Two sides to the river - not quite the valley of beer.

Hello,

             there are two Don valleys in Sheffield. The upper, which as it leaves Hillsborough starts to become the valley of beer, and the lower, which meanders its way to Rotherham past a dwindling pub stock. In between is one of Sheffield's seven hills where Herries Road takes you past Longley and Southey into Owlerton and back to the Upper Don valley. Having recently written about the trail of dead pubs between Handsworth and the Northern General, on Saturday I decided to walk some of that route and explore what the East End and the area around the hospital have to offer the intrepid real ale drinker.

Starting in Darnall with Christingpher our first stop was the Sportsman on Main Road. The Albert and the Sportsman stand next to each other facing a housing estate, defiantly serving customers in an area where almost all other pubs have failed. The Sportsman is run by Paul, and sells two real ales at very reasonable prices. When we arrived there was one beer on, Coastal Sea King at 5.5% - and £2.00 a pint. It seemed silly not to have some..

We settled down in the right hand room where the tellies are and the numerous boxing posters and supped a very easy drinking pint whilst we watched the joyous spectacle of Wednesday vs Leeds. The pub was slowly filling up and a second beer went on, but we didn't get chance to try it. We had a long walk to start, and a lot of pubs to sup in.

We had been aiming to cut across to Tinsley Park Road to visit the Friendship but sadly that was demolished some time in the last couple of years. This would have brought us out near Broughton Lane and could have also involved a visit to Fiery Fred's formerly the Greenland. Alas that also appears tp have fallen by the wayside - there is a photo of the Friendship here.

Instead we headed down Main Road past new houses and abandoned factories and arrived on Worksop Road and the canal aqueduct. Here the scene becomes similarly depressing. There are two pubs the left and two on the right. The first was a cafe after it was a pub and it had been closed for a long time but still boasts impressive carved stonework above the door. Judging by the carving, the pub may have been the Stag or White Hart. Next along is the Cocked Hat - a regular in the Good Beer Guide for many years under the Robshaws, the pub looks run down and is resolutely closed. It is for sale Freehold, but it would be  a brave move to try and bring it back to life.

Over the road Fara's has aluminium shutters on the doors and windows and is for sale, while the Britannia also appeared closed but with no indication if it was for let or sale. Luckily, on Attercliffe Road, there is some good news. The Don Valley Hotel reopened a couple of years ago after the former Coach and Horses underwent numerous guises. Now it has settled on being a hotel with a public bar. The bar is on your left and is mall and cosy and traditionally furnished. There are two handpumps, on this occasion both dispensing Howard Town beers.

The Dinting Arches was about to run out so we had pints of Glotts Hop, at £2.60 a pint, and settled down in the busy pub with racing fans and pool players (its 20p a game!) and resident bulldog Bruce, who seems to be in dog heaven moving from table to table to check out the smells and be fussed. The pub is friendly and seems to be doing very well, and they also sell snacks for thirsty pub walkers to soak up their ale. Its the first time I've ever been in, and I don't think it will be the last.

Heading for the Carlton further down Attercliffe Road the familiar roll call of casualties begins again. The regional inventory listed Station Hotel appears to be closed - that said, it doesn't have a for sale or to let sign, and all the pubs on Attercliffe Road have shutters so its difficult to tell what the situation is. The same could be said for the Kings Head and the Horse and Jockey although that looks in good nick so maybe opens evenings only. The only certainty as you head towards town on Attercliffe Road is that the Carlton is the only traditional pub open until you get to the Big Gun on the Wicker.

The Carlton opened in 1845 and used to mark the start of Attercliffe Road. Old maps show the stretch of road from Washford Bridge to the Carlton as Carlton Road - so that may be where it gets its name (the sign depicts a steelworker). Inside the Carlton houses the original bar from the Yellow Lion at Apperknowle, and there are 6 hand pumps. There were two beers on, Welbeck Harley and Cross Bay Sunset. I asked for a taste of the sunset and was told, whilst having one poured, that they didn't usually give tasters since Carling and John Smiths drinkers don't get a taster. That maybe true, but unfortunately as a living product, real ale is subject to numerous factors that may make it taste less than palatable, and also there are thousands of different ones brewed to suit multiple tastes. Anyway, no-one need have worried since the Sunset was one of the beers of the day. I even allowed myself an extra half  - the beer was on at £2.50 a pint.

Heading back on ourselves along Attercliffe Road onto Attercliffe Common and Carbrook, there are more skeletons of the areas past - the excellent Adelphi theatre lies abandoned on a dead end side road near Attercliffe liberal club and institute. An amazing looking frontage hides a huge building which did briefly reopen as a club in the late nineties, only to all too soon fall silent again. Across the main road is the Travellers Rest. It looks in OK condition but I can't ever recall it being open since I used to come past in an evening coming back from Rotherham in the late nineties. Christingpher however used to drink there in about 1995 when he worked locally and remembers the pub's long bar and tardis like size. Just down the road, the sign is still on the Greyhound, reopened by Marstons about three years ago, but now an IT company offices.

Respite comes in the form of two pubs at the Broughton Lane and Hawke Street roundabout. The Arena Square is a new build eatery which we popped in out of investigative need rather than desire - they sell Bombardier at £3.00 a pint. Next door on the junction of what little remains of Bright street and Milford street right next to the huge black edifice of Forgemasters, is the former Wards pub the Wentworth House Hotel. Now refurbished, with the bar resited centre right as you enter, the pub sells three real ales, and is opening a restaurant in an extension being built at the back.

The pub is currently only open Thursday, Friday and weekends unless there is an event on at the Arena but will resume more traditional hours when the restaurant opens. There is a small room with a lovely fireplace on your right and the main room is straight ahead offering a variety of seating areas, before you come to the extension and a corridor at the back housing the loos. The house beer is rebadged Thwaites Original and the two guests were Bradfield Belgian Blue and a hoppy Blonde ale from Rat brewery. I'm quite partial to a Belgian Blue, as well as to a good news story, and the saving and resurrection of the Wentworth House, a boozer since 1833, is just that. They are on Twitter as  WentworthHouse1 and post their opening times on there, so check before visiting.

Carrying on up Attercliffe Common the former Pheasant across the road is a sad tale. It changed its name to the Stumble Inn around the time the arena opened (as did the Railway on Broughton lane, see below) but was still a traditional boozer for many years, selling Tetleys and featuring a Yorkshire drinking corridor and a wonderful unspoilt snooker room at the back, complete with a sink for the steelworkers to wash their hands before playing a game of snooker. In a grim chain of events the pub was bought and turned into an Indian Restaurant by a new owner who claimed the "brewery" - one assumes he meant pubco - had stipulated that it must not reopen as a pub. Unannounced work and a reluctance by English Heritage to attach any importance to the interior yielded inevitable results. Another lost regional inventory pub - there is a link to an article in The Star about the whole sorry affair.

Further on along Attercliffe Common we popped our heads round the door of the Carbrook Hall pub. This supposedly haunted old building has a beautiful panelled room on your left as you enter, but sadly, also has a very long bar with no handpumps on it - it used to sell Bass in the nineties. Or maybe Stones... the lack of anything worth supping meant we only had a cursory glance, but there is a picture and article here with some interesting info.

We backtracked again next to visit the Noose and Gibbet on Broughton lane, walking past the short stretch of tiled wall that marks the outline of the front of the Enfield Arms.  The Noose and Gibbet was original called the Railway, and also known locally as the Top Common. It also changed its name briefly to the Stadium, and was known for a while as Ronnies, but now has the novelty name Noose and Gibbet despite not being built on or being the nearest pub at the time to, the spot where Spence Broughton's body was gibbeted. Inside its dark and the harsh lights don't carry so being in around 16.00 when there is nothing on at the Arena is a lonely undertaking. No real ale here but we opted to try some keg Bradfield Blonde for research purposes. It was £2.60 a pint, and nearly, but not quite, as grim as the pub.

Leaving the lower valley we headed along Hawke Street to Brightside and past the Sheffield Arms up to the Ball on Upwell Street. This large former Bentleys pub has been licensed since 1825. It appears that the pub was original at 66 Upwell Street and now at number 70, the suggestion being that this is a 1910 rebuild of the original. Inside it has very high ceilings but little, if any, original fittings to speak of, although the left hand side which I understand has a snug, was closed. No real ale, but we opted for halves of Magnet on keg at £2.65 a pint anyway. An interesting picture Sheffield link shows the Ball incongruously looming in the background next to Brook Cottages in Old Grimesthorpe.

From here on its up over the hill to rejoin the Don and Christingpher departed at Page Hall, whereas I detoured slightly to visit the Sportsman on Barnsley Road. This former Whitbread pub currently sells real ale - Doom Bar when I visited, and was friendly if not particularly busy. I met Mr P for a quick half in here before I caught the bus up Herries Road to visit the Devonshire. This is a large Greedy King pub set back from the road (and thankfully near a chippy since this was turning into a long day) and has three real ales on. Of interest was the 7.2% Double Hop Monster which was GK's take on a strong IPA. I can't say it was in particularly good nick but at least this was an interesting change from GK IPA and Old Speckled Hen.

After a long tedious trek down Herries Road I arrived in Owlerton and out on to Penistone road, through the Wednesday ground  and round the corner to the last stop on my Don to Don trek, the Riverside bar and pub on Leppings Lane. Being where it is, I was surprised to find the pub almost empty - apparently fans stream in before and immediately after the match but then head off through Hillsborough, so the pub usually shuts quite early Saturday night. Alas my journalistic vigour was impaired somewhat by this stage so I never did ask when they actually open...

The pub is the upstairs part of the building with a balcony overlooking the ground and serves two or three real ales and bottled Yorkshire lager from the Cropton/Great Yorkshire Brewery. It is furnished traditionally and has plenty of old beer and brewery memorabilia on the walls - its easy when you are there to see the same hand at work refurbishing the Wentworth House, which is owned by the same person. On this occasion I had a pint of Belgian Blue, one of the last few barrels knocking around in Sheffield, and which I enjoyed in another pub I was visiting for the first time, but envisaged visiting again.

Having reached the Upper Don valley this is of course the starting point of a bibulous wander into town through the valley of beer but to be honest I'd had enough walking and libation by this time, so got a tram into town to meet up with  Miss N. Obviously we went for  a pint - but that's another story....

You can potentially see some photo's from the crawl here assuming you have a Facefriend account.

Cheers!

Wee Beefy

Upcoming beer events

Hello,

    August is a damned busy month for me this year, so posts will br fewer even than than last month, but hopefully I will have time to tell you about pubs, beers, trips out, trips away, and as today, upcoming beery events.

Firstly Sheftival is on this weekend here in sunny Sheffield, and I understand that there will be real ale available. Its a shame I haven't had chance to try some of the pubs in the area recently, but based on hearsay and reviews I can suggest the following venues for a decent pint :

The former Coach and Horses on Attercliffe Road, now operating as the Don Valley Hotel, appears to be selling real ale;
The Carlton lower down Attercliffe Road carries a range of real ales;
(always assuming they are still open) The Cocked Hat always used to sell the good stuff. Ten minutes up from there is
The Sportsman in Darnall, who always serve at least one real ale at very reasonable prices.

I understand there is to be a Don Valley ale trail, so you may find that all of these pubs are included in that, more details from sheftival , although you may have to go along to find out about the ale trail.

Further afield,  the excellent Barley Mow in Bonsall, Derbyshire was advertising a beer festival when we went past yesterday. There were no dates on the poster but this weekend, indeed NOW! is the World Hen Racing championship which is being held at the pub. So although I can't be certain, I'm optimistic that the beer fest will be on this weekend, and even if not, there's 5 excellent real ales on the bar, and the "unmissable" hen racing to go at. See their link for more info.

Also worth a trip away to visit, the Worcester beer and cider festival runs from 16 to 18 August at the racecourse. Worcester is a good destination for lovers of unspoilt pubs, as you could easily factor in a visit or two whilst in the area, as well as visiting the festival. As with all the info provided in this post, I am actually quite jealous - because I can't make it to any of these events. If you can, you could find more info at worcester's beer festival website.

A bit later in the month The Nook, officially the Rose and Crown pub in Holmfirth, are holding an Ale'ympics event, a beer festival running from 24th to 26th August to include the bank holiday weekend. Paper lovers can pick up a flier (flyer?) at Archer Road Beer Stop here in Sheffield, or perhaps just follow this alelinkpics link to their website for more gen.

Finally, a bit of "duh" news for those of you with bad memories or only just able to access the Internet for the first time, a beer fest called the GBBF starts August 7th and runds through until the 11th. Its in that London. Apparently its quite big. See the Internet or any CAMRA publication for details.

That's all for now, hopefully some of you can grace some of the above events, more news coming later today about Sheffield pubs and beers.

Wee Beefy

Sheffield pubs update

I am finally back on the site after B.T contrived to piss away my Internet connection for 3 weeks and my computer got ill - twice. Its still not fixed but can now mercifully access tinterweb, and here I am to bring you up to date.

Me and Davefromtshop, Wee Fatha and Mr P went to the South in October - a detailed trip report will follow in the next few weeks.

For now, I am able only to update you on dearest Sheffield and its weird beery ways.

The Blake on Blake Street has reopened, possibly but not definitely 4 years after anti competitive pub closure specialist enterprise inns ( although you could insert the name of any faceless bank owned foreign pub company ) closed it and put a restrictive covenant on the lease preventing its reopening as a pub. This weak minded two fingers to free trade was designed no doubt to protect other nearby gems they owned that didn't sell real ale, seemed unnervingly similar to other pubs and were being run into the ground to prime them for housing stock. It says a lot about the company's interest in viable pubs, and about how crap they know some of their boozers are....

Mercifully the pubco lost and James Birkett of Sheaf view pedigree has opened it up selling a range of ales, bottled foreign beers and cider. Its changed a bit since my last visit 11 years ago, when I recall only the far side of the bar area and part of the room with the entrance now in it. Perhaps the passage of time has made me remember it smaller than it is now…

Anyhoo, supposing you are fit you can reach it by walking up Whitehouse lane then Burgoyne road from the Hillsborough Hotel and across the park, or downhill from South road, likely Industry Street and right at the bottom.

Have only made it in twice but the highlight last time ( apart from the range and the convivial atmosphere ) was the Globe porter from Glossop and a Dark Star IPA.

Up in sunny Handsworth changes are afoot, albeit slowly.

I may have previously mentioned that the Cross keys was up for sale, or it maybe just the lease - not very good at technical and legal stuff am afraid. Landlord Lee has decided to move on to another challenge and although he was in before Christmas on my last 4 visits there have been other people behind the bar.

It’s a real shame, but, possibly down to the uncertainty, or perhaps because the beer is cheaper next dooreven after a winter price cut at the keys, there seems to be considerably fewer customers in these days. Not because of that, but I wasn't in at new year as I usually would be, and a friend of mine reported the pub virtually deserted after 22.00. I know myself that in the past after an initial scrum from 20.00 to 21.30, from 22.00 is a quiet period and then it fills up again nearer 23.00 and onwards, but that sounds like bad news. Poor trade begets poorer trade, people are maybe less inclined to visit if it always seems empty. Mind you, as a miserable arse whinger I quite like the silence, but not at the expense of viability. And I can confirm that the beer has been fine or every good the last 4 times have been in.

Meanwhile the Old Crown continues to sell Bradfield and Acorn beers and now advertises Marstons, and real ale is £2.30 a pint. The added attraction of Zlatec lager on draught, giving the non real ale masses a decent alternative to lemonade like Carlsberg, perhaps helps explain the pubs popularity.

Food is available now, am cerain there are no kitchen facilities in the Cross keys, and as far as I know the accommodating side still operates. The sad thing is, whilst a pub selling local real ale is a bonus, one wonders if this is a sign that Handsworth with its recent traditions of dreadful pubs and dreadful beer, can’t support two real ale pubs.

Previously the unshakeably Whitbread tinged New Crown was the flagsip with two real ales on and food available. I went in the New Crown about 9 months ago, only to find one real ale and the loudest and most antagonistic licensee/landlord you could meet, ramping up football rivalries and behaving generally in the manner of someone who he should have been asking to quieten down or leave.

The Magnet was the sacrificed ale, which now I suppose is the case across the UK, but that only leaves Greedy King old speckled hen. So unimpressed was I by this great example of how not to run, and encourage all the worst aspects of a pub, I have not been back to see if they have persevered with the GK ale.

The Turf, which is a very traditional pub in terms of interior and exterior, is another I have not visited for ages, but this time years. That said, the pub itself seems very nice, its just that they never have, as far as I know, sold real ale, so I have supported those that have instead. Meanwhile, the White Rose has those huge long swan neck dispense things and may not sell real ale anymore, and the Norfolk Arms is a nursery.

Just a 10 minute bus journey towards Attercliffe and the excellent Sportsman continues to do well and sell one or two real ales, regularly showcasing beers from the excellent Barlow brewery and Concertina, and this week those from Grafton in Worksop.

Paul tells me he has some Barlow Imperial Stout ageing in the cellar along with some already vintage last rites. I believe last time it was on the last rites retailed for £3.00 a pint, although I wonder if this will change for the matured version. Full marks though to Paul for his dedication to real ale and sensible prices, and to his customers who are never afraid to give him feebdback on the beers, and aren't frightened of the stronger brews which so rareyl make it on to the bar in Sheffield these days....

Finally, news from new regular Wee Beefy venue the Rutland Arms on Brown Street. There are about 8 handpumps dispensing local and further afield beers from micros and the occasional regional, as well as an absurd number of ciders, and draught and bottled continental beers including Vedette. Food is good and sensibly priced and served until 20.00, or it might be 21.00. There is often a beer from new brewing outfits in Sheffield such as those operating on others plant, like Blue Bee and Steel City Brewing.

The final draw I have to say is an incredible juke box with a fantastic range of music - although being an old before my time 36 year old it was really only 70's rock, blues and a few decent early noughties metal tracks that I parted with my money for.

Heartily reccommended.

So that just about wraps up the Sheffield scene for now.

Hopefully I will have chance to update more regularly in future, to Tell you, amongst other things, about my Lincolnshire and South Derbyshire trips and Huddersfield escapades.



Wee Beefy.

Some Sheffield pubs you might not know.....

Sheffield pubs recent visits.

When not traipsing around Derbyshire or the rest of the UK I am very lucky that here in Sheffield we have some excellent pubs, selling fantastic beer, and some retaining interesting original features.

Since December I have visited a few new ones, seen one close down and visited some old favourites. Here are a few that should appeal to real ale and real pub fans...

The Hallamshire House, Commonside.

This is a former Wards pub selling 3 or 4 real ales, with two large games rooms, an old fashioned snug and lounge, all laid out in different rooms, just like they should be. If you visit on a match day then its fair to say you may only have the corridor or the snug to sit in, but overall its always been possible to grab a seat and be in your own world.

I went in on a December Saturday and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Sheffield brew Co beers were £1.60 a pint. There was a good range, two Sheffield BC, 1 Kelham Island and another.

We got sat down in the snug and noticed just how cosy the size of the rom made it. Looking at the fittings we admired the tiled fireplace and he old Wards leaded windows and the bar, which is a traditional design, quite long and open on 3 sides. We soon got chatting to a couple sat under the window, and discovered that they had been visiting for decades - always a good sign, since this often indicates that rash changes have been avoided.

There was an FA cup match on featuring one of the minnows, and people were thronged in the back rooms, but we were ensconced in this tiny room and enjoying its comfort and the friendliness of the regulars.

We only had time for a few pints but it was a nice haven away from the busier student orientated pubs on Crookes where we had just been. I don't know if beer is always such good value but even if not, I would warmly recommend a visit. The important retention of traditional separate room layout means that if a quiet cosy pint does not attract you and you want to be in front of the TV watching a match, you can also do that. And if you got bored, you could always try the closed Shop just opposite.

The University Arms, Brook Hill.

I have been visiting this pub ever since it opened to the public a few years ago, having previously been the 192 Club owned by or certainly open for, the University. Inside is a gleaming dark wood fitted bar which looks like it may have been there ever since it opened.

There are snob screens to break up the main seating area, with a tiny semi-private seating area next to the far side of the bar, along with a conservatory and beer garden. There are 4 real ales and foreign draught beers and bottles, as well as inexpensive light meals at dinner and evenings.

The pub has bands on at weekends form time to time, and also has a rather eclectic collection of blues played in the background. Thornbridge Brewery seem to be the main payers - their Wild Swan ids a mainstay, along with guests from local breweries.

The toilets are located off a corridor on your right as you enter - it’s quirky that they are housed in a very large high ceilinged room, where old tables and chairs go to retire, and reminds me of school toilets for some reason. This adds to the feeling that you are in a private venue that hasn't altered very much over the years, although it’s worth pointing out that it would appear to have been refurbished quite recently and is clean and bright throughout. Don’t forget that they don't open Sundays.

The Sportsman, Main Road, Darnall.

I read abut this pub in Beer Matters, having passed it a couple of times and noted that it and its next door neighbour boozer the Albert were now the only ones of 5 or possible many more pubs on main road heading to Darnall.

It’s fair to say that it doesn't look like a palace; there's no up and coming or large brewery bank rolling this pub, but then there's none of the annoying preoccupation with gimmicks and branding that come with it. The other plus point is the fact that the landlord has made an effort to get a varied range of beers and lagers and other drinks at sensible prices, making this probably the cheapest place to drink for miles.

On a recent visit they had Harviestoun Engine Oil (4.5%) and a light Springhead beer of similar strength, for £1.80 a pint. There was Leffe and Hoegarden for Chala, at nearer supermarket prices, and pool at 50p a game. Had it been a Marston's or Greene King pub it would be £2.50 or more a pint, £1.00 a game of pool, a corporate jukebox at 2 songs for a pound, and there would be a raised floor for the pool table, upstairs toilets and faux olde-worlde bar fronts and seating.

The pub has a central entrance into the bar with a door on the left leading to the games room. There is a side entrance on the left now disused, that would have taken you straight into the games room - although this may have been the bar or Tap room, with the room on the right originally being the lounge. The gents are entered from both rooms, so there are two ladies loos, one on each side. The pub therefore retains a classic traditional two room layout, which is good to see.

It’s quite difficult to ignore the fact that this is a proper working men's pub where people don't mince their words - I think if you were of a nervous disposition or allergic to swearing you might not like it. However, the fact that it survives and appears to do well relies on the regulars and latecomers like us going in day in day out and spending cash.

The mark up on the ale might be a little less than in other pubs but its competitive pricing encourages you to drink more - or at least that's my excuse.


The Masons Arms, Carson Road, Crookes.

I only visited this pub for the first time last week - having grown up in Crookes and been there of drinking age ( ish ) for 3 years, and visiting regularly.

The Masons is off the main road and seems to have fluctuating fortunes based on info supplied by my Brother and other friends living in Crookes. I heard discouraging things about it being unfriendly and a boring old mans pub when I was 18 ( put me right off then, but wouldn't so much now ), and decided that I owed it to myself to go have a look and a few games of pool.

We went in the room on the right which houses the pool table and the darts, it sounds like there’s a telly in the other room and that seemed a bit noisier later on, but we didn't go in. The loos are along a passage running behind a bar, and there’s some space on the front for outdoor refreshments.

On the bar there were 3 handpumps, with Black Sheep Best, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and another more ubiquitous option. We all wanted the Pippin but unfortunately it ran out, but the landlord was at pains to make sure we got a replacement, which is good to see.

We enjoyed a few games of pool and a rather, ahem epic game of darts (none of us can play, and we took an hour to get from 301), along with several pints of very well kept Black Sheep.

The pub was quiet but Sunday nights are awkward to call, we were allowed to finish our game of pool and sup up at a sensible speed before we had to leave. Its difficult to get a sense of a pub in a couple of hours on a Sunday night but I saw enough to convince me that I should go back and try the Pippin and maybe even learn how to play darts.

With the possible exception of the University Arms, these pubs might not be familiar to readers of this blog, but it shows that in addition to established high quality award winning pubs, Sheffield has traditional back street boozers and quirky watering holes to suit a wide range of people.

And just to somewhat devalue that statement, my next posts should be from Wales, Bradfield, Cheshire and Staffordshire and the Peak District.

Seizure, Yan