Sheffield Pub News - April 2009

Local residents have objected to an application by commercial real estate company Atisreal to convert the former Barclays Bank on Glossop Road into a bar, cafe or restaurant. Glossop Road Baths residents' group have voiced their opposition to the plans, citing a potential increase in noise, litter and anti-social behaviour if they are approved.

However, council planners responded that anti-social behaviour is not an issue in this area of Sheffield city centre due to restricted opening hours and management. They added that another bar or restaurant would not significantly increase noise levels on this part of Glossop Road if the plans were given the go-ahead.

The council's South and East Planning Board received a report recommending that permission should be granted on the condition the property adheres to certain opening hours, noise standards, and operational issues imposed by the council. A decision is de to be made by the Planning Board on Monday 27th April.

We have removed the Jordanthorpe pub from our website, as it has been closed for a long period.

We have removed Casa Bar & Restaurant, formerly of 375-385 Glossop Road, from our database, as it is now Loch Fyne restaurant.

The Pub of the Month award is designed to highlight local pubs that are serving good quality real ale in a comfortable and friendly environment day in, day out, and is voted for by local CAMRA members who drink in these pubs. Winners go through into the branch Pub of the Year competition.

The April 2009 winner is the Fox & Duck in Broomhill, a comfy pub with a good atmosphere and a nice range of beers. It's owned by the Student Union but everyone is offered a very warm welcome.

Below is a few words about the pub written by John Beardshaw, a regular in pubs in the area and long serving CAMRA volunteer.

There are six pubs in Broomhill all serving real ale. Each pub is different so what make the Fox and Duck CAMRA's Pub of the Month? There are no complaints about food because customers can bring their own between 11AM and 7PM, using the pub's plates, cutlery and condiments.

John and Linda Hull took over the pub on 28th September 1987 have earned it a regular place in the National good Beer guide. There are usually six real ales and one traditional cider to chose from, two or three guest beers every week, and two from local breweries. In one year there are about 200 different guest beers with their pump clips making an attractive display around the walls.

Originally it was a two-roomed pub and converted to it present open plan format in the 1980's and extended to the shop next door more recently. There is an outdoor drinking area at the back, which is tidy and has shrubs in raised beds.

Broomhill is well served by bus the routes are 40,51,52, 80 and 120 so come along to the presentation night on Tuesday 14th April where you can join in with the celebrations.

Ballot papers have been sent out to the 1,050 CAMRA members in the Sheffield & District branch, which takes in all of the city of Sheffield along with parts of Derbyshire including Dronfield and the Hope Valley, to decide the winners of the branch Pub of the Year competition. Two winners are declared, one in the South Yorkshire part of the branch, which then gets submitted into the Yorkshire County competition for judging, and one in the Derbyshire part of the branch, which then gets submitted into the Derbyshire County competition for judging. The county competitions are the early rounds of the national Pub of the Year competition, which was last year won by the Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield. The votes are now in and have been counted, and we are pleased to announce the results:

Sheffield Pub of the Year:
Kelham Island Tavern, Russell Street. Tel: 0114 2722482.

The 2009 winner is once again the Kelham Island Tavern. This pub has proved a continuing favourite amongst city real ale drinkers, having won several years in a row now! When landlord Trevor Wraith bought this pub, it was closed down, boarded up and pretty much written off by its previous owners. Trevor's magic formula of high standards, good staff, excellent beer range, value for money and a lovely tropical beer garden has proved popular. It wasn't long before an extension needed to be built to cope, and that is filled with drinkers at busy times!

Runners up:
2nd Fat Cat, Alma Street; 3rd New Barrack Tavern, Penistone Road; 4th Bath Hotel, City Centre; 5th Sheaf View, Heeley; 6th Devonshire Cat, City Centre; 7th Rising Sun, Nether Green; 8th Harlequin, Nursery Street; 9th University Arms, Brook Hill; 10th Hillsborough Hotel, Langsett Road; 11th Wellington, Shalesmoor; 12th Commercial, Chapeltown.

District Pub of the Year:
Coach & Horses, Sheffield Road, Dronfield. Tel: 01246 413269

The 2009 district winner is the Coach & Horses in Dronfield. This smart little pub is owned by Sheffield FC, the oldest football club in the world (who play next door), and managed by Catherine Mueller, a very friendly lady from New Zealand known to regulars as Cat. Beer is supplied by Thornbridge Brewery, located in Ashford-in-the-Water, near Bakewell, Derbyshire. The Coach & Horses has 5 handpumps dispensing their beers, often including the brewery's one-off experimental specials as well as the usual award winning beers such as Jaipur Indian Pale Ale and Lord Marples Best Bitter. If you want an introduction to their beer range, for £5.50 you can currently get a tasting tray with a 1/3 pint of all 5 beers with tasting notes and some nibbles. The Coach & Horses also has a very good reputation for its food, which is freshly cooked using good quality ingredients and where possible locally sourced .

Runner up:
2nd Anglers Rest, Millers Dale

We have removed the Halfway House pub, previously of Britannia Road, Darnall, from our database, as it has been closed for some time and is set to be demolished.