Newbies

 Hello again so soon - I wanted to provide an update on two bars/pubs opened recently in fine, sunny Sheffield.

Firstly I should start with Fargate, a pub formed to a high standard in the former Yorkshire Bank at the top of Fargate looking towards Orchard Square. Its owned and run by Pivovar - of Sheffield Tap fame, and Thornbridge, whom are a posh brewery, now thankfully running less pubs in Sheffield. The Fargate is right in the centre of Sheffield, and as everybody knows, irrespective of the cost of the lengthy refurbishment, this location attracts a stoopidly high rent. Its privately owned and run, but in addition to Thornbridge beers they also sell guests on what might be 12 handpumps for the old, and maybe 8 keg lines for the modern minded - indeed on my last visit they were selling a Track IPA at around 5.7% on keg from the future, no less.

So - do we get the deal? Do we realise its not a Wetherspoons owned morality shambles, but is instead a privately owned and expensively run city centre business with expected realistic and higher than wetherspoons prices? And there's the problem. People don't now this. People expect Ruddles County on cask for £1.29 a pint. This is nonsensical, and non managable. But this is so widely misunderstood by those visiting.

As I went in on my first visit 3 old blokes wandered past and one chuntered "this is another shithole that dunt sell carlin" as they all shook their heads in disgust en route to the Bankers. The issue here is, its specifically not meant to be yet another Spoons - thats what makes it worth going in. I sat with the bar at my side and stared at the doorway and saw loads of folk walk in, not find Carlin-Darlin or Fosters, and strop out. Goodness knows what would have happened if they had gone to the Old Shoe - they wouldn't have recognised anything and for similar business and location reasons nothing would have met their absurdly low price expectations - no Betamax video recorders or bags of stolen Children's Christmas presents in here gents, sorry.

I actually don't mind the Fargate - I would prefer to go in on a Monday or Tuesday afternoon as it would be quieter and finding a seat is actually quite challenging, but they have one or two guest casks on the side of the bar and nearby and on the bar back 2 x guest kegs where the marvelous Track was found!

My next review is sadly shorter - not least because have only been once (it would be quicker to walk  from my house than to try using shambolic public transport service to Waverley) and also because I expect that Waverly is actually in Rotherham, and therefore not a Sheffield bar location.

The pub/bar is at Olive Lane in Waverley in Rotherham and is the Canary Microbar - it serves 5 handpumps of cask and possibly 3 kegs - or 5? You can tell have only been once (and keet drove me there and back) because I didn't take a pic of the bar! I have to say I was impressed with the keg range on opening - they sold both Verdant Sharks beers including Whale Sharks DIPA and on my single visit they sold me a pint of Wylam Jakehead IPA on Keg from the future! 

I admit that I probably need to go back for a second look to get a full feel of the place, and that might happen next year but even on my first visit I enjoyed it so fully intend to revisit!

All the best to both pubs - cheers!

Wee Beefy

Tapped?

Hello,


    I was in the Sheffield Tap the other day having a quick one before meeting a friend, and wanted a pint to see me sated whilst I waited.

Recently I'd opted for a pint of one of the excellent Tapped Brewing Co beers whilst there. Because they are very good, whilst also sensibly priced. Most Tapped BC beers average £3.00 a pint, broadly comparable with the Rutland nearby. Other prices, though, seem to get a bit silly. With Tapped being a rather good brewery with great hop forward (but balanced) beers in their repertoire, one wonders how that might impact on the sale of guest beers.....

I always thought the Tap guest beer policy was based on " this is rare so you will pay more" given the absurd premiums applied - the fact that numerous below HSBD beers have still been ridiculous in price can only be explained by either the pub taking the piss, the suppliers taking the piss, or the "novelty value of ales" being exploited. As a case in point, on that occasion I spotted Dark Star Porter, which I craved.....

One of the great improvements to the Tap is the willingness of staff to inform you when a price is, ahem, higher than you could reasonably expect. The beer was (following a check on the brewery website) 5.6%. It was £4.60 a pint. With this information available, I politely declined. The barman informed me "Yeah, Dark Star beers are very expensive".

Well, irrespective of whether I think that is sufficient justification, or correct, I later met Fluffy and regaled him with the tale - and he had bought the same beer the night before at the Ale House Sheffield for £2.80 a pint. And Steve the Beermeister regularly finds their beers good value at around £2.50 to £3.50 a pint in Hastings in super expensive Sussex. So, erm, WTF!?

Given the above its interesting to consider how the Tap's guest beers may fair in future. A not unusual beer at well over £1.50 above the going rate is unlikely to sell, so given the excellence and sensible pricing of the in-house beers, I wonder whether the pricing policy might backfire?

Wee Beefy.