Cross Daggers, Coal Aston, Derbyshire.

 Morning Readers!

                I ealise this is a bit early to be posting my first Blog article in four months but am off this week and am an early riser in the summer!

So am going to tell you about a great pub situated down a lane in Coal Aston - possibly called Brown Lane - which despite moving to Sheffield in 1978 am going to say have never previously heard of or been to ? Am not going to blithely claim to have been to all of the pubs in around Coal Aston and Dronfield (I suspect Coal Aston might actually be part of Dronfield but didnt want to tread on anyones toes) but even then am puzzled how I seemed not to have heard of this pub.

I was accompanying Tash to the Garden Centre to collect her bag (long story) and having collected it we sat outside in the sunshine supping Fentimans Dandelion and Burdock from Hexham, and after a short pootle around I tried to plan a trip to one of the 3 or 4 pubs.

I had - obvs - searched the maelstrom of misinformation which is google for Coal Aston pubs and that is where I found the Cross Daggers - many years ago in the 3 Valleys fest I suspect the bus stopped outside a pub on the main road possibly called the Yew Tree, but Cross Daggers was new to me and having read both Stans guide ( who confirmed the opening hours of the Gate at Troway many years ago) and the local CAMRA guide, I was well informed enough to visit.

I have to say that wandering round Coal Aston on foot is quite difficult - having got out of the Garden centre we had to cross the busy main road and then back over to the other side to walk down Eckington Road and past the Chequers and found a sign advertising the Cross Daggers at the bottom of the lane on the other side of the same road! Because the time was about 1630 the Eckington Road was really busy and there didnt seem to be any crossings.

Nae mind, having explained to Tash that the Chequers was just like the Sword Dancer on Handsworth Top hence we hadnt gone in, we could soon see the Cross Daggers - an excellent white two story building with a distinctive red Tetley pub sign showing two daggers entwined. It was initially dark when we entered but I could soon see the floor was flat as we walked to the bar which I sadly didnt photograph, but along with possibly Tetley and Adnams Ghost Ship they had Drone Valley Brewery Summer Fayre Pale Ale at 3.7% on cask from the past -I had heard they sold beers from Drone Valley brewery - indeed there's a Drone Valley Brewery sign on the bar, but it was on such good form, and despite it being Babbeh Miluk at just 3.7%,  myself and Tash had 3 pints each!

There was a lovely lass behind the bar who had a name and everything, along with a young lad, both of whom offered to carry the second of the two pints to our table, possibly because am not that steady on my feet, which was very much appreciated. The pub was really clean and had a pleasing traditional interior, and the view out of the window behind me suggested the beer garden was well worth a visit.

Just to point out - and am fairly sure about this, and it specifically doesnt bother me, they don't do food here. Its a it traditional wet-led pub, and is all the better for it.

Sadly we didn't fancy risking our lives crossing the main road and back down to the petrol station to catch the late bus so we treated ourselves to a taxi back into town where we visited the Old Shoe for quite a few lasts!

I really enjoyed my first visit to the Cross Daggers in Coal Aston and will try and arrange a return visit soon - cracking boozer.

Kind Regards

Wee Beefy

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Indie Beer Feast Sheffield 2026

 Hello there - am a bit delayed with my first post of the year, and this time its all about the Indie Beer Feast beer festival here in fine, sunny, Sheffield!

Am going to boldly claim that have never missed one, but am well aware that may not be true! The first time I went it was in Abbeydale picture house and I went with my chum Mr P, and I recall we ended up finishing in the Hop Hideout bar and bottle shop nearby - which is where it used to be, and obviously makes sense since it is the planning and organising skills of the fabulous Jules - founder and owner of Hop Hideout - that means the festival exists!

For the last three or 4 years its taken place at Trafalgar warehouse, Trafalgar Street, near Corp in Sheffield off West Street. It features a fascinating range of Brewers and Breweries from all around the UK and has tutored tastings, chances to chat with brewers, numerous food stalls, guest speakers, Sheffield history themed information and details of the city's numerous independent trades and and businesses. All breweries supply their own beers to taste, mostly on keg dispense, sometimes in bottles, and this year am sure Ashover and Thornbridge breweries served their beers from cask via handpump.

This year they gave out a Sheffield Beer Week map and Inside it listed the description about Synth City, an exploration of Sheffield's music history, specifically famous synth pop bands, and notable nightclubs and venues of the past, along with a map and a list of the 11 Sheffield Breweries involved in Beer Week collaboration brews!

It was great to catch  up with Abbeydale Brewery, Courier Brewing whom have found out are from Manchester, Liquid Light from Nottingham, Neptune from Liverpool, Cloudwater also from Manchester and Siren Brewing. I also talked to the reps from Kelham Island Brewery regarding their involvement with Fagans pub, and brewing a Fagans beer. I sadly missed the tutored tastings, but one of the things I always enjoy is meeting up with people I know - mainly from pubs  (supping or working in) or through breweries or working in beer shops.

Its difficult to recall exactly which beers I enjoyed most on my two visits (and I went with Tash for the first time on Friday) but the Cloudwater DIPA, Siren DIPA, Ticking Clock and Duality collabs for Beer Week were all excellent,  Ashover Zoo was delicious, Cloudwater Take it with you 7% DDH IPA was immense! Pink Moon raspberry wheat from Liquid Light, Thicane West Coast from Siren, Cloudwater export lager, were likewise noticably excellent - the only thing I didn't do this year was keep  the glass! Oh - and Tartarus Abbadon stout at 17% was mad......

I look forwards to seeing you again next year

kind regards

Beefy 

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