The Sheffield Tap are hosting a meet the brewer event on Thu 27 Feb with Hand Drawn Monkey Brewing Co, an award-winning, mind-bendingly ambitious progressive craft/ale brewing company based in Huddersfield.
Started in Oct 2012 by Rob Allen (former manager/brewer at El Rat and Ratchet) and Tom Evans, (senior brew monkey extraordinaire at Blue Monkey Brewery among others) these cheeky chappies wanted to brew beers they like and push the boundaries of convention.
Come down and try samples from both their Cask and Keg range and an exclusive collaboration with HDM. Tickets available at the bar (£10). Get them quick as they won’t last long.
Following a planning hearing at North East Derbyshire County Council (17 Dec 2013) which ended with the council wanting more information regarding the ACV status of The Angel, notice of intention to dispose of The Angel has been received from the owners Punch Taverns. This triggers a six week period when community interest groups can ask to be treated as potential bidders. The opportunity has arisen as part of the national Community Right to Bid process which enables local groups to bid to take on the running of local assets that have been placed on the Council’s List of Assets of Community Value (ACV). These are assets which are valued by the community and are likely to continue to be in future.
Bodies eligible to bid under the legislation include charities, community interest companies, non-profit distributing companies limited by guarantee or non-profit distributing industrial/provident societies (otherwise known as community benefit societies). If NEDCC receives a request from a community interest group to be treated as a potential bidder within the six week period, it will trigger a full six month period during which time eligible local groups will be able to work on their proposal. We understand that a local community group, linked to the ‘Save the Angel’ campaign, is seriously considering making such a bid.
During this six week or six month period the owner can continue to negotiate and market the asset but cannot sell it unless it is to a community interest group. After the six week or six month period, whichever applies, they are free to sell the asset to whomsoever they choose. Requests to be treated as potential bidders have to be sent, with evidence of eligibility, by 29 Jan to the Governance Manager, at NEDCC, Chesterfield.
For more on the Community Right to Bid, including how to list an asset visit the
Derbyshire County Council website.
Anthony Murray recently took over management of the Silver Fox, Manchester Road, Stocksbridge. The pub now stocks three real ales, with capacity for a further guest ale. Regulars include Sharps Tribute, Thwaites Wainwright and Wells Bombardier.
Anthony learnt his trade in the Chesterfield area, working at a number of pubs, including the Royal Oak and the New Inn at Hasland. The pub is a tied tenancy (Trust Inns) but he is able to pick from a fairly large beer list. Recent examples have included Adnams Shingle Shells and Thwaites Lancaster Bomber. Trust Inns own over 500 public houses nationwide.
The Fox was originally a Tetley pub which appeared in the 1976 and 1977 editions of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. It was officially opened on 19th April 1963 and, at the time was described as having “a superb wine list and an extensive luncheon and dinner menu at most reasonable prices” (Fox Magazine Summer 1963, page 14).
In 1935, Stocksbridge based, Samuel Fox & Company provided a pair of stainless steel foxes to the London and North Eastern Railway which were used to decorate the sides of their new Class A4 locomotive no. 2512 Silver Fox. It is believed the pub was named after this incident.
We wish Anthony luck in this new venture.
The
Closed Shop is pleased to announce that the new month will also see the launch of a new and improved menu. Expect traditional home-made pub classics, a selection of sandwiches, butties and burgers, and an ever changing specials board for that something extra, erm… special!
For those with families to feed, the new menu will also have a selection of kid’s options – not to mention our home-made ice-cream to keep them quiet for that important second pint. Choose from our range of 8 hand-pulled cask ales including the ever present Blue Bee
Nectar Pale 4%. And if, sacre bleu, you really don’t feel up to that, our Lavazza coffee range will always be available to perk you up, with a variety of cakes perched temptingly on our bar.
So whether you’re after a light bite at dinner, something to soak up the Commonside pub-crawl booze, or an evening meal with friends, we reckon we have it covered. Why not ask our staff what ales they’d recommend with your meal of choice? Or what meal would go with your ale of choice (this is a CAMRA publication after all!).
StarmoreBoss
StarmoreBoss (above) is a new boutique and bespoke off-license retailing specialist quality wine, craft beer and intriguing spirits.
Situated at 257 Sharrow Vale Road in Sheffield, it is a welcome addition to the community of shops situated around the Porter Brook that also include a fishmonger, grocery, bakery, delicatessen, butchers and other small independent cafes and craft shops.
Owners Barry Starmore and Jefferson Boss are well known public figures within Sheffield and the wider drinks community.
Barry has over 25 years of wine experience. Having started out as a Sommelier at the Savoy Group, he’s well known for running the Oddbins shops in Sheffield for the last 18 years and also for his involvement with the Wig and Pen. Barry has run hugely popular wine and whisky tasting evenings at venues across Sheffield. He’s also been invited first hand to many wineries across the world and learnt how to make whisky at Bowmore Distillery on Islay, Scotland.
Jefferson has worked behind a counter for over 15 years. Some will recognise him from 10 years service at Record Collector in Broomhill. Or from Oddbins on Abbeydale Rd, where he met Barry and started his passion for drinks. Jefferson has also run bars and pubs, most notably the Shakespeare on Gibraltar St, where he started its transformation to an award winning real ale pub and attracted musical acts from around the world. Currently he has been part of the management team at the Blake Hotel in Upperthorpe and is responsible for one of South Yorkshire’s best whisky selection.
Focussing on the growing concern of food provenance the shop will sell stock that has been sourced and selected by the owners for their quality, heritage and provenance.
“Our wines have been selected from outstanding producers and small growers with a passion to deliver that special glass. We will be running ‘Meet the Winemaker’ events with your chance taste and chat directly with those who make the wine.
We shall be supplying specialist whisky and showcasing independent bottlers, small batch and artisan gins, some of the best vodkas and rums from around the world as well as small run tequilas unique to individual villages in Mexico.
We will also be selecting small parcels of whisky that we shall bottle under our label exclusively for the shop.
Our beers will encompass a rotating range of local brewers as well as international beers from Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia and some top picks from the craft brewing movement that has swept across America.
We believe in all of the products that we sell and each one has its own unique story that we are proud and passionate to share with the public.
The shop will also host small tasting events and master-classes. We will guide a small group through various beverages explaining how they are made, their history and what qualities to look out for. We shall also have guest speakers from the drinks industry, producers and ambassadors come give talks.”
Beer Central
Beer Central (front cover) opened in the new Moor Indoor Market as planned and in the run up to Christmas proved popular with almost constant queues for bottled beers and mini casks of beer.
Hop Hideout
Another new bottle beer shop to open before Christmas was Hop Hideout, a speciality beer shop housed within a vintage emporium (Vintedge) offering 150+ independent brewed beers from UK, European and American breweries. You’ll find local ales from Kelham Island, Bradfield and Thornbridge housed next to Beavertown, The Kernel, Brooklyn, Sierra, Nogne, Nomada, De Molen and more all jostling for space on the shelves.
Upcoming events, tickets available in shop. Venue is Electric Candlelight Cafe (next door to Hop Hideout) 7-9pm (doors 6.30pm): Sat 25th Jan: Meet the Brewer with Northern Monk Brew Co £10; Fri 28th Feb Leigh Linley presents Better Beer Blogging £5; Fri 21st March Meet the Brewer with Steel City & Hopcraft £10
The refurbished
Sportsman in Norton Lees had a relaunch on 22 Nov. It is now under new management and refurbished. Real ale continues to be available as does sport on TV. Newly introduced is food – look out for various weekly food offers.
The
White Lion at Heeley, as well as its usual busy live music programme, real ale on the bar and newly introduced bar snacks, has a few additional things going on during December.
At the beginning of the month is a charity Christmas fair then on Christmas Eve there is a fancy dress competition. Boxing Day is designated ‘Red and White day’ which could equally refer to Christmas or the fact that Sheffield United is playing at home that day.
The New Years Eve party is a dress to impress affair. Also amongst the Christmas music programme worth pointing out is the Christmas Concert on the 22nd when mulled wine and mince pies will be available! See their advert for full listings.
The
Bradway is now fenced off and has contractors on site. It looks like demolition to make way for the Sainsburys Local convenience store is imminent.
The
Yew Tree at Malin Bridge is to have a new outdoor drinking area. An initial scheme was rejected earlier this year because of the predicted noise and other disturbance for neighbours. Now ambitions have been scaled back to the satisfaction of the council although the proposed external drinking area is only slightly smaller, with fixed umbrellas. Proposals for seating booths, TV screens and floodlights have been dropped.
The management team running The
Wharncliffe Arms has taken on the
Miners Arms in Chapeltown. This opened on 8 Nov, run by Martin and Emma.
