Sheffield Pub News - December 2005

Local micro-brewer Abbeydale Brewery has taken over the Rising Sun Inn at Nether Green. The pub will now become a free house and will concentrate on selling real ales, including all of Abbeydale Brewery's range as well as some Kelham Island Brewery beers. Abbeydale Brewery development director, Chris Morton, confirmed that the aim is for the Rising Sun Inn to become a community pub featuring live music. The pub is also completely non-smoking.

Sheffield Pub Guide has added some new pubs to our database. We now have basic details for the Green Room bar on Devonshire Street and the Ivory Bar & Restaurant on Regent Terrace near West Street. We have also updated our list of pubs with late licenses thanks to information from one of our visitors.

The Old Harrow Inn at Gleadless is to hold a raffle on Boxing Day in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care and Weston Park Hospital. The raffle starts at 8PM and tickets are available from the pub.

No action is to be taken against former Sheffield Wednesday footballer Chris Waddle after police concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him for an alleged assault in his local pub. 20-year-old Ryan Tissington claimed that Waddle attacked him in the toilets of the Devonshire Arms pub in Dore on 21st April 2005. Waddle claims he acted in self-defence after Tissington tried to punch him.

The Blacksmiths Arms pub in Killamarsh has now been demolished, reportedly to make way for a new housing project.

Sheffield City Council has voted in favour of introducing an alcohol exclusion zone in the city centre. Starting on 12th December, police will have the power to confiscate the booze of any drunks causing a public nuisance in the centre of Sheffield. A council spokeswoman has stressed that this is not a measure to be used against people enjoying a quiet drink in public, but rather a means to prevent disorder.

The historic Bell Hagg Inn near Crosspool is still on the market today after failing to reach its reserve price at auction. Bidders were not prepared to pay the guide price of £575,000 and so the pub is now up for sale privately.

Sheffield Pub Guide has started compiling a list of pubs in Sheffield that are opening late under the new extended licensing hours. Details can be found on our pubs with late licenses page. The list is far from complete yet so please contact us and let us know of the pubs that we have missed!

Local drinkers who are members of the Campaign for Real Ale ("CAMRA") have voted the Silver Fox at Stocksbridge as their Real Ale Pub of the Month for December 2005.

The Pub of the Month awards are designed to highlight pubs in the area that serve good beer in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. The certificate will be presented at the pub on the evening of Saturday 3rd December, around 9PM. More information about the Silver Fox is in the article below by Heather Lindley, which appears in the current issue of "Beer Matters".

The Silver Fox is a large pub set back from the main Manchester Road (B6088) on the western outskirts of Stocksbridge. It derives its name from the local steel works and was built in 1964. It has two large bars with a full-sized pool table, jukebox, self-contained disco and dance floor in the lounge. The smaller bar known locally as the "Posh Side" allows you to get away from the many activities which are held daily and just visit the Fox for a quite drink. John and Sandra, the landlord and landlady, took over its running two years ago and have gradually introduced a varied and interesting range of cask beers to supplement the standard provisions of eight standard beers and lagers. The local clientele have taken to these developments, partly as a result of the support of local CAMRA subversive activists. (John's right arm goes automatically into a half-Nelson when a certain Membership Secretary now enters). Since John introduced cask ales, there has been a lively interest from both regulars and new customers. He is keen to promote real ale drinking and fully supports CAMRA's aims. The bar staff are happy to offer taster glasses of guest beers on request. Since the introduction of cask ales just over a year ago john now regularly offers two choices that change weekly. In the past these have included Batemans XD, the full Theakston range, Marston's Pedigree, The Rev James, Spitfire, and Old Tom to name but a few. For December, John has enlisted the help of Thornbridge Brewery, with their award winning Jaipur going on offer. John and Sandra create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere and promote events for the regulars and visitors every evening of the week. They have recently held their annual fundraising events for NABD, the Disabled Bikers charity raising over £1,450. The more adventurous events include the twice-yearly "Western Weekend" where the whole pub is decorated and given over to the Western theme. Live bands are a main feature of the Silver Fox, with groups such as Frank White, Hummingbirds, Stormbringer, Vamp, Motus, Steve French Band, Blitz and Boogachawooga all gracing the excellent stage on Friday and Saturday nights and getting the dance floor buzzing. I particularly like the Silver Fox because it is so unusual today to find a real ale pub with regular (free) live blues and rock bands and a reasonably sized dance floor to boogie the night away. It also makes an excellent venue to hire for parties, meetings etc... At quieter times customers can relax over the homemade food served daily at lunch and evening times. The Silver Fox is a real part of the local community and offers a friendly welcome to new and old visitors alike. The Silver Fox can easily be reached on buses 57 and 58, which run at half-hourly intervals from the Sheffield Interchange. When you enter Stocksbridge just ask the driver for the Fox he will drop you right outside.

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