Sheffield Pub News - February 2010

The Shakespeare Hotel on Gibraltar Street at West Bar has closed down. It is not known if it has closed permanently, as a number of buyers are rumoured to be interested in taking over the real ale pub.

The Kelham Island Tavern near Sheffield city centre has been named as the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) National Pub of the Year for the second consecutive year.

Despite objections from their colleagues, Sheffield City Council's licensing board has granted Lava Lounge bar on West Street in Sheffield city centre permission to open until 3:30AM seven nights per week. The bar was previously licensed until 2AM, as council officials were concerned about noise affecting nearby residential buildings.

Lava Lounge on West Street in the city centre has applied to Sheffield City Council for permission to stay open until 3:30AM every day. The bar is currently allowed to open until 2AM.

Council officials from the environmental health department and the local planning authority have objected to the application on the grounds that residents in close proximity will potentially be affected by excessive noise and existing and future detriment to public amenity

Dave Wickett, owner of the Fat Cat pub at Kelham Island, is angry that his top-rated kitchen has been incorrectly labelled as receiving zero stars after an inspection.

The rating, published through Scores on the Doors, is incorrect and also outdated, with the inspection having taken place in February 2007. At the time the pub should have been awarded 3 stars, and it has since been completely refitted and gone through stringent tests, after becoming contaminated in the floods of summer 2007.

Sheffield City Council has now updated the Fat Cat's score, giving them 3 stars out of 5.

The Frog & Parrot pub on Division street has won the award for the best pub in Sheffield city centre.

The pub won the award as part of the Best Bar None scheme, which recognises bars and pubs that provide a safe, responsible, friendly environment where people can enjoy themselves.

The Frog & Parrot pipped 45 other licensed premises to win the award, which, in Sheffield, is funded through the Safer and Sustainable Communities Partnership.