Devonshire Cat

A few momentous things happened recently at the Devonshire Cat – it achieved 10 years in the Good Beer Guide, the owner who first opened the pub retired and Abbeydale Brewery took on the lease of the pub. Sheffield CAMRA attended a special celebration at the pub where we presented certificates to mark the achievements. St George's Day. Dev Cat 012

Inn Brief

Royal Standard has been redecorated and built a large stage in the main room. Quiz Mon-Wed, open mic Thur, live music or DJ Fri-Sat, DJ Sun. – Nelson Rock Bar appears to have reopened as the Rockin Chair. – The New Inn at Gleadless had a successful beer festival the week after Easter. – Pub owners Mitchells and Butlers are seeking council permission to replace the car park in front of the Robin Hood pub in Millhouses with an outdoor space. They wish to pave the area and install a heated ‘jumbrella.’ Mike Hodson, secretary of Carter Knowle and Millhouses Community Group, said such a plan would result in “a large marquee effectively dominating the view from surrounding roads both of the pub, but also up Millhouses Lane and Springfield Road.” He is urging objectors to make their views known to the council before a decision is taken. – The Castle Inn (Bolsterstone) is currently closed. The owners, Trust Inns, are advertising ‘For Let.’ The New Barrack Tavern has won a top award from SIBA (the Society of Independent Brewers) in a national competition held during the recent BeerX 2014, an event designed to highlight the best of British brewing. Steph and Kevin Woods, managers at the New Barrack Tavern have won a Best SIBA Local award for their outstanding work. “This is a great day for us, for Sheffield and of course, our wonderful customers and suppliers whose loyalty and help has made our ten years here such a joy,” says Steph. “We’re particularly grateful to Dave Hughes at Acorn Brewery whose nomination made our win possible. This business award draws attention to our commitment to operating to the best standards possible, and we’re both very grateful that our hard work has been recognised.” A memorial to the Great Sheffield Flood has been installed on the site of a building destroyed in the disaster. The original Gardener’s Rest pub at Neepsend was one of 700 buildings washed away on March 11, 1864. Artist Simon Wrigglesworth-Baker, has created a sculpture and plaque. He said: “It seems appropriate the sculpture should be placed here on the site of a building destroyed in the 1864 flood, and which is now the garden of the present-day pub – which was also badly damaged in the floods of 2007.” – Co-Manager Robin Baker left Shakespeares on May 16th to start a job at Abbeydale Brewery. The pub will now be solely managed by Chris, with Kaisha and Chris Wadsworth promoted to assistant managers. Robin would like to thank everyone who has made his time at Shakespeares thoroughly enjoyable and he is pleased to see that he’s leaving the pub in very capable hands! Robin also thanks everyone who came down for his leaving do on May 18th! – Pub retailer and brewer Greene King is looking to redevelop a former industrial site between Broadfield Close and Little London Road as part of its Hungry Horse chain. They propose a one and two-storey building with an outdoor seating area, small children’s playground and 79 parking spaces. They aim to create 50 jobs. – Old Number 7, Barnsley: “Once again its with great pleasure that we have won the Barnsley Pub of the Year award, thanks to all who voted. Please check our Facebook, Twitter and website for details of upcoming events including “meet the brewer” evenings and beer tasting sessions.” – The Castle Inn at Bradway now has food up and running. The menu includes sandwiches and snacks, pub grub classics and quality home cooked specials. Food is served lunchtimes and evenings Tuesday to Friday, all day Saturday plus Sunday lunchtime.

Angel at Spinkhill update

The Angel Spinkhill Community Interest Company (CIC) has been undertaking a detailed feasibility study in order to prepare a bid to present to Punch Taverns. The Angel is listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) and during the existing moratorium period, only community interest groups can bid for the asset. The CIC is the only community group that has registered an interest and created a company that is eligible to embark upon the task of retaining this asset. The Feasibility Study has included: • Professional Valuation • Acquisition Survey Report • Asbestos Survey • Electrical Survey (including emergency lighting and fire alarm) • Gas and Heating Survey • Refurbishment estimates • Conceptual layouts of each floor of the building The CIC has been in discussion with a number of professionals to explore potential solutions that would facilitate the re-opening of the Angel as a ‘Destination Eatery’ that serves both the local and wider community. The Angel is marketed through Punch Taverns’ agents, Fleurets. Detailed negotiations have resulted in a bid from the CIC been accepted by Punch Taverns (subject to contract). The CIC has until  30th June 2014, to conclude the deal. Also on Thursday 15 May at 7pm, there will be a presentation by the Angel Community Interest Company. The meeting will take place in the school hall at Immaculate Conception Catholic Primary School and is designed to: • briefly outline the work undertaken since the last gathering • present to you an opportunity to invest in the future of the Angel For further information, and to bring offers of financial support, please contact the group at;  savetheangel.spinkhill@gmail.com

Bulls Head, Ranmoor

The Bull’s Head on Fulwood Road has a modern stylish interior with photos of old Sheffield and a display featuring some of Sheffield’s most famous faces. Runner up in Enterprise’s Pubs in Bloom last year the decking and seating in front of the pub is surrounded by colourful flowers. Looking forward to the summer months the back courtyard has been transformed into a wonderful area with block paving and patio heaters and a large covered area with large screen TV for sporting events or customer’s requests. Enterprise Inns used local company Edgedale Construction for the main works with a contribution from a local artist and specially commissioned steel lights in the shape of bull’s heads. The back wall has colour changing lighting enhancing an olive tree and raised planted area. Steve and Debbie Marshall and the team run events throughout the week with poker on Monday, all cask ale 2.50 while stocks last on Wednesday. Thursday is pie night with pie peas chips £8.95. There is live music on Saturday and a general knowledge quiz with free buffet on Sunday. Green King IPA and Bradfield Farmer’s Blonde are the usual beers with a rotating guest. Food is served Tuesday to Sunday with a special Sunday lunch. Cold snacks including pork pie and pickles are always available.

Inn Brief

The Ship Inn at Shalesmoor now has 4 handpumps, all serving local beers. The Castle Inn at Bradway reopens at 6pm on Friday 11th April under the management of Craig and Marie Harris, previously of the Peaks at Castleton where they offered local ales and home cooked food. They are managers employed Tandem Leisure who have taken on the lease of this pub, along with the Talbot and Peaks. Expect real ales on most of the 6 handpumps on the bar, which will have seen work prior to opening. The kitchen is subject to refurbishment so food won’t be introduced straight away, although hot pork sandwiches did feature on the opening night! On the 22nd May The Closed Shop will be receiving it’s Pub Of The Month award, and we’d love if you came to help us celebrate. They’ll be a buffet, and for reasons that will become clear, LOADS of beer. Why loads of beer? Well, we’re rather committed to the Cask Ale cause here, sowe’re hosting our first beer festival from Thursday 22nd till Sunday 25th to launch the start of the summer in style. There will be a BBQ in our large beer garden and a whole extra bar for our expanded ale range. And yes, don’t worry, they’ll still be Blue Bee Nectar Pale.

Trout, Barlow

Following previous reports that the Trout in Barlow had closed and was for sale, security fencing has appeared around the car park, which caused a bit of a kerfuffle with worries it was to be demolished! A sign has since appeared on said fencing with better news – the pub is going to receive a major refurbishment and reopen in the summer. The pub will now be known as the Tickled Trout and their website promises lovely local ale, great wine and top notch food that won’t break the bank. For news keep an eye on www.tickledtroutbarlow.com.

Victoria Inn, Dronfield

The Victoria was recently voted the most improved pub in Dronfield by our Dronfield & District sub branch, now a freehouse under the ownership of Chris Snell. Real Ale sales are booming and rather in defiance of the norm, in a mini refurbishment he has ripped out the kitchen to provide a bar extension and more seating and two more handpumps will be added to the bar! The Vic is a small, simple, drinkers pub with a lively atmosphere, reasonable prices, sport on the telly and live entertainment weekend nights.

British Oak, Mosborough

The British Oak on Mosborough Moor is reopening in a new guise. The pub has been sold outright as a freehold to Forum Café Bars group, who also operate the York at Broomhill, the Old House in Sheffield City Centre and the Broadfield on Abbeydale Road. Money has been invested on a renovation and refurbishment to create a quality yet relaxed environment. There will be a selection of real cask ales including at least one from Stancill Brewery (which is owned by the same company) along with interesting guests, there will also be a range of craft keg beers and imported bottled beers. The British Oak is to operate under the same ‘Alehouse’ style as the Broadfield and if the same standards are maintained here you should expect good beer, good food and good service. The food menu offers a combination of pub classics and classic English dishes with a gastro twist, with food served until 10pm every day. The pub has a website and can also be found on Twitter and Facebook. Stagecoach Buses 50, 50A, 53 and 71 pass the front door.  

Meet Springhead Brewer at Sheaf View

From 6pm on Monday 28th of April the Sheaf View will be hosting a ‘Meet the Brewer Night’ with Springhead Brewery. We’ll have a range of Springhead beers available on the bar to try with the brewers who will be there to answer questions, talk you though the brewing process and give tastings and raffles to give away prizes including Springhead gift packs, brewery tours and tutored tastings. The event is free and should be a fantastic night.

Angel at Spinkhill update

A local group is hoping to make a bid for the Angel during the ACA (Asset of Community Value) moratorium period. They are in the midst of discussions with a few interested parties regarding working with them to realise a shared vision and are happy to talk to other potential major partners. The ‘Save The Angel’ group is open to offers of help and will undertake to explore all possible opportunities that they believe will best serve the village of Spinkhill and the wider community.  Contact: savetheangel.spinkhill@gmail.com