neepsend Brewery along with the Sheaf View, Blake Hotel and Wellington pubs; is launching his latest venture next door to the Wellington at Shalesmoor: the Roscoe Road Liquor Store. This will act as the Neepsend brewery shop stocking the range of Neepsend cans, minikegs and merchandise as well as a wider range of wines, spirits and beers.

A new craft beer bar is opening in Neepsend in a pair of shipping containers with Peddlers and Sheffield Brewery as neighbours! Grafters Bar will be a compact affair serving beers and spirits from the Sheffield area along with some bottled beers from further afield. You can find out a little more on the This is Sheffield website.

The Blue Ball at Worrall have been spending the latest lockdown doing some serious upgrade work to their beer garden which now features an outdoor pizza oven (pictured below).

Also doing some serious work in the beer garden whilst closed is the New Barrack Tavern on Penistone Road, who have been sharing a series of tease shots of the work in progress on their social media.

Spring Yard Bottle Shop, run by the same people as Peddlers Night Market, is offering free same day delivery in Sheffield. Order by 6pm, the deliveries are done in the evening as soon after that as they’ve got the packing done!

The Moor Indoor Market has a new delivery operation, ChefChef.store, where you can order products from many of their traders all in one go for home delivery, with Beer Central being one of those traders. Order direct for next day delivery or via the City Grab app for delivery within the hour by a City Taxi. Note only the regular beers are available through this service, for the more exotic choices you should order a selection box for delivery directly with Beer Central.

Beer garden openings

Posted on by Andy Cullen

On the governments road map out of lockdown pubs cannot open indoors until the end of May* and without restriction until late June*, however outdoor drinking with table service and maximum groups of six people will be possible from 12 April.

Below is our guide listing all the pubs with beer gardens or other outdoor areas in or near Sheffield that have announced they will be opening for outdoor table service this spring – not all pubs will find it viable to do so. Please click through via WhatPub to the individual venues’ website or social media for more details including opening hours and any booking requirements.

Not all pubs on the list serve real ale, click the link to WhatPub to check.

 

If you are aware of any pubs with an outdoor area that will be opening in April that we have missed off the list, please comment below with the details and we will add them where appropriate. Likewise if you spot any venues on the list that aren’t actually going to be opening after all let us know so they can be removed!

For details of current Coronavirus restrictions visit the government website, a summary of the roadmap out of lockdown is reproduced below. In pubs to summarise all customers are required to sign in to NHS Test & Trace (unless just picking up a takeaway), wear a face covering whenever not seated, sit at a table to eat & drink and be served at table. Please be nice to the staff having to implement these government safety rules!

Also from 12th April pubs are now allowed to include alcohol in their take away sales offering so some will also be selling beer to take home in carry out bottles if you fancy fresh cask beer but not drawn to the beer garden!

Public transport information for getting to the pubs by bus, train or tram is available from Travel South Yorkshire. Don’t forget by law face coverings currently must be worn on public transport and in taxis (unless you are exempt) and services are running at reduced capacity to allow for social distancing.

Looking for news about more than just pubs? The lovely people at This is Sheffield may be able to help with independent shops, cafes and more.

Route out of lockdown

Posted on by Andy Cullen

The government have now published their road map to normality.

A handy summary can be found on the BBC News website.

The full document can be downloaded from the government website.

As far as pubs are concerned, the following phased reopening timeline has been announced. Note dates are the earliest it will happen and are subject to review based on meeting targets for vaccinations, hospital admissions etc. Also note not all pubs will find it viable to open with restrictions in place.

12 April

  • Pubs can do alcohol takeaway sales from the premises rather than just home deliveries
  • Beer gardens may open with table service and rule of six observed.

17 May

  • Larger groups permitted in beer gardens
  • Pubs may open indoors with table service, social distancing arrangements and rule of six enforced

21 June

  • social distancing rules removed
  • pubs may open in a normal fashion
  • nightclubs and live music venues may open and festivals can take place (this may be subject to conditions yet to be decided).

Until pubs can start reopening, they need proper financial support in order to survive and decisions made in the budget announced on 3rd March will be important. A facility to email your MP on the subject is available on the CAMRA Save Our Pubs campaign page.

Comment on the announcement from CAMRA’s national Chairman below.

Summary of steps out of lockdown (graphic from Sheffield City Council).

Inn Brief

Posted on by Andy Cullen

The Clubhouse sports bar on London Road is now open on Fridays and Saturdays offering cask beer and other drinks along with burgers and hot dogs for home delivery. Each weekend they generally have a choice of three real ales on handpump sold in 4 pint takeaway bottles, order via Uber Eats or Citygrab.

A new off licence has opened in Ranmoor focused on beer and wine. Ranmoor Castle has a range of craft beer and offers local delivery.

Another beer outlet is due to open in Hillsborough this spring. Pangolin Craft Beer will be a specialist bottle shop also featuring a small bar to try the beers they have on tap which will also be available to buy in carry out containers. It is located at Hillsborough Park tram stop on Middlewood Road.

Landlord Jake has handed his notice to Punch Taverns to terminate the lease of the Red Deer in Sheffield City Centre, another good pub to not survive the Covid restrictions, we can only hope the pub company find a new tenant as good as Jake to reopen it. A virtual leaving party will be taking place featuring live music on 13 March and until then the weekly quiz is still taking place online and their beer home delivery service will continue.