Category: UK

It’s not every month a local Sheffield band plays a gig in their pub in Lincoln. So when I was e-mailed of this gig, I jumped at the chance. A senior Railcard ticket of £10.50, and an absolute bargain of an Air B&B of £24 sealed the deal. 

I woke early to get ready for the 10:41 train departing at Midland Station, fortunately although the bus was late I had given myself plenty of time. The train departed a minute after schedule for the direct route taking 70 minutes through some pleasant countryside. On arrival and a short hop over the bridge, I was in the city. 

It was fortunate I remembered the route from our Steel City Beer Festival volunteers trip last year, although I was seeking some pubs not visited on that trip. I exited right at the station and immediately arrived on the High Street. Now it may have been one of Lincoln’s Council to cancel the Christmas Market, but it was still heaving with locals and visitors. The local chapel was holding an indoor fete, but outside were the fantastic Lincoln Owl Rescue and their magnificent array of birds, which are very tame and can be stroked. 

After that, I headed down and arrived at my first hostelry, The Treaty of Commerce, more or less the first pub on that side of High Street, a Batemans pub with a very nice selection of 4 handpumps. I plumped for the Gold (also known as Yella-Belly) firstly, a nice pale of 3.9% that was just right fort the first pint. The owner and the locals were very chatty and I gained some knowledge of pubs in the area. Before leaving, I was recommended to try the Dark M, 3.4%, a beer not normally seen? I am glad I did as the texture and taste was fantastic. 

I then moved on to the Tiny Tavern,  again on High Street, one I had visited with the mysterious “Ring bell for entry” on one door, the exit on the other side. Again a good selection of 6 pumps, including my choice of Milestone – Crusader, a safe Blonde/Golden of 4.4%. 

As I was nearing check-in time, I walked to the accommodation, just over the Foss Dyke Canal and very near to Lincoln’s City ground Sincil Bank. After a quick spruce up, I ordered an Uber to visit one of the recommended pubs The Birdcage, located on Baggholme Road.  A lovely little traditional pub with 3 beers on pump, and not too far from the gig venue. I went for the FAB (Ferry Ales Brewery) – Merry Imp, a pale of 3.4%, and brewed in the local Micro Brewery in the City. 

With the aid of Google Maps, I set off for the Jolly Brewer on Broadgate. It was literally a 10 minute walk and seemed a very nice venue. It had 2 ales among the myriad of gassy keg, and as one was Abbott, I plumped for the Bridgehouse Brewery – Rum and Raisin Stout at 4.9%, thin but packed with flavour, this was so nice I had to drink 4 pints of it. After a couple of supports, The Sherlocks made their entrance to the 200 capacity rear yard. They played a mixture of older lesser played songs, and a couple of new from the new album due in February.

 After the finish, there was time for one more before bed, so I headed to Wetherspoons, The Ritz on the High Street which as the title suggests is a former cinema.  They had a choice of 5 ales, 4 being Christmas themed. I selected the Milestone – Donner & Blitzed, a 4.5% winter ale. Home and bed as I had to get up at 08:30 to shower and gather my stuff. 

Next morning I was out of the house for 09:00, and off to Spoons for a breakfast. Service was quick and the Miners Benedict was fantastic. basically Eggs Benedict with a nice slice of black pudding underneath. My train was at 14:10, so I had time for a couple of halves before, so visited The Cardinals Hat on the slight incline of High Street, after a 10 minute delay at the rail crossing for a passenger, and very long freight, train to pass  through. As usual a great selection of beers, so the two I chose were Wilde Child’s – Sneaky Peak, 4.5% milk stout and Brew York’s – Fairytale of Brew York, a lovely 4.9% milk stout. 

The time was approaching to leave the City, and on arriving at the station, there was only a 10 minute wait for the on-time train home. A pleasant journey, but I was starting to feel tired, so passed on the opportunity to have a pint on arrival home. 

Until next time, Lincoln. There is still one or two new ones to visit.  

Welsh steam and ale

Our chair Paul Manning and his wife Bev had a recent short trip to Wales.  

We had a weekend stay in a converted chapel at Minnford near Porthmadog calling on the way at the Bleeding Wolf pub near Congleton where we enjoyed a Dizzy Blonde, a pale ale by Robinsons brewery.

After a restful evening we walked into Porthmadog the next morning and enjoyed some lovely sunshine at Spooners Bar on Porthmadog railway station. This Good Beer Guide entry pub was flush with real ale and we enjoyed Moho a 4.3% Welsh pale ale by Mantle brewery, Ceridwen a 3.7% Welsh black ale by Bragdy brewery, Solstice Three Tuns a 3.9% pale by Bishops castle brewery in Shropshire and finally Snowdonia Ale a 3.8% golden pale by the local Purple Moose, brewery.

Suitably refreshed we boarded our Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway steam train for a 13 mile return journey to Blaenau Ffestiniog. The scenery was very nice especially and surprisingly the slate hillsides. The railway was built to transport the Welsh slate from the hills to the coast. Of course we enjoyed a bottle of the on board Welsh steam ale, a 3.6% pale from Purple Moose brewery. 

Arriving back in Porthmadog we visited the town’s other GBG pub entry, the Australia which was Purple Moose brewery’s local tap. Our favourites were Mono citra a 4.6% session IPA being a collaboration brew with Bragdy brewery and Chocolate Moose a 5.6% chocolate and vanilla stout.

We returned home the next day via a short stop at Llandudno for some bracing sea air. We enjoyed a lovely lunch of Welsh cheese rarebit washed down with a pint of Tetleys Dark Mild at the Tynedale hotel on the promenade astonishingly already decorated for its Christmas breaks!

On 9^th November, over forty SCBF48 volunteers enjoyed a celebratory trip to Nottingham. An early start meant we arrived as the pubs opened. Using the map provided, we split into smaller groups and spread across the city centre in order to sample the beery delights available. Personally, I visited three breweries, a couple of micropubs with football references and several other establishments.

The three breweries, Angel Brewhouse, Neon Raptor and Liquid Light provided a range of beer styles, some strong esoteric keg offerings at the Sneinton Market home of Raptor contrasting with more traditional offerings at the Grade II listed, Angel:  Angel Delight Pale 4.9% and Hung, Drawn and Quartered Porter 5.2%. Liquid Light operate from an industrial unit on the edge of the city centre, a site which you struggle to find by accident. Their cosy tap room included four cask ales all at the very reasonable price of £3.50/pint, or less. We appreciated the 1972 quote from Ziggy Stardust: ‘Beer light to guide us.’

Partizan, a micropub named after Partizan Belgrade provided Elusive Brewing Leaves (4.2%). Copious memorabilia include a framed programme from an Inter Cites Fairs Cup game at Elland Road in December 1967. Disappointingly, the Kilpin café, named after, English expatriate, Herbert Kilpin, the founder of AC Milan, had neither cask beer nor a reference to the Rossoneri.

Traditional pubs visited included the grade II listed Bell Inn, the small unspoilt Dragon, a Castle Rock renovation, the Fox and Grapes, one-roomed Kean’s Head and a family-run free house, King William IV (King Billy). Overall, an enjoyable day:  good company, good pubs, and good beer.

Arriving in town a little before the train departing at 11:44, I decided to see what The Bankers Draft had to offer. As it happened they had a rather nice Salamander Golden on, a nice blonde /Golden of 4.5%. 

Nearing departure, I walked down to Midland Station. The queue is always a little long, as they only have 2 ticket staff on a Saturday. However, they got through people quickly and this gave me time for a half in The Sheffield Tap. As always, there is a good choice of 6-7 wickets. I went for one I had not drank before, a Mad Ape – Twistin’ My Melon Man, a delightful wheat beer coming in at 4.8%. 

So, off to platform 4a for the train that was travelling to Leeds via Barnsley. I saw Malcolm and Graham before boarding and we began the journey, only stopping at Meadowhall. On alighting we met Malc Anderson, who had boarded, but due to being sardined in, he couldn’t move to find us. 

Setting off at midday for our first destination, Spiral City in The Arcade. We were met by nice surroundings, including a vinyl record shop, but only 2 ales. We all plumped for the Stancill -Sweet Caroline, a pale at 4.1%. 

Bang across at the Jolly Tap, we were glad to see around 6-7 beers from the Jolly Boys’ Brewery. This is where Andy C and Rob caught up. I had a nice APA called Supa-Citra, packing a decent punch of 4.2%. If that wasn’t your thing though, they had bitter, a stout and pales to suit. 

Up to the top of The Arcade and round the corner sits one of Barnsley’s institutions, the Old #7. Recently under new management, but still with 6 wickets to choose from, mainly local beers from Acorn, Thornbridge etc. I always like to try one I haven’t had before, so Little Critters – Luna Peach Pale Ale fitted the bill. A very nice refreshing pint for a summers day. 

Now, this is where the fun started. 3 of us were a little peckish and needed sustenance. I remember there used to be a chip shop near The Kestral, so using Google Maps on my phone, we set off for there. Big mistake, as my phone took us all the way round to where we started. We actually gave up and got a snack from Pound Bakery to fill the gap. Then, setting off to meet the rest of the group at The Nailmaker Tap #2, Malcolm’s phone took us the wrong way round, when we could have cut a fair bit off. A few phone calls, and a mile later, we arrived, but at least Graham had a good moan about getting his steps in. 

We were joined there by Malc’s partner, Ally. Again, a decent little range, and choosing the Craven Brew Co – Beyond the Pale we sat out in the sun. Next on the list was the George and Dragon, a more traditional establishment, albeit with a nice beer garden to bake in. A smaller selection, but the Stancill – Dr Rudi, an EPA of 4% was a good choice for the warm day. 

We then had the short walk to another nice bar, The Tarn End Tap. Modern, but quirky with a musical theme. The beers were solid with my tipple being a Durham Brewery – Pina Colada, an IPA Milkshake of 4.5%, fruity as hell and delicious. An ideal beer to sing the Rupert Holmes song to ( You have to be of a certain age). 

We were still on the periphery of town, so we made the effort to call at Heaven & Ale, again a quirky pub that Barnsley seem to have a knack of creating. The North Riding – Single Hop APA Comet, at 4.2%, then a Brew61 – Spring Meadow 4.7% IPA,  kept things relatively sensible. Here we bid farewell to Malcolm and Graham who wished to depart a little earlier.

Time was ticking, and we had a couple more visits ro complete. Andy C, Rob and myself popped in the Garrison, no real ale, but Brewdog Hazy Jane as good as it got. Not a bad bar though, busy and live music present. The last bar was Bar Ruelle on Regent Street South, bang opposite the Interchange. I forgot to log my beer, but they had a nice selection of Pale, Porter and bitter. 

Catching the train home, we made the executive decision to get off at Chapletown to have beer and food. Graham, the sly old devil had the same idea and we saw him outside after getting our Neepsend – Blonde, 4%. With their Loaded Chip butty calling to us, we ordered the bacon, cheese and black pudding versions. They are huge and cooked beautifully, not bad for around £7. 

Getting into early evening, I chose to catch the 83 to Southey Library and walk down the hill, rather than the train into town which Andy and Rob did. 

All in all, Barnsley is emerging as a great little real ale stomping ground with its reasonably compact layout. Well worth the £5-7 train ticket for a day out. The service is frequent and fairly fast too. The 7 of us enjoyed it massively. 

Trains are operated by Northern and run from Sheffield to Barnsley up to 4 times an hour, taking around 20-30 minutes depending on the number of stops. An off peak return costs £7 or an anytime return costs £8.30 with discounts sometimes available if specific times are booked in advance. A “South Yorkshire Connect Plus” ticket is also available offering a day of unlimited bus, train and tram travel in the county for £10.70.

We recently visited Castleford: an interesting mix of new bars and long-established outlets. The Ninth opened the day before our visit and provided, among others, Horsforth House Trousers (4.4%). Other recently established outlets, Doghouse and Yorkshire Craft Beers, have a range of cask/craft beers. Among others, Doghouse provided Amber (4.5%) from Selby-based, Jolly Sailor and Theakston Peculiar IPA (5.1%). The latter is hopped with UK-grown Harlequin, Jester and Olicana. 

Yorkshire Craft is located in an old riverside mill, close to the 2008 Millennium Bridge with its striking curved design. This compliments the nearby railway underpass, Tickle Cock Bridge.

Wetherspoons outlet, the Glass Blower, the ex-main post and sorting office, provided an excellent 6% pale, Hoptropolis, brewed at Hook Norton, with assistance from Mitch Steele (New Realm Brewing, Atlanta). Voted the Champion Beer in the Autumn 2023 Wetherspoons Beer Festival, this IPA utilises American Azacca, Citra and Mosaic hops. Locally, glass-making began in the 17th century. 200 years later, it was Castleford’s main industry, disappearing with the 1983 closure of United Glass. 

Our last beer was in the Junction, a GBG pub which, for several years, has prided itself on providing ‘beer from the wood,’ the Old Mill Styrian Wolf (4.2%) hitting the spot before the train home. 

Dave & Simon Pickersgill

Castleford can easily be reached from Sheffield by train – the Sheffield to Leeds all stations stopping service operated by Northern calls there.

Funny month for the weather, June. As 5/6ths of us met at Midland Station platform 5a on a warm, cloudy day for our trip out into Derbyshire. Andy C joined the packed train at Dore & Totley Station for the journey to New Mills.

Unfortunately due to a landslide, the train would only reach Chinley Station with a replacement bus completing the journey. However, there was a 10 minute walk back up the hill, to where we had  just passed. Annoying when Newtown Station is virtually across the road – which Andy C had travelled to on the train via Hazel Grove reaching the brewery quarter of an hour before everyone else – he was in a different part of the train… 

Torrside Brewery is part of the marina complex on Hibbert Street, sitting opposite the famous Swizzels sweet factory, although the shop wasn’t open on this occasion for purchases. The Tap itself is a converted boat repair shop and is kitted out with casks on stillage, a hopper and benches to enjoy the offerings of Torrside and Osaka Local food truck.    

The range of cask and keg is impressive and boast pales, bitter and dark beers. Others and myself plumped for the Torrside Mosaic, 4.8% APA. This was followed by the I Am Curious Lemon, again 4.8% but an EPA this time. I am not a darker beer drinker generally. Although I did try the excellent Kuro Neko, a 5.2% Schwarzbier, akin to an airy stout packed with flavour. As the Mosaic ran out, it was swiftly replaced with All of the Klaxons, a more sessionable 4% EPA. We all tasted a sample a lovely smoked dark, bottled beer, purchased by Andy. 

An enjoyable social few hours was enjoyed by the group around the table with a few anecdotes told that had all howling, including Malc’s Wetherspoon place tale (you had to be there..)

We set off for the next bar in this old mining and mill town. Boasting the Grade II listed Torr Vale Mill, which at 210 years of continuous use was the longest running in the UK. The town’s industry was also served by the rivers Sett and Goyt for power, and the Peak Forest Canal for transportation. 

Arriving at the Beer Shed at the top of Market Street, we were greeted to a compact, narrow bar displaying old beer adverts on the walls. Beer was courtesy of Thornbridge, with the 4.5% Fonio Pale Ale, but offered another 2 handpumps.

We then departed for what we thought would be our final pub the Masons Arms on the bottom end of High Street, a pretty and narrow lane with terraced cottages and cobbles. This pub offered Robinsons beers and a couple of guests. I enjoyed the Unicorn bitter at 4.3%, and the Storm Brewing Co Bosley Cloud, a Blonde Golden of 4.1% with adjuncts of fruits, spices and occasionally coffee. 

So, on returning to our shuttle bus back to Chinley is where the comedy, or not, started. We were in plenty of time for the 19:23 to Sheffield, but after 10-15 minutes after it should have arrived, we suspected it wouldn’t, especially as the 20:23 was cancelled too. This confirmed our decamping to the nearby Chinley Bar and Lounge. Not expecting much, we were surprised to find 2 cask ales on the bar. Chatsworth Gold, a 4.6% Blonde/Golden and the classic Bass, 4.4% bitter. All this was accompanied with laughs at Andy Cullen’s tale of radiator covers (you had to be there..)

We then returned to Chinley Station for the 21:23, only to find that too was cancelled. Fortunately, shortly afterwards we were informed a minibus was enroute to return us to Sheffield. After picking up a few passengers from other stations, and dropping off Andy C at Dore & Totley, we arrived back 2.5hours after our original time. John, Phil and myself decided on a nightcap at Shakespeares where I partook in a Fuggle Bunny Stomper, weighing in at 5% and a refreshing SeaCider Blueberry of 4%. 

It was now taxi time, but although an exhausting day, we can all look back on great beer, food, company and a lot of laughs. If there no rail disruptions, New Mills is well worth 7 hrs of anyone’s time on a Torrside Brewery Tap Saturday.  

Beer in and around the Scarborough Punk Festival

My friends set off for Scarborough early Good Friday morning, but being a foolish football fan, I went to the game after booking a Northern train for the day after. 

Saturday saw me rise at 03:30 to prepare and get the taxi for the 05:42 to Scarborough. The train was akin to a magical mystery tour, and my split ticket to Doncaster, then onwards took me through Goole, Beverley, Bridlington and Filey before arrival in Scarborough, but at least it was direct. 

On arrival I went to my hotel the Palace Hill, a 260 year old listed building, just across from the Merchant. My friend and I had to leave the third person suffering from the previous night. One quick pint in the Golden Last saw a Beavertown Neck Oil on keg at 4.3%, as there was no cask. On arrival, the Spa Pavilion was already Filling up at 13:00. 

Surprisingly for a punk festival, it had two real ales to its beer roster. I tried both, and they were well kept. The first was Wold Top Bitter, a very sessionable 3.7% from the Driffield based brewery. Second was the festival branded Scarborough Punk Festival IPA, a 4.2%, again brewed by Wold Top. 

Awaking the next morning, and not with the first band I wanted to see until 16:40, I set out at 13:00 to have an ale adventure. 

First stop was halfway down N Marine Road, where I had a well kept pint of Taylors Landlord, 4.3%, described as pale, but more a lighter bitter to me. 

I then had a stroll round the North Bay before taking the open top bus to the South Bay. Alighting near the traffic lights near the Frigate, a lovely small real ale bar just up a small, steep cobbled street. I had a pint of Maxim Samson Bitter, a good, smooth bitter of 4%. 

Next was the short walk to the Merchant, a lightly themed Irish bar, but with a nice WB Blonde on cask at 4%. 

I then walked further up to the hill to Dickens, festooned with TVs and tourists. Theakston Summit, a bright, crisp 4.2% EPA was on offer, so that was partaken.

It was time to watch the bands again, so I strolled down past the Grand Hotel to the Spa Pavilion for a few more SPF IPAs. After a great four bands, we called in the Lord Nelson where a Theakston Best Bitter was drank for one more for the road.

The short hop to the hotel was uneventful. So all in all, somewhere I would like to revisit with two days to  venture further afield to the bars I missed in Scarborough CAMRA’s recommendations. 

Northern Rail had their first sale of the year, and I thought it rude not to travel to Manchester for the princely sum of £3 return. 

After two small delays, one at Sheffield Station, the other at Edale due to point issues. I arrived at Manchester Piccadilly around 15 minutes late.

Turning right, I strolled along the main road finally finding a small record shop for a browse and chat. He pointed me round the corner to the Northern Monk Refectory, tucked on the backstreet of Tariff Street. A good range of beers in a dark, wooden interior. There was mainly 5% plus beers on offer, but with it being the first of the day, I went for a pint of Verdant People, Money, Space, Time, a sessional New England hazy 3.4% pale. 

I then went off for a stroll, taking photos of people and buildings including the Cathedral. Just round the corner sits the Old Wellington, a Tudor style pub with timber beams and three floors. Again, a decent range of beers where I went for a Dark Star Hophead 3.8% Blonde/Golden. Next stop was Wetherspoons Seven Stars in the Printworks. Reasonably priced, but unusually not a lot of choice. Out of the three “proper ales” on offer, Peerless’s Triple Blond was the best option at 4%. 

Having had a little Google search, I set out to find the Port Street Beer House, rated highly it sits on a small backstreet, and definitely needs Google Maps to find. An eclectic choice, both on cask and keg, I sampled Mallisons Nippy 4.1% Pale and Dark North Oatmeal Stout 5.5%. People were easy to talk to and a chap from the Wirral recommended a Whip It Real Good imperial stout from Black Iris. Tasting like a Walnut Whip, but unlike the chocolate it weighed in at 12% and cost £6 for a half. 

I still had a couple of hours, so I strolled back to be near Piccadilly, landing at the Crown & Kettle and a Brew York Tonkoko, a 4.3% milk stout. The pub itself was a high ceilinged, gothic windowed style pub.

Next was a pub I had visited before, the Castle Hotel and resembled the White Lion in Sheffield with small, ornate rooms. Again, great choice with a Titanic Cherry Porter, 4.9% and a Robinsons Dizzy Blonde, 3.8% accompanied with great conversation about music with three older guys. 

Finally before the train home, I popped in the Piccadilly Tavern where out of the various pumps I had a half of Thwaites Gold, a 4.1% blonde/golden. 

Fortunately, the train was on time and the journey swiftly passed with conversation with a chap whose daughter lived in Walkley and had sampled the Walkley Beer Co and the Raven. A great day, good value and cracking beers. Roll on Barnsley next month, and Northern Rail’s next sale.