Penny Black

Visited pub yesterday. Very friendly and welcoming, good beer and food. Real ale sold as well. Pool table. Well worth a visit.

The Penny Black pub, a well-known hub for football fans in Sheffield city centre, is set to close its doors this autumn for a significant refurbishment. Located on Pond Hill, beneath the Royal Mail delivery office and just across the road from the Sheffield Interchange bus and coach station, the pub is primed for a transformation that promises to revitalise its ambience and offerings.

The Greene King pub will undergo a £200,000 makeover aimed at maximising its trading potential. This investment will see the Penny Black rebranded as a "Nest Pub," a new concept from Greene King. The refurbishment will focus on enhancing live sport and entertainment options, including music and quiz nights, which have always been popular with the pub's patrons.

As part of the changes, Greene King is seeking a new franchisee to manage the pub once the refurbishment is complete. This opportunity is particularly aimed at individuals with pub management or assistant management experience who are looking to step up and run their own business. The cost to become a Nest Pub's franchisee is notably affordable, with Greene King offering the chance to get the keys to a Nest Pub for just £3,000, covering agreement fees, inductions, and on-site training.

Despite the changes, the Penny Black will remain a key part of the local community. A spokesperson for the pub emphasised that the venue will continue to focus on live sport and entertainment, and will introduce a new food offering that includes pizzas and pies. "The Penny Black will be undergoing significant investment later this autumn, and we are also recruiting for a new franchisee to manage the pub following the refurbishment," they said. "We are still in the early stages of planning. However, we can confirm that the pub will remain the heart of the local community with a focus on live sport and entertainment and also a delicious pizza and pie food offer. We look forward to sharing further detail closer to the time."

Stay tuned for further updates as the refurbishment progresses and new details are announced.