Anyone been yet. I've heard they have Sam Smith's Old Brewery Bitter at £1.39 a pint and an open fire.

Sounds
a) nice
b) a dangerous combination...

Hopefully some of the smelly old drunks that were part of the furniture went in the skip too.

Praise the Lord. Weekends are going to get even messier!

Might call in tomorrow since all being well I should be boozing all afternoon. :)

Been in the other day....certainly a lot better inside. Nice stone flagged floor, well decorated, real coal fire.

Old Brewery bitter 1.39 a pint!

Still much of the old clientle remain, but no-where near as dodgy as before!

Drove past a few times looks good from what i can see spent a lot of money on the place

It's my friend who's managint this bar and I can't believe I forgot to post on here!!!! Haven't been in yet - but I will be very shortly, used to be my favourite haunt when I worked at City Hall - I think that's why she took it ;-)

Yes should do well

Hi, KTHFB!

Will you pass this (http://www.sheffield-central.com/contactus.htm)on to the new owners please?

Woo and indeed yay. I'm going to go and drink until I fall over

Called in last Wednesday and a definite thumbs up from me (other breweries kindly take note).

A traditional pub in the city centre with decent, incredibly cheap ale. No blasting music, juke boxes or TVs, just a quiet welcoming pub. I was worried that they'd 'transform' it into a copy of everything else we have in the city centre.

They've done a fabulous job (including a lack of signage outside; I hope it remains this way). The pub looks great beside the cobbled street and with the little gas-type lighting in the windows. Made me think of pubs in York.

Alas, the cheap start to my day's drinking ended there. I called into Ha! Ha! and whilst I felt nice and chilled in there, the pint of Peroni was lovely...but £3.50?!!!

Is this the only Sam Smiths pub in town?

I blame much of the current parlous state of Britain's pubs on the ludicrous and draconian decision to force breweries to sell off their pubs back in the 80s. Mostly bought up by pubcos who are/were worse than the breweries.

Is a cool place......must be the cheapest in town for cask ale?

Where in the city centre is this pub? I used to frequent Sam Smith pubs in Manchester/Bolton some years ago, and they were generally pretty pleasant.

NORFORK ST acrooss from Halifax bank

Please god, let them have left the precious partitions in the pub.
The last thing we need is another barn which used to be a traditional pub.

I remember working behind the bar of the Brown Bear 20 years ago, it was there I learned how to look after cask ales the cellar was lined with casks, never had a beer come back either

I remember working behind the bar of the Brown Bear 20 years ago, it was there I learned how to look after cask ales the cellar was lined with casks, never had a beer come back either

Won't it have been a JOHN Smith's house then?

If you, thumbs up for your Magnet.:thumbsup:

Won't it have been a JOHN Smith's house then?

If you, thumbs up for your Magnet.:thumbsup:

Yes it was a John's house back then.

Glad you enjoyed your pints :thumbsup:

I remember working behind the bar of the Brown Bear 20 years ago, it was there I learned how to look after cask ales the cellar was lined with casks, never had a beer come back either

I remember you behind the bar there....used to go in with 'the bird' of the time.....it was a great pub back then and superb pint of Smiths too

I remember you behind the bar there....used to go in with 'the bird' of the time.....it was a great pub back then and superb pint of Smiths too

I started going in there about 15 years ago, usually to meet a drinking mate of mine from Crookes, dear old Scottish Rod, who was from Inverness.

Poor bugger's dead now. I went in quite a lot in its first incarnation as a Sam Smith's pub as well.

I remember you behind the bar there....used to go in with 'the bird' of the time.....it was a great pub back then and superb pint of Smiths too

Like i said i never had a pint come back when i was in charge of the cellar, Whatever job i do, i do to the best of my abilities

It's nice to know that the beer i served was good

yes it was about 90 pence a pint or something back then.......

It sounds good, I was worried it'd be turned into a horrendous trendy, gimmicky clip joint.

Like i said i never had a pint come back when i was in charge of the cellar, Whatever job i do, i do to the best of my abilities

It's nice to know that the beer i served was good

Well, it was in the national Good Beer Guide for a while. John Smith's, Magnet, Courage Directors, and another from the S&N repertoire as I recall from the first time I went in.

What's the point of posting when moderators either edit what you've typed, change your thread titles or just delete your posts?

i loved the brown bear so going to have to check it out now its reopened!

It is not often you go back to a pub that you love that has been done up and think it's better. They have done a really good job on the place. Pity about the lack of smoking area which is fair enough as it did look like stalag19 before hand. Beer still cheap and quality. Toilets clean and fresh. Pity about the lack of proper coal in the fires ( bloody clean air act) and pity about the member of barstaff who was sat at bar when she wasn't on duty getting ****** and thought she could take the **** out of me because of the way I look and also take the residue of my mates pint before she had finished with it.
All in all I'm surprised, it has all the bits of pubs I like. No TV, no jukebox, FIRE (yay), decent toilets, cracking beer as always.
Good job all round and good to get one of the few decent pubs in the city centre back.

Has it stopped stinking of sewerage then?

aye it good pub cheep as chips beer tht not full of chemical nonsense. Real fires , only promblem donr stay open long enough. other than that it brill i wll pop in again. Big thumbs up

p.s has lovely toilets aswell:)

Has it stopped stinking of sewerage then?

Meaks, we have met before in various little pubs in neepsend, swillsbrough and yes it has. No smell of **** or ****

Well I've been in the last few days to check out the new look Brown Bear and I must say I was really really impressed with upgrade ! and how they managed to preserve its original character alsmot intact - although where are the theatre posters gone - are they under the new wallpaper? There were warm cosy real fires, new shiny bar counter top, new lights, the old pubby smells are replaced by the fresh smell of new carpet, even Showroom cinema guides on the bar - the mark of a real classy bar :-)
Yes I agree with not_wanted that girl was behind the bar and then came out to the other side to continue drinking there but she seemed very friendly and attentive while on duty ! I just had the one so didnt check out the loos - instead making off to the Lions Lair to meet up with Mr S. Pete. and then had an early night alas !

It is not often you go back to a pub that you love that has been done up and think it's better. They have done a really good job on the place. Pity about the lack of smoking area which is fair enough as it did look like stalag19 before hand. Beer still cheap and quality. Toilets clean and fresh. Pity about the lack of proper coal in the fires ( bloody clean air act) and pity about the member of barstaff who was sat at bar when she wasn't on duty getting ****** and thought she could take the **** out of me because of the way I look and also take the residue of my mates pint before she had finished with it.
All in all I'm surprised, it has all the bits of pubs I like. No TV, no jukebox, FIRE (yay), decent toilets, cracking beer as always.
Good job all round and good to get one of the few decent pubs in the city centre back.

Christ(TM) alone knows what she'd make of me then .......

Hi, KTHFB!

Will you pass this (http://www.sheffield-central.com/contactus.htm)on to the new owners please?

Will do - I was trying to search for your name and I must have spelled it incorrectly. I'll get the link sent to her for you.

Popped in t'other day, great pub! :D

What I want to know is what have they done with a ll the great old theatre posters that were on the wall - they will be worht something - I do hope they are presevred and stored somewhere and not just under the new wallpaper for ever lost !

The Sam Smiths reserve cider is FAB.....best I have tasted and blows that Strongbow **** into the weeds. Pity I can't get it in stock as its gorgeous stuff.......

It's lost a bit of character with the removal of the theatre poster wallpaper but, thankfully, it's not changed much otherwise.

Been in today and a great night as always, taking into account the pints bought for me the overall average price I paid for a pint was under £1, even in the bb im normally lucky to average a 120p pint.
Ive took two family members out for a drink today, and a meal, ccaught a train bus and taxi, atee thrice myself and had good few pints, for less than £30.
:thumbsup:
nb. i didnt eat in the bb, just drank.

Is a cool place......must be the cheapest in town for cask ale?



Much cheeper than the Dove

It's lost a bit of character with the removal of the theatre poster wallpaper but, thankfully, it's not changed much otherwise.

Nope ... most of the characters are still in there - the bar staff seem to be adding further ones too lol

I believe the BB is now shut again:(

Much cheeper than the Dove

yes it WAS...and its closed down!

Oh dear the Brown Bear gone to the wall, the Sanctuary closed down, what pub is next to hit the rocks of the Credit crunch - meanwhile the Shiney Sheff prepares to set sail again ...

I believe the BB is now shut again:(

Your kiddign me.

Your kiddign me.

nope:(

.........................

But Sam Smiths are looking for a management couple to re-open it next week.
Dont think they will find anyone that soon, but it IS going to open again.

Was only in there last friday eve/night. Place was full.
It's a pity it's closed cos the landlady and her hubby were always pleasant.

Was only in there last friday eve/night. Place was full.
It's a pity it's closed cos the landlady and her hubby were always pleasant.

yes they were, but the 'old crowd' were starting to come back in, she had to chuck out a couple of smelly old drunken tramps last time I was there..

Oh dear the Brown Bear gone to the wall, the Sanctuary closed down, what pub is next to hit the rocks of the Credit crunch - meanwhile the Shiney Sheff prepares to set sail again ...

Sanctuary hasn't closed down - was in there last night.

I heard that its closed down from a friend of a friend, whos female friend wasnt none too the happier when her ex was constantly being chatted up by the fat, loud 40 something year old woman that worked there. She was then told it was the landlady!? :s

Long story short, the tenants added the scruffy and bad characters to the pub despite the renovation (what was okay at first, even I popped in for one :) )- then the tenants themsleves appeared to be definate 'characters;.
Since heard from her (as the guy was very "ahem" close to the woman) that they have been kicked out for not bringing enough money in by the brewery, and that they knew it was on the rocks.

Good riddance (of the tenants). It was a cool place to go for a cheap half (90P!?) after a Jumbos had wiped you out of pocket lol.

I heard that its closed down from a friend of a friend, whos female friend wasnt none too the happier when her ex was constantly being chatted up by the fat, loud 40 something year old woman that worked there. She was then told it was the landlady!? :s


So "someone" told the friend of a friend of a friend? That's about as unreliable a set of circumstances as I've ever read. Did this "someone" work for a tabloid?";)
The landlady was quite young and usually her husband/partner was there with her by the way.
I do have to agree that the clientele were "rough round the edges". The old man who sat shouting to himself in the corner was a "character"!
Still a pity it's closed. Was good for a quick cheap pint.

I walked past there last night about eightish and the lights were one and it looked like they were getting ready to open.

I still think Sam Smiths brand of keg cider is the BEST available.....blows Strongbow into the weeds....

They have been open :)

The new landlord/landlady of the BB have now gone;apparently they lasted less than a week.

Its back open again now....

and its closed again now....or it was Saturday night!!!

Apparently it will open again tomorrow

Was open at dinner today.
Here's hoping it stays open

I heard that its closed down from a friend of a friend, whos female friend wasnt none too the happier when her ex was constantly being chatted up by the fat, loud 40 something year old woman that worked there. She was then told it was the landlady!? :s

Long story short, the tenants added the scruffy and bad characters to the pub despite the renovation (what was okay at first, even I popped in for one :) )- then the tenants themsleves appeared to be definate 'characters;.
Since heard from her (as the guy was very "ahem" close to the woman) that they have been kicked out for not bringing enough money in by the brewery, and that they knew it was on the rocks.

Good riddance (of the tenants). It was a cool place to go for a cheap half (90P!?) after a Jumbos had wiped you out of pocket lol.

I can assure you that the landlady you're talking about is a good friend of mine and she's certainly not fat or anywhere near 40 (she can sometimes be a bit loud though :hihi:). I hardly think she'd be chatting anyone up in front of her husband either.

Well its still good value at 1.79 a pint of Alpine lager in there - many is the time I go in there for a kip ...

What does anyone else think of the Sam Smiths cider? I personally LOVE it.....I hate Strongbow....the Sam Smiths brew is superb....

What does anyone else think of the Sam Smiths cider? I personally LOVE it.....I hate Strongbow....the Sam Smiths brew is superb....

Not a great fan, but I agree that it sure beats the hell out of Strongbow.