Category: Pubs

The Tap & Tankard on Cambridge Street closed its doors for the final time on Saturday 3 February. The Kelham Island Brewery-owned pub, which opened in December 2014 on the site formerly occupied by the Sportsman rock bar, is being closed as part of the ongoing renovation works in Sheffield’s retail quarter. Following the closure of Henry’s Cafe Bar in late 2016, Cambridge Street now has two remaining venues serving real ale, the Benjamin Huntsman and Yates’s. Dominic Nelson

Over the last couple of editions of Beer Matters, we’ve brought you the first two parts of our guide to those pubs and bars serving real ale well into the early hours in Sheffield city centre. Here we have the third and final instalment in the Late Night Beers series:

Maida Vale

West Street This is a lively and often busy bar with a dancefloor. It hosts live music from time to time but at the weekend there is a DJ playing indie and classic tunes. Two real ales on the bar, usually Sharp’s Doom Bar and something from Clark’s of Wakefield, plus a bottled selection. Open until 2am on Tuesday and Wednesday and 4am Friday and Saturday nights.

Red Deer

Pitt Street A cosy, traditional pub with a range of real ales and real cider, including up to eight cask offerings. Regular ales include Blue Bee’s Reet Pale, Kelham Island Easy Rider, Moorhouse’s Pride of Pendle and Welbeck Abbey’s Portland Black. Open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Sheffield Water Works Company

Division Street A former Lloyds No1 Bar in the Wetherspoons chain offering what you come to expect from a “Spoons”, with a range of ales including national brands and local guests at reasonable prices. Open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Washington

Fitzwilliam Street The Washington is a more traditional pub layout although it does have a dance floor/stage area and DJ box reflecting the fact it is a music-led venue. Earlier in the evening there is often live music, at night on a weekend there is a DJ playing quality music. The pub has two rooms, the other being a lounge with a piano. One central bar serves both rooms. There is also a large beer garden with an indoor section, the music is piped outside so those getting some fresh air don’t miss out on the atmosphere! Real ales on the bar include Abbeydale Moonshine, Exit 33 Mosaic and Black Sheep Bitter. Open until 1am on Tuesdays, 2am Wednesday and Thursday, and 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Wick at Both Ends

West Street A quirky L-shaped bar, known best for its cocktails and the Lemon Drizzle flaming shots, however a selection of real ales are available on the bar too. Can get very busy at the weekend, when it opens until 3am (2am the rest of the week).

Yates’s

Cambridge Street A chain that really needs no introduction although some things have changed in the old days of the Wine Lodge when it was proper cheesy. Nevertheless, there is still a DJ playing pop music at night, drinks offers during the week and cheap food during the day. Opens until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights (midnight Mon-Thu and 11pm Sunday). There are four handpumps on the bar dispensing the likes of Greene King IPA, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Robinson’s Dizzy Blonde and Thornbridge Jaipur.

Yorkshireman

Burgess Street: This little pub is a serious rock bar with a DJ playing rock and metal tracks to an appreciative crowd until the early hours. Two real ales are normally on the bar, including Wychwood Hobgoblin, Sharp’s Doom Bar or Robinson’s Trooper. Andy Cullen

Going back 15 years or so, a big night out on the town in Sheffield generally involved going to a nightclub as pretty much every pub and bar closed at 11pm. It would cost £5-10 to get in the club (although there were cheaper offers if you went in before 11pm to beat the queues) and although there were attractions in the form of music and opportunities to pull, the choice of drinks was generally terrible and expensive. In many city centre bars and clubs, I used to opt for the safe option of a bottle of Beck’s. The nightclubs generally used to shut at around 2am, from when there were huge queues in kebab shops and a choice of going on a hunt for an elusive taxi or catching the 2:30am night bus. Fast forward to today, following the licencing reform of 2003 – something CAMRA campaigned for – pubs and bars can apply for a licence for any opening hours as long as the council feel it is appropriate for the location. There are now many places to get real ale (and other craft beers) well into the night – on a weekend, at least. The fast food and taxi situation is much improved too, although sadly night buses are no more. Anyway, here is our guide to a post-midnight pint in Sheffield city centre – whether that be on a big night out or unwinding after a late shift at work!

Bankers Draft

Market Place Large classic Wetherspoon’s pub on two floors offering all you expect from the ‘Spoons chain, including national and local ales at reasonable prices. Open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Beehive

West Street On a Saturday night the opening hours are extended until 1am, it has music and TV screens but also plenty of seating if you want a more relaxed evening. There are a number of real ales available, a mixture of national brands and the more popular local beers, including Bradfield Farmer’s Blonde.

Bessemer

Leopold Street On a Friday and Saturday night this bar parties through until 2am with 80s music. A range of the more popular real ales, both local and national, are available here.

Bierkeller

West Street A German-themed party bar with two-pint steins of beer, sausages and pretzels, cheesy music, dancing on tables and more. For the real ale drinker there is normally a beer from Stancill on handpump. Open until 3am most nights.

Botanist

Leopold Square Despite the lack of handpumps, ale is available here – look out for the little blackboards hanging above the bar. A quiet, civilised bar with tables outside in the square and a restaurant upstairs. The bar is open until 1am on Wednesdays and until 2am Thursday to Saturday (midnight the rest of the week).

Bungalows and Bears

Division Street By day this bar located in an old fire station is a relaxed affair serving up beer and burgers. At night it is still civilised thanks to keen door staff, but livelier with DJs providing music. A couple of real ales are on offer; Abbeydale Moonshine is a regular. Open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Cavendish

West Street Aimed primarily at students, this long thin venue has pool tables at one end and seating throughout the rest plus music and TV screens. A couple of real ales are available – normally a national brand and one of the more popular local ones – and there are some craft beers of reasonable interest on keg. Open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Church House

St James Street By day this pub, located in a classic gothic building, feels smart and relaxed with a simple food offering. At the weekends it often sees live rock music and possibly a more alternative crowd. Real ales are generally national brands such as Theakston’s and Robinson’s but local guest ales also feature at busier times. Open until 2am Friday and Saturday nights.

Common Room

Devonshire Street Owned by True North Brewery and offering their own real ales plus Abbeydale Moonshine, this sports-themed bar offers 12 American pool tables, numerous TVs, a DJ most nights and food based on the American Deep South. Open until 1:30am Friday and Saturday, 12:30am the rest of the week.

The Devonshire

Devonshire Street Previously known as the Old House, this recently refurbished little bar in an old Georgian townhouse run by True North Brewery has a range of beers. While the daytime vibe is a relaxed one with food service, the evening is livelier with a DJ providing the music until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Devonshire Cat

Wellington Street Run by Abbeydale Brewery and refurbished in 2016, this is somewhere to sit back and chill out with a decent beer. An extensive choice of real ales on handpump and craft beers on keg means there is always something interesting to try. Open until 2am every day.

Frog & Parrot

Division Street Recently refurbished, this Greene King pub is decorated with a local music scene theme and has a small outdoor drinking area at the rear. A range of real ales are available from Greene King plus local guests. Open until 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Forum

Devonshire Street Another modern, recently refurbished bar. It has two rooms, one open-plan hall with music, the other a cosier L-shaped room with a relaxed atmosphere. As well as the main bar servicing both rooms, there is the ‘Slice Bar’ open from 4pm until late serving pizza by the slice as well as drinks. The bar is open until 1am on a Thursday, 2am on Fridays and 3am on Saturdays.

Graduate

Surrey Street Part of the same family of pubs as the Cavendish on West Street and the Bloomery in Broomhill, the Graduate is a favourite with students of the nearby Sheffield Hallam University. Offering up to three real ales, the pub is open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Great Gatsby

Division Street A fairly small venue but with a nice atmosphere and a range of beers and cocktails, open until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights and 2am the rest of the week.

Green Room

Devonshire Street Known for its live music events and with a recently refurbished kitchen, this bar overlooks Devonshire Green and attracts a varied crowd. There are two changing real ales on the pumps. Open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Maida Vale

West Street This is a lively and often busy bar with a dancefloor. It hosts live music from time to time but at the weekend there is a DJ playing indie and classic tunes. Two real ales on the bar, usually Sharp’s Doom Bar and something from Clark’s of Wakefield, plus a bottled selection. Open until 2am on Tuesday and Wednesday and 4am Friday and Saturday nights.

Mulberry Tavern

Arundel Gate A twin scene venue with the upstairs run as a fairly traditional pub and downstairs a music venue although live music does feature upstairs from time to time. A real ale is available on and off at the upstairs bar. On a Friday and Saturday night the Mulberry is now open until 6am with upstairs being rather cheesy featuring karaoke, and downstairs a more alternative playlist.

Red Deer

Pitt Street A cosy, traditional pub with a range of real ales and real cider, including up to eight cask offerings. Regular ales include Blue Bee’s Reet Pale, Kelham Island Easy Rider, Moorhouse’s Pride of Pendle and Welbeck Abbey’s Portland Black. Open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Sheffield Water Works Company

Division Street A former Lloyds No1 Bar in the Wetherspoons chain offering what you come to expect from a “Spoons”, with a range of ales including national brands and local guests at reasonable prices. Open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Washington

Fitzwilliam Street The Washington is a more traditional pub layout although it does have a dance floor/stage area and DJ box reflecting the fact it is a music-led venue. Earlier in the evening there is often live music, at night on a weekend there is a DJ playing quality music. The pub has two rooms, the other being a lounge with a piano. One central bar serves both rooms. There is also a large beer garden with an indoor section, the music is piped outside so those getting some fresh air don’t miss out on the atmosphere! Real ales on the bar include Abbeydale Moonshine, Exit 33 Mosaic and Black Sheep Bitter. Open until 1am on Tuesdays, 2am Wednesday and Thursday, and 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Wick at Both Ends

West Street A quirky L-shaped bar, known best for its cocktails and the Lemon Drizzle flaming shots, however a selection of real ales are available on the bar too. Can get very busy at the weekend, when it opens until 3am (2am the rest of the week).

Yates’s

Cambridge Street A chain that really needs no introduction although some things have changed in the old days of the Wine Lodge when it was proper cheesy. Nevertheless, there is still a DJ playing pop music at night, drinks offers during the week and cheap food during the day. Opens until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights (midnight Mon-Thu and 11pm Sunday). There are four handpumps on the bar dispensing the likes of Greene King IPA, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Robinson’s Dizzy Blonde and Thornbridge Jaipur.

Yorkshireman

Burgess Street This little pub is a serious rock bar with a DJ playing rock and metal tracks to an appreciative crowd until the early hours. Two real ales are normally on the bar, including Wychwood Hobgoblin, Sharp’s Doom Bar or Robinson’s Trooper. Andy Cullen and Dominic Nelson

Over the last few years we’ve seen pub companies such as Punch Taverns and Enterprise Inns as well as large pub-owning breweries such as Greene King and Marstons disposing of swathes of properties, mainly pubs of the more traditional design. The reasons are of course sensible business decisions – in the case of Punch and Enterprise they have had debts to pay off and income from selling poorly performing pubs provided useful cash in the bank. Greene King had bought out other breweries to gain a whole pub estate and then wanted to get rid of the ones that didn’t ‘fit’. Marstons appear to have been shifting their focus to more food-led venues in locations outside of town and city centres. Going back to the pub companies, the model is that all the pubs are leased out to individual operators and generally in the terms of the lease they are tied to buying wet stock, insurance and more through the pub company and cannot shop around to suppliers/brewers offering the best deal. It is argued that in return for higher beer prices they get charged a more reasonable rent and get the support of a regional manager. There are of course many such pubs proving a great success, yet there are also plenty of examples where the tied arrangements prevent the publican offering what their customers want, be that interesting guest ales or affordable beer prices. These pubs end up closing down despite the best efforts of the publican running it and the pub company may declare them a failed pub and put them on the disposal list. Of course there are some pubs that genuinely aren’t viable, perhaps due to the location – maybe an area where very few drinkers live, that is difficult to access or has a lot of competition. However most do have potential if the right format is found by the right person. The buyer of such pubs may be a local brewery wanting to open their own tap, for example the Nags Head between Loxley and Bradfield was sold by Greene King to Bradfield Brewery who run it very successfully as a rural community pub with reasonably priced beer and simple home cooking. They may be a property investor who buy the pub then rent it out to an operator – such as to some extent the Rutland Arms in Sheffield City Centre where the top floor was converted into a flat and the owner rents out pub and flat separately. We also have a number of examples of individuals or small businesses that established pub operators buying it to run as a pub and successfully do so – examples including Shakespeare’s on Gibraltar Street in Sheffield or the Victoria in Dronfield – as well as successful pubs that are bought by property men who have seen potential in the pub as a going concern and employ a manager to run it for them or as a joint venture, such as the Dronfield Arms. There are also cases where the only intention is to demolish the pub to release the land to build something else on – for example the Bradway Hotel was sold to Sainsburys who built one of their local stores on the site and the Horns in Holmesfield now has a housing development where the pub once stood. The final category is the one currently of most interest though. This is where a pub is bought with a long term idea of either converting the pub to another use or redeveloping the site, but choose to give it chance as a pub first but have a plan B if it fails. In some cases they run the pub themselves, in others it is rented out to a pub operator. There have been a few recent examples around the Dronfield area. The Hearts of Oak at Dronfield Woodhouse was bought and rebranded as the Hearty Oak, the pub had three rooms which were run in a different style – tap room, dining room and function room and it was run as a family business. The success of this venture was somewhat mixed and the pub has since been demolished with housing built on the site. The Three Tuns at Hallowes, just outside Dronfield town centre was bought by the owners of Ayeshas restaurant and leased out, it was run as a community pub with lots of real ales and home cooked food, it also acted as a bit of a brewery tap – first for Spire Brewery under its initial ownership, more recently for the Drone Valley Community Brewery. The quiz nights, music sessions, charity events and Sunday lunches have always attracted a good following, however it has recently closed and is expected to be converted into an Indian restaurant. This takes us to the final example. The Butchers Arms at Marsh Lane (near Eckington, Ridgeway and Apperknowle on bus routes 15A, 50A, 50B and 252) which was sold to a private investor who has applied for planning permission to convert the property into a shop on the ground floor and residential use upstairs. However it is currently leased out to the Hop & Hook Pub Company, a joint venture between Ade Cole of Pigeon Fishers Brewery and Dave Hemstock of RAW Brewery. If they make a success of it as a pub it will stay as a pub, should it fail and close then it gets converted to a shop and or housing and is lost as a pub. The Butchers Arms is a comfortable pub with a range of real ales – many of them locally brewed – along with a range of wines and spirits plus coffee. There is also a simple food offering on certain days (for example pie night, fish & chip night, Sunday roast) which is due to be developed into a full menu in the new year. It also has an outdoor area for when the weather improves – until then it is about the fire and cosy corners inside! Although it is on a main road and has a regular daytime bus service, there is no public transport in the evening – and little prospect of that improving given the funding cuts from Derbyshire County Council. However there are buses to Eckington or trams to White Lane, both just a short taxi ride away. The pub also has a car park if you can recruit a designated driver! The Butchers Arms opens Tuesday to Friday at 4pm and at midday on Saturday and Sunday, closing at 11pm every day (11:30pm Fri/Sat). You can find out more on their Facebook page (search for Hop and Hook). So here is a bit of a deal from a pub campaigning perspective. The manager there under the guidance of Ade and Dave is making an effort to provide a nice pub with attractions including good beer, food and music, for it to survive as a pub it needs more customers, so please make the effort to get up there (and to other similar pubs too), enjoy it and spend some money! Andy Cullen

There has been yet another twist in the saga surrounding the future of the Plough on Sandygate. It was previously reported in local press and in the September edition of Beer Matters that the Plough Community Campaign’s fight to save the pub had come to an end after its owners, Enterprise Inns, turned down their £435,000 bid and accepted an offer from an unknown bidder who planned to reopen the pub. However, it is now understood that Enterprise subsequently accepted a higher bid from another unknown source whose intentions are less clear. Enterprise have refused to reveal the identity of the new buyer, and so it remains unclear whether their plans involve reopening the pub or redeveloping the site. The chairman of the Plough Community Campaign, Peter Duff, has reiterated that the group are happy to work with anybody intent on reopening, but that any development that would take the pub away will meet with considerable resistance from the local community. The pub is currently protected by Sheffield City Council as an Asset of Community Value, an initiative which Sheffield & District CAMRA supported, meaning that it cannot be demolished or its use changed without planning permission. We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available. Dominic Nelson

Last month we brought to you the first batch of pubs, clubs and bars serving real ale until the early hours around Sheffield city centre. The current scene for beer-loving night owls is thriving, and here we have another eight locations where real ale connoisseurs can partake in a late night pint.

Bierkeller

West Street A German-themed party bar with two-pint steins of beer, sausages and pretzels, cheesy music, dancing on tables and more. For the real ale drinker there is normally a beer from Stancill on handpump. Open until 3am most nights.

Common Room

Devonshire Street Owned by True North Brewery and offering their own real ales plus Abbeydale Moonshine, this sports-themed bar offers 12 American pool tables, numerous TVs, a DJ most nights and food based on the American Deep South. Open until 1:30am Friday and Saturday, 12:30am the rest of the week.

Frog & Parrot

Division Street Recently refurbished, this Greene King pub is decorated with a local music scene theme and has a small outdoor drinking area at the rear. A range of real ales are available from Greene King plus local guests. Open until 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Forum

Devonshire Street Another modern, recently refurbished bar. It has two rooms, one open-plan hall with music, the other a cosier L-shaped room with a relaxed atmosphere. As well as the main bar servicing both rooms, there is the ‘Slice Bar’ open from 4pm until late serving pizza by the slice as well as drinks. The bar is open until 1am on a Thursday, 2am on Fridays and 3am on Saturdays.

Graduate

Surrey Street Part of the same family of pubs as the Cavendish on West Street and the Bloomery in Broomhill, the Graduate is a favourite with students of the nearby Sheffield Hallam University. Offering up to three real ales, the pub is open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Great Gatsby

Division Street A fairly small venue but with a nice atmosphere and a range of beers and cocktails, open until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights and 2am the rest of the week.

Green Room

Devonshire Street Known for its live music events and with a recently refurbished kitchen, this bar overlooks Devonshire Green and attracts a varied crowd. There are two changing real ales on the pumps. Open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Mulberry Tavern

Arundel Gate A twin scene venue with the upstairs run as a fairly traditional pub and downstairs a music venue although live music does feature upstairs from time to time. A real ale is available on and off at the upstairs bar. On a Friday and Saturday night the Mulberry is now open until 6am with upstairs being rather cheesy featuring karaoke, and downstairs a more alternative playlist. Check back for the final round of late night beers in the next issue of Beer Matters. Andy Cullen and Dominic Nelson

If you haven’t heard a new bar has opened on the canal at Victoria Quays. The Dorothy Pax has been operating on temporary event notices throughout the summer but at the end of October received its permanent license, which means the bar is now open from 12pm until 11pm Wednesday to Saturday and 12pm until 6pm on Sundays, and is going from strength to strength. The name comes from the last ever Sheffield Keel that used to work on the Sheffield navigation, scuppered in the 1950s, which has been rescued to create the bar top.  You can find the bar just a short walk from the city centre or Kelham Island in Arch 17 on the Quays. With great views of the city and the canal it is the perfect spot for an afternoon beer or two. So far the three cask lines have mainly come from Blue Bee Brewery and Neepsend Brewery, but have also included the Sheffield debut  of Three Sods Brewery from London – but brewed by a Sheffield lad! There are three keg lines showcasing craft beers from both the UK and Europe along with stiff gins and fine wine available. They currently have Tripel Karmeliet on their revolving Belgian line, Berliner Pilsner on the other and Magic Rock soon to make an apprearance.  There’s also a real cider on hand pull. Follow the Dorothy Pax page on Facebook for information about their various food options which so far have included wood fired pizza and jerk chicken.  They have yet to build a kitchen, so everything they cook is on oak and ash. Live music also features some weekends and the venue can be hired for private functions and events. Josh Jepson

The Gardeners Rest in Neepsend is set to continue serving Sheffield’s drinkers for the foreseeable future after the Gardeners Rest Community Society raised more than £237,000 to complete the purchase of the pub and preserve its identity. The society was formed last October after it was announced that former landlords Eddy Munnelly and Pat Wilson planned to retire. Several parties were interested in buying the pub, but amidst fears that developers might close it and convert the building into flats, a group of regulars banded together to try and save it. By November 2016, more than £100,000 had already been raised, and the remainder needed to complete the purchase has now been achieved. More than 400 investors, who each donated between £100 and £5,000, have bought community shares, and the group received a grant of £50,000 from the More Than A Pub foundation. The future of the Gardeners Rest looks bright, with the society planning to evolve the pub into a community hub. Alongside the current offerings of live music events, an activity centre and a place for local artists to exhibit their works, there are plans to provide facilities for people with mental health issues and learning disabilities. Of course, the pub will also continue to serve a fine selection of real ales from the Sheffield Brewery Co and guests. Congratulations to everyone involved! Dominic Nelson