Kelham Island Tavern Pub

Obviously good ale... but this pub serves food AND allows dogs into the bar and onto the seats. Disgusting!

I had heard very good things about this pub. I was very disappointed: long waits at the bar, dirty, rude staff with unclean clothes, greasy hair and looking under the influence of substances.

My party all ordered meals together. However, as the dirty chef put the meals on the table it was announced that my choice had run out. It was difficult to get a refund for my non-existent meal. Also no apologies, and poor response from management.

Can't understand why people on some review sites rave about this pub.

I look forward every year to visiting during my real ale trips. Welcoming pub, friendly, knowledgeable hosts and bar staff. Terrific selection of good quality, well-kept ales, served in proper glasses.

Food is excellent and reasonably priced. Marvellous beer garden and have enjoyed the quiz nights and beer festivals.

If I had to pick one pub in the world to call my local, it would be this one!

A real oasis for the discerning drinker.

Have to say I use this pub as my local now and it is a joy to do so. From the traditional decor, great selection of real ales and porters, friendly, knowledgeable, helpful staff, to the "no swearing" policy, it is just a pleasure to enjoy a pint in here.

Plus there's no annoying music, televisions or slots/quiz machines to drive you mental. It's a pub I intend to keep visiting for a long time to come.

Owners Trevor and Lewis can pat themselves on the back. Oh and the floral beer garden is a delight to sit in. Cheers guys.

A well-known Sheffield pub has been named the city's best by the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

Sheffield Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has announced that the Kelham Island Tavern, on Russell Street in Sheffield's Kelham Island district, is the winner of its Pub of the Year Award for 2026. The decision was made after a panel of judges completed visits to the shortlisted venues.

The Kelham Island Tavern is located in Kelham Island, an area previously named one of the 51 coolest neighbourhoods in the world by Time Out.

The building dates back to the 1830s, when it was constructed as part of a terrace. It originally operated under the name The Sawmaker before later becoming the White Hart. In the early 1990s it was renamed the Kelham Island Tavern, although it closed soon after the change.

The pub reopened in 2002 as the Kelham Island Tavern, focusing on real ales. Within a year it was rated among the best real ale pubs in Yorkshire.

Following refurbishment after the Sheffield flood of 2007, the pub went on to achieve national recognition. It won the National CAMRA Pub of the Year award in 2008 and retained the title in 2009, becoming the first pub to win the award in consecutive years.

Over the years it has also collected several regional honours, including Yorkshire Pub of the Year titles in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009. With the latest announcement, the Kelham Island Tavern has now been named Sheffield Pub of the Year on 19 occasions.

In a statement announcing the result, Sheffield CAMRA said: "Since 2019, under the management of Josh and Louise, it has continued to offer a wide range of both cask and craft beers - always including a stout, porter, and a selection of IPAs and bitters. The beer range is consistently excellent, always featuring at least one from local brewery Blue Bee.

"The pub also boasts an excellent rear beer garden and maintains the standards to which many others aspire. A simple snack menu is available, including pork pies."

The organisation also congratulated the other branch area winners: the Dog & Partridge, the Blake Hotel, the Sheaf View, the Rising Sun, the Chantry Inn and the Red Lion at Litton.

CAMRA added that these venues "certainly all gave the Kelham Island Tavern a run for its money".

The Pub of the Year award is due to be formally presented on 30th June.

The race for the coveted title of Sheffield's best pub is reaching its climax, with voting set to conclude today. The Kelham Island Tavern, situated on Russell Street, is once again a strong contender for the top spot, seeking to secure its unprecedented 17th victory since 1982.

Having claimed the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) top title 16 times, the Kelham Island Tavern boasts an illustrious history, including impressive back-to-back wins between 2004 and 2011 and another streak from 2013 to 2018. The pub has long been a symbol of excellence in the local brewing scene.

In a city where pubs are a source of pride, the Kelham Island Tavern faces competition from notable establishments such as the nearby Fat Cat, with four wins, and the Wellington (formerly Cask & Cutler) on Henry Street in Shalesmoor, with three victories.

The shortlist for this year's competition showcases "Pub of the Month" winners in 2023 and establishments featured in the Good Beer Guide during the same period. CAMRA, established in 1971 to combat the homogenisation of the British brewing industry, has continued to celebrate and champion establishments that align with its consumer values.

To determine the winner, CAMRA members rank 10 pubs from the shortlist. A judging panel then visits these establishments to select the overall "Pub of the Year 2024" in Sheffield and the "District Pub of the Year" for surrounding parts of Derbyshire. The winners are scheduled to be announced in April.

The Kelham Island Tavern, once a traditional pub for steelworkers, faced a period of neglect after its closure in the early 1990s. However, a transformative refurbishment led by Trevor Wraith, supported by Lewis Gonda, saw the pub reopen in 2001 with Trevor as the landlord until his retirement in 2018. Not only has the pub secured numerous "Pub of the Year" titles, but it also made history by winning the CAMRA "National Pub of the Year" consecutively in 2008 and 2009.

Credited with playing a pivotal role in turning Kelham Island into a trendy destination, the Kelham Island Tavern stands as a testament to the resilience and evolution of Sheffield's pub scene, nestled today between modern flats.

The Kelham Island Tavern has been crowned Sheffield CAMRA's "Pub Of The Year" 2015. The popular real ale venue on Russell Street on the outskirts of the city ads this latest accolade to a long list of awards that includes many "Pub Of The Month" titles and Yorkshire CAMRA's "Pub Of The Year".

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.

The Kelham Island Tavern kicked off its beer festival on Wednesday. The renowned real ale pub has thirty five beers plus a range of ciders and perry drinks available to be sampled between 11AM and Midnight until Saturday and between Midday and Midnight on Sunday.

The pub will also receive its CAMRA Sheffield "Pub of the Year" award at 4PM on Saturday. 2009 is the 6th year in a row that the Kelham Island Tavern has won the coveted award.

The Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield city centre has been named the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) "National Pub of the Year".

CAMRA's pubs director, Julian Hough, said that judges looked at the quality of the beer, atmosphere, decor, customer service, clientele mix and value for money.

Hough added: "The Kelham Island Tavern is a regular in the Good Beer Guide and has been treasured by pub-goers from Yorkshire and beyond since its opening in 2002."

The Kelham Island Tavern is holding a mid-summer beer festival from 19th to 22nd June. There will be more than 30 beers available that are new to Sheffield. The pub will be open form 12PM until late throughout the event, and food is available between 12PM and 3PM Monday - Saturday.

On the Saturday, 21st June, at around 5pm, Sheffield CAMRA will be presenting the certificate to landlord Trevor Wraith and his staff for being voted Sheffield Real Ale Pub of the Year by local CAMRA members. The pub has gone forward into the Yorkshire CAMRA Pub of the Year competition as Sheffield's nomination.

The Kelham Island Tavern is an independently run free house and can be found on Russell Street, close to Sheffield city centre.

CAMRA is the Campaign for Real Ale, a volunteer run consumer group promoting proper cask conditioned beer, traditional cider and good pubs, with around 90,000 members nationally.