SpiderPete

from what I can tell on Facebook they have 4 ale pumps ... shall give it a visit as its very close to where I live as well.

It's to do with pork scratching's apparently.

This is what he said

7. What made you choose the name The Itchy Pig – where did the idea come from ?

It all came from my love of pork scratching's. I was originally going to call it “The Pork Scratching” until I was sitting with my dad having a beer and we came up with “The Itchy Pig”!

Stancill are certainly busy in their pub portfolio`s.

They have done a good job with The Albion, be interesting to see how they do opposite the Hallamshire House

Me too they have ruined what was a reliable fast service,its particularly bad in the afternoon with full buses due to schools and taking ages to get back due to picking up local passengers on Eccelsall rd and going via Dore.

As from September the bus no longer goes to Dore, just had a look at the new timetable and map.

S6 have quite a few pubs:

New Barrack Tavern

Hillsborough Tap

Shakey

Castle Inn

Horse and Jockey

Hillsborough Hotel

Queens Ground

Champs

New Bridge Inn

Wadsley Jack

Rose and Crown

Well I could care less. I'm sure some others would also.

 

I put some value on the venue as much as the drink so would be willing to accept something that's maybe not my first preference to maintain the venue.

 

Having to switch to what was described as a well kept Farmers Blonde which would contribute to maintain the Three Tuns doesn't fill me with as much dread as it seems to others.

Good post, if a pub keeps their ales in top condition it doesn't matter what I drink.

The amount of snobbery on this thread is just laughable.

What with this, Bar Stewards opening and all the stuff happening in Leeds on Saturday its going to be an expensive weekend!

Yes Bar Stewards opening this Friday

Also The Albion on London Road should also be re-opening this weekend, Stancill took it over and was told 5 Stancill ales and 5 guest ales.

There is also a vegan beer festival on Saturday as well at Yellow Arch studio down at Neepsend.

Also Norfolk Arms in Grenoside (Stancill pub) is doing a beer festival this weekend, not seen a list yet

I heard a micro-pub was opening down there, be interesting how well they will do.

No but , troll-like I was wondering if you would bite and spout off the usual OTT negativity. Must admit, I rarely struggle to find a decent pint in Sheffield or the surrounding areas.

Must be drinking in the wrong pubs then :P

I was out in town last night after a stressful days work and had no problem finding good ales to drink and I went in pubs which don't usually class themselves as ale pubs, the glasses might have been a bit dodgy but I get used to it now.

As for Sheffield Beer Week - has already been said on Twitter it is going ahead and I think it will be much better now SIBA isn't in the way as I ended up missing some events because of this, but I am sure the usual people will be doing their usual "everything is collapsing around us" stuff... yawn. (not aimed at you Jemson)

Sheffield beer scene still `dying on its knees` Dan?

oh gawd don't set him off ... lol

I have heard of a micropub opening in Woodseats... don't know when or where.

Stancill are opening a pub in town centre ... not sure where that is either

I went in recently and its definitely a after work place, no casks at all and they have about 7ish keg lines, not that inspiring to be honest, but things might change in a few weeks.

Dronfield Arms does sound the best pub to be in and will be the busiest, I was thinking starting at Coach & Horses as I can get a bus from home to nearly there and walk down into Dronfield visiting pubs along the way.

Is there a beer list? Never been to that one.

I found this on Facebook

"BREWS & BLUES beer festival, featuring 12 x cask ales and a fine selection of craft, cider & gin. "

doesn't say which 12 they are.

Also same weekend as Old Hall beer festival at Hope as well.

I was in Sentinel last night hiding from the rain ... as one does ... and took advantage of their 4 - 1/3rds for £5 minus the loyalty card discount came to £4.50 and although they are not exciting they are good session ales to try.

Their orange stout I tried on opening day hasn't improved at all, I feel they have completely taken out all the orange now

They also have a new Twitter account : @ClosedShopS10

They also have a new Facebook page as well.

They cannot use the old one as whoever has it wanted to charge them to use it, which sounds a bit mean to me.

went in recently as I pass this most days and thought I would pop in and see what it is like.

First impression outside didn't look good but nice inside, plenty of space and they have 3 cask ales and 3/4 keg lines and plenty of bottles.

The owner/barman not sure which he is has good knowledge of the ales etc etc.

They also have their own branded glasses.

Definitely be going in again but be careful of opening times during the week, they do close at 9.00 except Fri/Sat opening later times

Its all a mystery whats happened, must say when I been in Punchbowl it has been empty but that was afternoons. but The Ball has been busy in afternoons.

Also noticed this on the Star article

He jumped into action, setting up a company and organising a new tenancy with Greene King brewery.

Another Greene King pub in Crookes, that's 3 now and since The Ball is much better I cannot see Punchbowl doing well especially if they are selling Greene King ales only (wont be seeing me in there if thats the case) which The Ball doesn't have many on and then you have The Old Grindstone down the road also selling Greene King ales.

I still feel it will turn into a restaurant.

Its a case of .... watch this space.

I can understand that and it's absolutely up to the individual how they choose both product wise and price wise.

 

I just think people can be quite scathing about pubs that don't sell that product or people that aren't willing to pay it.

 

Certain people will happily run places down for not meeting their own tastes and I don't think that's right.

OMG how true is this, if the pub doesn't have what they want its "slag it off time", which is completely wrong.

Over 200+ pubs in Sheffield and I am sure they cater for their punters who come in, no point having a pub out in Worrall serving 7 kegs at ridiculous prices when they wont sell.

`On it`s knees`; wow. Epic exaggeration. I very rarely struggle to get a decent pint in a lovely pub with good service.

 

`Desperately ... argue`, well, most disagree as evidenced in many other threads about similar.

He is starting to sound like a broken record ... zzzz....

on its knees ... never heard so much rubbish in my life, I never struggle to get a decent pint in a lovely pub with good service.

Thanks for the summary Andy. It does look good, doesn`t it?

It does look good, I now got my week planned out and adding 2 of my walks as well to cater for the week long events which is what I shall be doing before hitting beer festival at Ice Sheffield Fri & Sat.

yes and no... if one arrives by train (or even bus/coach), you've got the Tap, then Rutland and Sentinel a short walk away... I'll grudgingly admit that L**ds has got a bloody nice little circuit around the station, but some of the other attractions like North Bar are no different to walking from our station to say the Shakey. Overall though, the Sheffield scene is alive and well, no dying or even dwindling from where I'm standing!

Yes have to agree there, its not dwindling or dying.

I know people who come from Hull for the day and they have no trouble visiting the pubs and getting the train back home. They are coming back for Sheffield Beer Week next week and doing quite a longish walk .... all in a day.... roll on next week as well

I was never keen on the Hop tbh but I was struggling think of `dwindling good beer places`. DaDa closed years ago (4 years?) whilst there are lots of new places around Sheffield. Bar Stewards, Walkley BC, Sentinel, Pic House, Itchy Pig, Brothers Arms, Beer House etc whilst the likes of The Welly, Dev Cat, Forum chain, Washington have been invested in heavily. I`m not too concerned with endlessly comparing Sheff with other places because I don`t live in Leeds or Hudd anymore thankfully.

 

Elsecar is not a place I`m likely to visit for beer realistically.HH has 5 strong keg lines 10 minutes stroll from home which suffices.

I am also struggling to think of "dwindling good beer places", if anything there is more, I can still walk round town and enjoy a good night out with the selection the pubs have, some spent a bit on refurb.

Heeley for a start has improved - White Lion, Brothers Arms upping their ale ranges, and Sheaf View plodding along, and you are only a stone throw away from Hop Hideout, and not far from Railway, Cremorne, Beer Engine.

Then you have Itchy Pig, Fox and Duck at Broomhill and only a stone throw away from Hallamshire House.

I could go on forever and ever.. but you get the picture.

So is Sheffield dwindling ale wise .. I don't think it is.

Maybe some people are too picky and want kegs of weird varieties at silly prices, or ales with chocolate hobnobs and chills in, or kangaroo legs with pineapple chunks .... that's not Sheffield.

The ones I am looking forward to is:

Beer Festival – White Lion (Heeley)

All handpumps on all three bars will be in use offering a huge range of cask beers and various brewers will be dropping in over the week to host meet the brewer sessions. More details to be confirmed at time of going to press.

Beavertown tap takeover and Meet the Brewer – Hallamshire House, 5pm

Tickets free via http://www.eventbrite.co.uk

Everyone’s favourite London brewery Beavertown will be heading to The Hallamshire House for an epic Tap Takeover. All Beavertown beers will go live at 5pm. To get more of an insight into the company and there awesome beers they will also be hosting a FREE meet the brewer & tasting. This will be FREE for the first 25 customers who register. Keep your eyes peeled on Eventbrite to sign up for this event.

Then its Siba on Friday and Saturday, esp Sat watching the rugby

Yes. It has been refurbished to a high standard, the toilets especially, although I did note the removal of vending machines selling certain, er, electrically powered bedroom aids that were there before.

 

Lots of TV screens with Sky/BT sports on. Pool table. Quizzer.

 

http://tinyurl.com/zrdk6jg (link to photo on Google Maps)

 

I was in a couple of weeks ago on a Friday night, and it was more busy than the Grindstone, a bit less so than the Ball, but a lot better than it was before. Decent enough atmosphere anyway.

 

However, if you're looking for interesting beer it isn't the place. Couple of 4%-ish casks on, the one I had was well-kept but boring. Loads of chrome lager taps.

 

I've no particular objection to going again, but only with a group of people who want to go, and in the knowledge that I'd not drink anything interesting.

This pub wont have the expensive £6 ales on and outrageous keg prices as this isn't that type of pub, they cater for their locals and what they want and not the arty farty people .... if its well kept I shall be popping in so thanks for update.

Careful Pete - you're getting dangerously close to agreeing with me

I do sometimes agree with you, but not always .. like to sit on the fence