Wellington Pub

News for Wellington:

• 22nd February 2009

  Local members of the Campaign for Real Ale have voted for the Wellington on Henry Street, Shalesmoor, as the winner of their February Pub of the Month award. These awards are designed to highlight pubs across our area that are serving good quality real cask ale in friendly and comfortable surroundings day in, day out. More information in the article below.
  
  Shortly after Whitbread announced the proposed closure of the Exchange Brewery in early 1993 there was at least some good news on the Whitbread front - they had sold the Wellington on Henry Street to long standing Wakefield CAMRA members, Neil & Sheila Clarke. This became Sheffield's second genuine real ale freehouse, following on from the Fat Cat in 1981, and the following year was renamed the Cask & Cutler to distinguish it from the Wellington on Langsett Road (now the Hillsborough Hotel).
  
  The "Bottom Wellie" may have once been the brewery tap for the nearby Don Brewery, before it was bought by Tennant Brothers in 1916 and closed. At the end of 2006, Neil & Sheila decided to fulfil their long held ambition of relocating to France, and sold the Cask & Cutler to Richard Appleton. Richard's connection with the pub goes back fifteen years, to when in the guise of Little Ale Cart Enterprises he supplied many of the beers, and he also owns the Dragon Inn, a real ale freehouse in Worcester. In January 2007 Gordon and Louise, who had been working at the Dragon, moved to the Cask as managers, where they are supported by long serving bar staff, Gary and Gerald.
  
  Following an incremental programme of refurbishment of the two rooms, new signage was erected towards the end of 2007 confirming the reversion of the pub's name to The Wellington.
  
  The next step was to complete commissioning of the adjoining brewery, which had been erected at the rear of the beer garden some years earlier. The first trial brews appeared in August 2008, since when some thirty beers under the Little Ale Cart Brewery name have been on the bar. To date all are pale and hoppy, with usually two available at any time, one of which will be 4% ABV. In addition there is the house beer, Millstone Baby Git and up to five guest beers, including a stout or porter and often a mild. As Richard is able to do beer swaps between his two pubs, beers from the West Midlands and West Country are often featured.
  
  Another change is that the Wellington is now open all day, 12PM - 11PM, except Sunday when it opens 12PM - 3:30PM and 7PM - 10:30PM. However thankfully the policy of no jukebox, television or gaming machines has been retained.
  
  Congratulations to Richard and his staff on gaining a well deserved Pub of the Month award for maintaining and where necessary improving one of Sheffield's top real ale outlets. The presentation will be on the evening of Tuesday 10th February from 8PM, all are of course welcome.

• 2nd September 2007

  We have updated the details for the pub previously called the Cask & Cutler at Shalesmoor. The pub is now called the Wellington and is a favourite of real ale fans.