Led by Dave Pickersgill, this short walking tour will explore Neepsend, an area which is currently ‘on the up’ (it’s next door to Kelham Island, the 35th ‘Coolest Place on the planet.’). We will encompass both aspects of industrial, and social, heritage and of the ‘Beer Capital’ status owned by the City of Sheffield. Highlights include the ex-Samuel Osborn Works (now Church – Temple of Fun), Naomi’s Corner, Ball Bridge, the JC Albyn complex and William Stones Cannon Brewery. There will be one en route stop and a finish in the Beer Garden in the co-operatively owned Gardeners Rest.
The walk will be published in September 2025 as the third in a growing series of ‘Sheffield Pub Heritage’ 32-page, A5 booklets. The first (University Arms to Fagan’s, 2003) is sold out. The second (‘Little Chicago’) was published in 2024.
A guided walk with a difference – Led by local author, John Stocks and editor of ‘Sheffield’s Real Heritage pubs,’ Dave Pickersgill, you will explore Sheffield’s Little Chicago Quarter. The walk will explore streets that feature in John’s book ‘Sheffield 1925: Gang Wars and Wembley Glory,’ and also explore the beer, social and Industrial heritage of the area. The comfortable walk, with one minor ascent, is just over a mile. It will last for approximately 90 minutes before concluding at the Kelham Island Tavern for a post-walk drink and discussion.
As part of our socials, we decided to include Matlock, and nearby Wirksworth in Derbyshire as part of our itinerary.
Matlock is steeped in farming and mining history, before becoming a spa town, and a subsequent base for exploring the Peak District. The name is thought to translate to ” moot oak,” somewhat explaining the local Brewery’s name. In the late 17th century warm springs were discovered, leading to the construction of bathhouses, and its development as a spa town. Being situated on the River Derwent, textiles also became prominent with the water powering the Mills. Which also grew the economy locally.
Having purchased my Stagecoach Gold Dayrider, (£10.50) a ticket that allows unlimited day travel on their buses in Sheffield and Derbyshire (Even as far as Nottingham, although the train is a quicker option). I nipped in the Bankers for a swift half of Conwy – Rampart, a malty brown/English of 4.5%.
Glyn and I boarded the X17 at 11:05 in a warm, but dull Sheffield, being joined by Graham and Paul on Arundel Gate for the journey onwards. Fortunately, due to roadworks on Chesterfield Road Andrew was at his stop by the time it arrived at Meadowhead, otherwise he would have had to join half an hour later. The Journey then takes the Dronfield bypass to Chesterfield and beyond.
Red Lion Beer Festival in Matlock
Our first stop was the Red Lion at Matlock Green, overlooked in the distance by Riber Castle. A nice country pub with 3 ales on the bar, but boasting plenty more at the Bank Holiday Beer Festival in the back garden. First choice from the main bar was a nice Moot – Matlock Blonde of 4.1%, brewed behind the pub! Then on to the festival beers, which were well represented from the local area and beyond. Being a mild and stout fan I plumped for the Brampton – Mild, a hefty 4.9%, then a Blue Monkey – Cinder Toffee Stout at 5%. The X17 was 5 minutes away for our journey to Wirksworth, so we hastily departed.
Wirksworth has a rich history from the Romans to the present. Even influencing George Eliot, the female author of Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss and Silas Marner. In the 12th century, it was a major centre for lead mining, before becoming prominent in quarrying. The town saw great growth and was the first cotton mill to use a steam engine at Arkwright’s Haarleem Mill. Another claim to fame is Dream Cave where wooly rhino bones were discovered.
Feather Star, Wirksworth
The purpose of this visit was a visit to the quirky The Feather Star, a pub that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Tolkien novels. A good range of beers saw me partake in a Big Trip – Soak Up the Sun, a hazy IPA of 4.2%. Next as we waited for the hourly bus was another Moot – Illumination, a tasty EPA of 4.2%. Also of note here was a collection of vinyl records racked up and available to buy.
After a democratic vote, we boarded the bus to return to Matlock itself and Titanic’s Bod bar, nicely designed as a bar and eaterie in a somewhat Scandinavian style. This had a pale I had not sampled before in Titanic – Steerage, an EPA of only 3.8. Having ordered a Chilli Sausage roll, the beer helped temper my burning mouth. Tasty, but somewhat spicy.
Newsroom, Matlock
The next sensible decision was the one to get the bus up to the The Newsroom and The Farmacy, the 2 micropubs overlooking the town. As expected from the name, The Newsroom was a former newsagents that simply had a decline trade and simply needed a change of direction. The bar itself was quite small, but had a nice choice of beers, of which Pentrich’s – Where’s My Elephent was my choice being a sweet milk of 5%.
Round the corner was The Farmacy, as run you may deduct a former pharmacy, this is a tap for Aldwarke Artisan Ales which is run by a farming family. Again a great good choice of beer in a bustling bar. I ordered my Pale Ale, GF and 3.9%. Seating was available outside and we grabbed a table to rest before the walk to where we alighted, for the X17 bus home.
All-in-all, a very enjoyable trip in somewhere I haven’t drank before. Certainly a little tour you could do with a partner or friends for 6-7 hours.
The Red Lion beer festival took place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. Bus X17 runs from Sheffield to Matlock every 30 minutes during the daytime (hourly on Sundays) with one an hour extended to Wirksworth. It operates via Woodseats, Chesterfield, Matlock, Matlock Bath and Cromford. Sheffield & District CAMRA has a regular programme of socials for our members, check out the diary page for details.
As far as an impromptu socials goes, you can’t beat a beer festival in the sunshine.
I arrived to join others around 17:00, to an already packed terrace with no seats to be had. The band was warming up, the food was cooking and the beer flowing.
There was a change from last year, and to be honest, not for the better. The cider tent was placed in a small corner, unlike the double-fronted location of last year. This caused a very congested stand this time around. Fortunately the ciders made up for it and they were proving popular, looking like they were in danger of selling-out the next day!
To begin, I started with a Thornbridge not sampled before, Black & Gold. A nice hoppy pale of a blonde/golden character. Lots of flavour in its 3.4% though, and an easy starter.
Steve, Andy, Paul and Dan at the Student Union beer & cider festival
I joined Paul M, Bev, Dan, and Bev’s sister Teri and husband, Steve for a chat all things ale and beyond. Andy Morten of 50k+ beers fame joined the gathering, but wasn’t stopping too long. It wasn’t long before my friend Bleddyn made it there with his pint of Brew York’s Maris the Otter, a 3.9% bitter from this excellent brewery renowned for its stouts.
Bev, Steve and Teri at the Student Union beer & cider festival
We were a bit jaded, so decided to get a seat, where we were joined my another friend Gordon. We soon felt peckish after the beer, so a Currywurst was purchased, and it was very tasty with fries, sauerkraut and mini-gherkins at £6.90.
The now seated Kevin, Bleddyn and Gordon at the Student Union beer & cider festival
Paul, Bev, Dan and Co bade their farewells, as they were continuing on more beer trails.
Being a suckered for a flavoured stout, my eyes were drawn to the Neepsend Jasmin’s Jamaican Rum Cake Stout. Quite thin and only 4.8%, but the flavour didn’t disappoint.
Now the problem is, sitting opposite the TV advertising beers. You’re always going to see one you have to sample. In this case it was an old favourite Thornbridge Baize, the legendary Mint Chocolate Stout. 5.5% like an After Eight in a glass, not cheap but worth it.
Time for departure, and a walk through town and the West Street Strip to catch my last bus, after a swift last one in the Bankers Draft. We’ll be back next year, possibly attending the Friday evening, and the Saturday, football fixtures allowing?
the printed beer & cider list at the Student Union beer & cider festival
As we head into summer, it is a great time to be heading out into the countryside to visit some of the wonderful country pubs on our patch! In Sheffield & District we are lucky to have the Peak District National Park offering a rural landscape that is breathtakingly beautiful and some useful bus and train links to get you around. For this month’s PUBlic Transport column I thought I’d highlight a few of the routes to try.
A Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket offers unlimited travel all day on any local bus or train in Derbyshire (except the Peak Sightseer tour) plus direct services between Sheffield City Centre and Derbyshire. The bus only ticket costs £9 whilst the bus and train option costs £17. Note you can’t use trains on weekdays before 9am. Alternatively at the moment there is a government funded bus deal where the maximum single fare is capped at just £3.
THE HOPE VALLEY LINE (along with buses 257 and 272)
Northern run an hourly local train service between Sheffield and Manchester that calls at Grindleford, Hathersage, Hope and Edale. Running parallel to the railway is bus route 272 Sheffield-Castleton which serves Fox House, Hathersage, Brough, Bradwell, Hope and Castleton. Both also serve Bamford railway station, however the village itself is a mile up the hill from there, which is served by bus 257 from Sheffield.
There are four pubs in Hathersage that serve real ale. The more down to earth venue in the centre of the village is the Little John Hotel where the tap room features a pool table and table football. A bit of a walk down the road past the railway station to Leadmill Bridge brings you to the Plough Inn with a fantastic choice of outdoor drinking areas. Elsewhere in the village is the George and the Scotsman’s Pack. Alternatively up in the hills with a spectacular view over the valley is the Millstone.
Bamford has just the one pub – the Anglers Rest, offering up to 6 cask ales including some from local breweries, however further up the road is the Yorkshire Bridge Inn and Ladybower Inn, located near the famous Derwent Dams and enjoy a wonderful setting by the reservoirs.
In Bradwell there are two pubs, including the White Hart, which is run by Bradfield Brewery. The bus also passes through Brough, home of Intrepid Brewery.
Hope is where you will find the Old Hall Hotel which hosts a beer & cider festival on most bank holiday weekends whilst across the road is the Woodroffe Arms, a tradional local, whilst down the lane towards Edale is the Cheshire Cheese Inn where you can enjoy cosy dining inside or al fresco drinking in their beer garden.
Castleton has enough pubs in the village for a full days pub crawl as well as a really good specialist off licence, whilst Edale has a couple of pubs including the Old Nag’s Head, which sits at the start of the Pennine Way footpath.
BUS 173 – BAKEWELL TO CASTLETON
If you are travelling from Sheffield, you can connect onto this rural minibus service by using the 218 to Bakewell or at the other end of the route you can connect at Hope from the train or bus 272. Alternatively bus 65 from Sheffield serves Litton and Tideswell. The single vehicle on route 173 shuttles up and down providing a departure once every 2 hours linking a number of villages and offering a scenic ride. Note this bus doesn’t run evenings or Sundays. Check the timetable carefully for the two trips a day that divert via Cressbrookdale.
In Great Longstone you’ll find a couple of pubs and in Little Longstone is the Packhorse Inn, a cosy little pub offering Thornbridge beer and home cooked food. Up the hill from here on the main road junction is Monsal Head with a view over the valley including the former railway viaduct below. You can take in the sights sat outside the Stables Bar behind the Monsal Head Hotel, which is also serves Thornbridge beer.
At Wardlow Mires is the legendary Three Stags’ Heads, a historical, no nonsense small two room pub listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory. A choice of local ales is available.
In Litton is the Red Lion, a cosy cottage style pub with real ales and food
Next along the route is Tideswell, there are three pubs here – the George Inn, Star and Horse & Jockey. A short distance outside the village and also on the bus route is the Anchor, which had its moment of fame as a result of providing tractor spaces in the car park catering for local farmers popping in for lunch!
BUS 65 – SHEFFIELD TO BUXTON
This bus service runs about once every 2 hours during the daytime, 7 days a week. There is no evening service. It serves a number of villages along the way including Grindleford, Calver, Eyam, Foolow, Great Hucklow, Tideswell, Litton and Millers Dale.
At Calver you’ll find the Calver Arms, Eyam the Miners Arms and in Foolow the Bulls Head. Great Hucklow is home to Eyam Brewery along with the Queen Anne pub. Hidden away from the main road at Millers Dale by the river is the Angler’s Rest.
BUS 257 – SHEFFIELD TO BAKEWELL (the long way round)
This bus provides an hourly service out of Sheffield via Yorkshire Bridge to Bamford seven days a week (no evening service) with buses continuing to Bakewell Monday to Saturday. There are some route variations at certain times of day to cater for rural school travel, however the core route runs via Hathersage, Grindleford, Calver, Stoney Middleton, Eyam and Baslow. If you are travelling from Sheffield to Baslow or Bakewell then bus 218 is more direct. The only village on this route not previously mentioned for buses 65, 173 or 272 is Stoney Middleton, here you will find the Moon Inn.
BUS X17 – BARNSLEY TO WIRKSWORTH
This bus links Sheffield, Chesterfield, Matlock, Matlock Bath, Cromford and Wirksworth.
PEAK SIGHTSEER – OPEN TOP BUS TOURS
Mentioned before and covering some of the above areas, two routes operate from 24 May until 25 October, with a daily service up to 21 September. The Red Route is a circular tour from Chatsworth House to Bakewell whilst the Blue route is a linear tour from Chatsworth House to Castleton via Baslow, Calver, Grindleford, Hathersage and Hope. Buses run daytime only on an hourly frequency and a couple of feeder trips run from Meadowhead, Woodseats, Millhouses and Totley. The tour ticket costs £12 and you can hop on and off as much as you like so can visit a pub or two along the way as well as enjoy the scenery!
BUS 61/62 – HILLSBOROUGH – BRADFIELD
These buses run a circular route from Hillsborough Interchange (you can connect with trams and other buses there) taking in Loxley, Bradfield, Dungworth and Stannington and run all day every day except Sunday. Pubs along the way include the Wisewood Inn (home of Loxley Brewery), Nags Head Inn (Bradfield Brewery’s original tap), Old Horns Inn (offering a fantastic view over the valley) and Bradfield Plough.
NEWS
First bus are no longer using X (formerly Twitter) and are directing customers to their app and website for service updates and information.
Rail replacement works take place on Supertram 24 to 30 May (between Cathedral and Middlewood/Malin Bridge), 28 July to 15 August (between Sheffield Station and Gleadless) and 16 to 29 August (between Hillsborough and Middlewood). Replacement buses will operate on the closed sections of route. Additionally Tram Train is not serving Rotherham on Saturday evenings until 25 October to allow a new station at Magna to be built – hopefully it will be open in time for Great British Beer Festival Winter next February!
Our annual Hillsborough Social took place on Friday 21 Feb at The Pangolin on Middlewood Road. On arriving from town, after meeting an old St Luke’s friend, there was a healthy dozen or so drinkers ready to sample the delights the district has to offer.
My drink of choice was Brid’s Cross, a brewery I was not familiar with, Ash and Elm, a pale with piney, malty notes. A very pleasant APA of 4.5%.
Next was the short hop over the tram tracks to the excellent little Micropub, The Beekeeper. This bar always has 3 pumps on, one normally being a new Neepsend brew. To that end, I sampled their Muisca, a 5.5% American IPA.
Heading to Hillsborough corner, we popped in the Northern Monkey who are making an effort to stock 2 cask, one of which was the nice Doctor Morten’s Duck Baffler, a simple American pale ale of 4.1% for easy quaffing.
Across the traffic lights sits The Hillsborough Tap, always quite lively and has 5 cask pumps. Unfortunately, they had the SWFC match on, and it wasn’t going well, so after a quick half, we made our way to the Rawson Spring.
This Wetherspoon establishment is set in the old swimming baths, and the spectator gallery is still visible. There is always a selection of 5-6 guest ales, and at a very good price with your CAMRA voucher. Mine was a pale, although being later in the night, I forgot to note it.
Finally, to conclude the evening, we decamped to the Beer House S6. This larger ale bar has a regular 5 cask, a cider on handpump, then 4-5 keg. There always seems to be a Two by Two or a Big Trip on, so a safe pair of hands on choice.
So, another one over, and again a good turnout to support this thriving little beer community.
UPCOMING PUB TRIP SOCIALS:
19 April – Doncaster by train
24 May – Matlock by bus
6 June – Fuggle Bunny Brewery tap
21 June – Huddersfield by train
July – Peak District by bus (details TBC)
30 August – New Mills by train including Torrside brewery tap
Join us to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the creation of the Pennine Way long distance footpath with this much shorter walk between Hope and Edale where the Way starts on its 268 mile route to Kirk Yetholm.
We shall be catching the 11:36 272 Castleton bus from Sheffield Interchange as far as Hope Village. Our first drink will be in the Old Hall Inn and we’ll wait for anyone who’s come out on the 12:14 Northern train from Sheffield. A short walk then takes us to the Old Cheshire Cheese for a second drink.
From there there’s a choice. You can either join us for a walk up Lose Hill to Hollins Cross and then down to Edale for a drink at the Rambler Inn to get our breath back before walking up to the Old Nags Head where there should be a Beer Festival in full swing (April 25th-27th)
Alternatively, you can board the 62 bus from outside the Cheshire Cheese to take you to Edale for that section of the RambAle. Late comers can also come out on the train to join us at Edale. Departures from Sheffield are at 14 minutes past each hour. Return travel will be by train from Edale Station. All welcome.
Next RambAles: – Sat May 17th, Fri June 6th and Sat July 12th
Sheffield has many great pubs and green spaces within, and around, its boundaries. Once again we invite you to join us on visits to some of our local pubs and villages in the countryside in and surrounding Sheffield using public transport.
APRIL Sat 26 | The Pennine Way starts here!
Join us to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Pennine Way long distance footpath with this much shorter walk between Hope and Edale where the Way starts on its 268 mile route to Kirk Yetholm.
Catch the 11:36 272 Castleton bus from Sheffield Interchange as far as Hope village. We shall meet up in the Old Hall Inn for our first drink and wait for anyone who’s come out on the 12:14 Northern train from Sheffield.
A short walk then takes us to the Old Cheshire Cheese for a second drink. From there we’ll walk up Lose Hill to Hollins Cross and then down to Edale for a drink at the Rambler Inn to get our breath back before walking up to the Old Nags Head where there should be a beer festival in full swing (25-27). Return travel will be by train from Edale Station.
MAY Sat 17 | A bluebell walk through Ecclesall Woods to Dore & Totley
Meet outside Dore and Totley Stn (S17 3LB – trains, 97, 98 or 218 buses) at 11:30. We’ll walk through Ecclesall Woods and Ryecroft Glen up to Dore to call in at the Devonshire Arms. We’ll then walk down to the Crown and the Cricket Inn at Totley before walking up to the Cross Scythes for a final drink before a bus back home.
JUNE Fri 6 | Beighton to Halfway via Rother Valley Country Park and Killamarsh
We catch the 11:45 Blue Tram from Castle Square to the Drake House Lane in Beighton stop. Then its a short walk to the Scarsdale Hundred Wetherspoons for our starters. We then walk down to and then through the Rother Valley Country Park to get to Killamarsh for a visit to the award winning Guzzle MicroPub.
Finally we walk up the road to finish with a visit to the Fuggle Bunny Brew House, where we might be joined by fellow CAMRA drinkers.
JULY Sat 12 | In the footsteps of Kes, Hoyland Common to Chapeltown
Catch the 11:36 2 bus from Eyre Street alighting at Stead Lane in Hoyland Common, featuring artwork depicting Billy Caspar and Kes, and a blue plaque on the house where Barry Hines lived.
We visit the Tap & Brew for a choice of six brews, then onto the Saville Square pub. We do a bit of walking towards Tankersley and Thorncliffe. The Miners Arms might provide a further stop as we continue on our way to the Commercial in Chapeltown.
We might find time to call in the Wagon & Horses before getting either a train or bus back to Sheffield.
AUGUST TBD | We hope to feature a mini pub tour of Derbyshire
We aim to provide a series of walks which we hope people won’t find either too long or too strenuous and most will feature a number of pubs and drop-out points where people can leave and make their own way back, by bus or train, to Sheffield if they don’t fancy doing the whole walk or want to stay for another drink in a particular pub. These will also provide joining points for any latecomers.
Everyone is welcome to join us on any of these walks but they are advised to come suitably equipped for the day’s walking, which may be rough, wet and muddy in places. Please also come prepared for the possibility of changeable and inclement weather. In most cases you will also need to bring (or be able to buy) sufficient food and drink for yourself for the day.
Most timings and fares will be given in the walks listing. Any additions or amendments will also be published in new leaflets, future editions of Beer Matters or on our website.
Sheffield CAMRA gathered once again at the Ball, Crookes for their Christmas meal. We were a week early this year to avoid a clash with either football teams fixtures, ensuring a healthy 17 turnout.
Proceedings got off well with a choice of starters, with a choice of pâté, creamy garlic mushrooms or chicken goujon strips. Accompanying this was local Stancill Ginger Pale, a 4% spicy pale ale for myself, and was popular with others.
We gave it ten minutes before the main, a veritable Christmas dinner. Turkey, and the works. Nice gravy and cranberry sauce to compliment it.
After the generous helping, an even bigger rest was required before desserts, so trips to the bar were made. I plumped for the Peak Ales Chatsworth Gold, a nice pale of 4.6%, but Jaipur and other ales were on offer. The desserts, or puddings if local, rolled out, again a good choice of Christmas pudding, brownie or cheesecake with brandy sauce, custard or ice cream.
We felt sated at a bargain £20 for three courses. Will the Ball Inn make it a hattrick next year, who knows, but the good food and fine selection of ales make it a frontrunner.
A few of us made our goodbyes, although we have a branch meet before Christmas, and for some the annual last minute present rush.
Well-known micropub blogger, Scott Spencer, recently visited Sheffield where he was guided through one of our published pub heritage walks: Little Chicago. He then visited another eleven pubs, mostly new to his blogs. We started at West Bar taking in the excellent, and varied, beer offerings in the Crow, Shakespeare’s and the Kelham Island Tavern while discussing both happenings from the major expansion of Sheffield in the 18th century and episodes from the 1920s Sheffield gang wars. Also mentioned was local art works, the Methodist Church, George Orwell, the 1884 ‘Drinks Map of Sheffield,’ changes in employment patterns and the positive effect of immigration
Kelham Island followed before the Harlequin, the Riverside and a sweep up to Trippet Lane, via 2/6 and Perch. Full details of Scott’s enjoyable time in Sheffield are available at: https://micropubadventures.co.uk/2024/11/02/2-11-24-sheffield-little-chicago/ . He hopes to visit Sheffield for a third blog at some point next Spring.
On this Sheffield visit, Scott was accompanied by Chris, (Editor of Inspire, the Chesterfield CAMRA magazine) and Sheffield and District CAMRA members Dave, Jenny and Malcolm. Details of the Little Chicago walk and the accompanying booklet are available at: https://sheffield.camra.org.uk/rhp/
A Saturday in early October saw your editor out in the Hope Valley getting in some Beer Matters magazine deliveries before visiting Intrepid Brewery’s open day.
The afternoon started jumping on the local train from Dore & Totley station with an intention of heading to Edale, however the two car Northern train was seriously overcrowded so the decision was made to bail out at Hathersage and start deliveries at the Little John Hotel in Hathersage instead, where a beer from Red Willow brewery was enjoyed.
Following the earlier experience of the train service it was decided to use buses instead and the Peak Sightseer Blue route open top bus was utilised for a ride up the valley to Castleton for deliveries and quick halves in the Peak Hotel, Olde Nag’s Head and SwissTap.
That quick pub crawl matched the time it took for the open top bus to go up Winnats Pass to the Blue John Cavern and back and it was rejoined to head down the road to Hope for the Old Hall Hotel.
It was time to visit Intrepid Brewery next, located at Brough Mill which is on the road to Bradwell. Some buses on First’s route 272 go that way but not many and the one that was due failed to operate, however around the same time was the Hulleys bus 173 which runs once every 2 hours so that was boarded for the short run to the brewery!
The set up for the open day involved a pop up bar in the brewery whilst the yard outside had tables and seating along with Sunshine Pizza’s van. A pin was sat on the end of the bar containing a special imperial edition of the Stanage Stout so a half of this was tried, accompanied by a spicy/meaty pizza and both were enjoyed!
It was time to go home and the bus network provided another challenge as the 272 provides an hourly service towards Castleton but no service towards Sheffield for several hours, however it was proved possible to ride the Castleton bound bus to the main road by the Travellers Rest, quickly cross the road and join the Peak Sightseer feeder bus to Woodseats.
An open top bus ride at 6pm in October proved rather cold so the coat was zipped up as high as it would go and my lack of hat was regretted, however there was a reward as the bus climbed up into the hills above Hathersage as a beautiful sunset over the valley was witnessed!
This was pretty much end of season for the Peak Sightseer open top buses, with the last day of operation for 2024 being Saturday 26 October. It was obvious why of course, when I connected onto the regular Stagecoach number 25 to Bradway the existence of a roof and heating was appreciated!
