Martin C

Thanks - a very interesting map

Fire drill somewhere maybe?

A bit like Doncaster (where I lived for 24 years before moving here) then.

Pubs where you can drink all night on "little tastes" of all the many, varied & wonderful beers on offer at no cost to yourself.

I will vote (always have, 38 years or so now) but really what's the point? Liebour forever.

It may be democracy on paper but ultra safe seats / councils (of whichever political persuasion) mean, in reality, there is no such thing. My vote is effectively worthless.

As a pedestrian I see numerous motorists pass through red lights on red. Not just in Sheffield obviously but it really does seem to be a case of "Red means two more cars can go through" these days. Particular blackspots seem to be Derek Dooley Way inbound at The Wicker, and the Shalesmoor/Corporation Street junctions.

Exactly. Read the blackboard, ask for advice then put yout hand in your pocket. Customer rights extend to the rights of paying 'beer explorers' not being obliged to subsidise freeloaders. Odd that we're discussing this on a thread about the one pub that doesn't do free samples.

I'm sure the best bar staff will be aware of who will recognise the better/more interesting breweries (and therefore be willing to buy a pint/half/third anyway) and those who need a free sample before investing. It's a shame that it isn't legal to sell beer in 'sample glasses' (but even this may not satisfy those who need to 'try before they buy'). As well as the cost of the beer there's the time taken to pour the free samples (often, as someone else has pointed out, while those who know what they want are waiting) and then to wash and restack the extra glasses. Just as well I'm not in the trade I'd be a right miserable landlord.

Most pubs that sell the stronger and expensive beers will sell it in thirds. Shakespeare's currently has the excellent Buxton Double Axe (10.1%) at £6.90 a pint, £3.45 a half and £2.30 a third. A "little taste" of a beer like this is probably getting on for a pound's worth of beer. I doubt that's coming out of William's profits, nor will it (or should it) be coming out of the staff's wages. It's obviously factored into the price and (as a customer that doesn't ask for free samples) I get frustrated seeing punter after punter come in requesting and receiving same. I was once in the KIT and someone had a "little taste" of 6 or 7 beers before proceeding to order a red wine. It's becoming endemic in these parts. That's why I love the Welly's policy here.

It's become endemic - have seen people try 4, 5 or 6 beers on KIT or Shakey then order a lager/guinness/tap water etc. If I walked into a supermarket/sandwich shop/restaurant and ask for a free sample/"little taste" of everthing they sell to help me decide what to buy they would quite rightly tell me where to go. We're subsidising these freeloaders.

Exactly. Ditherers/freeloaders delaying/being subsidised by the rest of us. Can see some justification where young drinkers (or people very new to real/craft ale) are involved but there's now far too many experienced drinkers who seem to have become unwilling to speculatively order a half (or third where available) of a beer that's new to them.

Have always admired the Welly's policy re (beer) tasters;- "Tasters are available priced as halves".

If it were possible to combine the ambience of the Welly (as is) with the beer range of Shakespeare's I'd have a new local.

Hear, hear!

Please don't say that, this thread's an entertaining read - shame if it gets closed for pc reasons.

"Self-financing" too

Even as a non-driver I couldn't agree more. So many pedestrians press the button without even checking how busy the road is - then immediately cross anyway when they realise there's a huge gap in the traffic. Makes sense to look first and only press the button if the traffic is more or less continuous. And if you do press the button wait until the lights change.

Longish read, but an interesting take on the real root causes (as well as the more extreme weather) of the increased incidence of flooding these days. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/13/flooding-public-spending-britain-europe-policies-homes?CMP=share_btn_fb

There'll be less footsteps involved (for me) to reach Primark in Doncaster Market Place then to head down The Moor once they move. At least I can have a rest on the train.

This sound like individual incompetence. Identify them (and quadruple their Council Tax) to pay for the clean-up

If it wasn't for the supremely and uniquely excellent Beer Central I wouldn't give a flying ***** whether this obscure Southern outlier of the city centre lived or died. May as well be in Dore or Dronfield as far as I'm concerned. Obviously much better/more convenient for others but I can't work up any enthusiasm for it whatsoever. I've bought the odd birthday card from a card shop, beer and more beer from Beer Central. But there's no hope in Hell I'd ever walk 30 minutes or so (each way) to buy food that's available much more conveniently from a supermarket in or around the centre of Sheffield. Hope Chesterfield/Dronfield are sharing the costs.

Thanks for getting the name right (I said Burngreave Practice but it is Burngreave Surgery as you say). It is very good.

The medical and admin staff at the Burngreave Practice have been very good in the two years I've been registered with them. The 'Waiting Room experience' is quite 'cosmopolitan' though.