Royal Hotel Pub

The Royal Hotel was built around 1813 and retains much of its original character. There are 3 spacious and pristine en suite guest bedrooms.

The Royal Hotel is a family run public house in the village of Dungworth. Set on the edge of the Peak District high on the moors northwest of Sheffield but only a 20-minute drive from the centre of the city and Meadowhall shopping centre. Its location makes it the ideal place for people visiting the area but not wanting to stay in the hustle bustle of a city.

Real ale changed frequently is available along with Tetley's Cask, Stella, Carling and Strongbow. Also try a single Malt whisky or two!

Home cooked traditional foods are served. Why not try one of Dave's famous "Royal pies"?

A 212-year-old Sheffield village pub that closed earlier this year is set to be turned into housing, despite efforts by locals to save it.

The Royal Hotel on Main Road, Dungworth, shut its doors in February 2025 after co-owner Dave Lambert said dwindling customer numbers had made the business unsustainable. The venue was well known as one of the long-standing hosts of traditional north Sheffield carol “sings.”

Following its closure, a Save the Royal campaign - backed by Sheffield folk musician Jon Boden - tried to raise funds to form a community interest company to buy the pub. However, the plan did not succeed.

Sheffield City Council's planning and highways committee will consider the redevelopment proposal on 14th October. If approved, the pub's ground floor would be converted into a three-bedroom house, while three holiday cottages in the grounds would become a one-bedroom bungalow. The upper floor, currently a separate flat, is not included in the application, nor is Ings Cottage, which is historically linked to the Royal. Each of the three planned homes would have its own garden.

The council report acknowledges that the application has drawn 34 objections, most calling for the pub to be kept as a community hub. However, it concludes there is a "lack of demand for the drinking facility" and that "the demand for the public house is below that which can be reasonably viewed to be sustainable or viable."

The Royal Hotel sits within the green belt, in an area of high landscape value next to the Peak District. The council's report also notes that there are other facilities in the wider area that "can satisfactorily meet the needs that the Royal Hotel once offered within the village."

If approved, the conversion will mark the end of more than two centuries of the Royal Hotel's role at the heart of Dungworth life.

The Royal Hotel in Dungworth has ceased its kitchen and bed and breakfast operations as part of its gradual winding down process. In a poignant moment marking the end of an era, a 211-year-old pub has issued its final announcement as it prepares to close permanently.

The decision to close the pub this month was attributed to a lack of interest from residents in the village, as stated by landlord Dave Lambert, who noted that the establishment saw just seven customers on New Year's Eve.

Despite efforts by the "Save the Royal" campaign, which pledged £250,000 to keep the pub alive, Mr. Lambert deemed the amount insufficient compared to his expectations in the open market. It's anticipated that the property, including its accommodations, will be acquired by a housing developer for approximately £1 million.

With roots dating back to 1813, The Royal Hotel holds a storied history, renowned for its century-old Christmas carol sing-along events and serving as the venue for the Royal Traditions folk club for 14 years.

Mr. Lambert expressed regret over the closure, citing a decline in patronage in recent years due to the ageing demographic of regulars and shifting drinking habits, including a preference for home consumption.

Reflecting on the memories created over the years, he remarked, "We made some really lovely friends and had some great times. But those people don’t come in now, or they're dead."

The "Save the Royal" fundraiser sought pledges of £500, with an initial goal of £500,000 to establish a Community Interest Company capable of purchasing the building in the future.

The historic Royal Hotel, a 210-year-old pub in Dungworth, is set to close by 1st March 2024, according to landlord Dave Lambert.

Despite its rich history dating back to 1813, dwindling patronage prompted the decision.

Lambert, 75, plans to sell the property, including a bed and breakfast with three bedrooms, after securing residential planning permission. Pubs, he noted, face challenges from supermarkets, and changing demographics have affected their appeal. Lambert, who ran the pub for 25 years with his late wife Linda and stepson Dave Jubb, expressed nostalgia for the good times and friendships but cited financial struggles.

The Royal, known for hosting Christmas carols for two centuries, will hold its final carol event on Boxing Day.

Jon Boden, founder of the folk club Royal Traditions, expressed hope for a community buy-out, emphasising the pub's cultural significance. Boden proposed leveraging the community's connection to the pub's traditions to raise capital through a Community Interest Company.