Harlequin Pub

What a fantastic pub! The staff are excellent - warm and friendly. The people are wonderful. The bands are top notch! Great atmosphere.

Bang across the River Don is a huge expanse of apartments. Now here is my message to the folks who live there - get over the bridge and in this pub!

Friendly staff, nice range of beers, lagers, and especially ciders. Add this to well-prepared and innovative food and you have a near-perfect public house.

I would particularly recommend the Bhaji Butty.

This pub has a fabulous atmosphere, good wine, excellent range of beers and good live music.

On the downside, since the new owners took over, the pub is cold! No heating on throughout the night. You have to keep your coat on and hope it warms up as it fills up.

We go in on Saturdays and for the last few weeks have heard many customers commenting on how cold it is. Even the youngsters are putting their coats back on!

I was interested to see the Harlequin voted as pub of the week.

Since the Brew Co took charge the Harlequin isn't quite the excellent pub it used to be.

Gone are Happy Mondays (pints £1.50 and £2). Acorn Barnsley Bitter has been replaced by the Brew Co's Harlequin Bitter (not bad but not as nice as Acorn and the 10p per pint price increase didn't help), but the real deterioration is in the range and price of food. Only a couple of hot choices (gone are the excellent £3 meals) and sandwiches piled on the bar with a 50p price increase.

Still a good pub. Nice atmosphere. Good beer range. But visits leave me feeling a bit cheated when I remember how it used to be.

Visited the Harlequin for the first time last Saturday, after a work colleague recommended it.

My main reason for going was that my husband is a big fan of Frank White (guitarist) who was playing live on the Saturday night.

I was pleasantly surprised, it's a real ale pub, the bar staff were real friendly and although the pub was very busy we got served quite quickly.

The atmosphere was friendly and the age group ranged from people in their twenties upwards.

Apparently there is a live turn on most Saturday nights.

Towards the end of the night the landlady brought out some hot nibbles and sandwiches for the customers, what a lovely end to the night.

Frank white was excellent along with the young lad on the keyboards.

I will definitely recommend the Harlequin to all my friends, and hopefully will be going back soon.

The historic Harlequin pub on the edge of Kelham Island has reopened under the stewardship of new landlords Chris Bamford and Kate Major. Promising a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, the duo aims to revitalise the 170-year-old establishment.

The Harlequin, located on Nursery Street overlooking the River Don, closed at the end of May under its previous landlady. Chris Bamford, who worked at the pub from 2008 to 2011, and Kate Major have taken on the challenge of managing the Harlequin. The pair currently run The Rutland Arms in the city centre and The Crow Inn on Scotland Street.

Chris shared that their decision to take over the pub was influenced by his previous experience and connection to the place. "I have an idea of what's needed to make a place like this work," he said. Their goal is to reset the pub's image and bring people back by creating an inclusive and inviting space.

The Harlequin's history dates back to 1845 when it was known as the Manchester, Lincoln and Sheffield Railway Hotel. After being closed for several years, it was reopened in 2006 by Wendy Woodhouse, who renamed it the Harlequin. Chris and Kate briefly considered reverting to its original name but decided against it to avoid confusion.

Their vision for the Harlequin includes transforming it into an “arty hub” for Kelham Island. They plan to host gigs, collaborate with the local arts community, and support queer artists. This focus on arts and inclusivity aligns with the burgeoning arts scene in the wider Castlegate area, which includes a new skatepark on Exchange Street contributing to community development.

A small team has worked to give the pub a fresh look, featuring new carpets, refurbished cellars, reupholstered seating, and a redesigned bar with uncovered original tiles. The pub will offer a variety of beverages, including seven cask beers, three cask ciders, 12 keg beers, and two keg ciders. Food service is expected to start in September, focusing on "pub classics" with a unique twist.

Despite their success with The Rutland Arms and The Crow Inn, Chris and Kate emphasise that the Harlequin will have its own distinct identity. Chris stated, "You can't just create something that looks like The Rutland - it would look fake." Their aim is to maintain a unique character for each of their establishments.

A significant part of their ethos is to create and maintain an inclusive and safe space for everyone. A Progress Pride flag will be displayed in the first-floor window as a statement of their commitment. Chris believes that inclusivity is demonstrated through actions rather than words. They are firm in their stance against any form of discrimination, ensuring that the pub is welcoming to all.

Additionally, they aim to keep the pub accessible by offering reasonably priced food and drinks. Chris acknowledges the cost of living crisis and commits to fair pricing without compromising on quality. They also prioritise supporting small businesses and local traders over large corporations.

The Harlequin's reopening under new management marks a new era for the beloved pub. With a focus on inclusivity, community, and the arts, Chris Bamford and Kate Major are set to breathe new life into this historic establishment.

The pub formerly known as the Manchester Hotel on Nursery Street has reopened as the Harlequin.