Tap and Tankard Cambridge street.

[RandumDave 10]

Another pub closing its doors on the 3rd Feb

 

The Tap and Tankard on Cambridge street, formerly The Sportsman closes its doors probably for the last time.

 

A shame really because the building itself has been a public house as far back as the late 1880s. Its had many iterations, its been a pub where ladies of questionable virtues have frequented to a place where upstanding officers of the law have called home. Later iterations its been a rock pub and the final guise a real ale pub run by Kelham Island. so its gone through the ages so to speak

 

No doubt Sheffield Council will let the place rot till it falls down like Leahs Yard next door.

 

Always sad to lose a pub, especially as it was my local that wasn't actually local to where I live

[Geo-atkinson 10]

Shame, l used to go in there when it was the Sportsman. Pint of bitter and a barley wine. One of the more, shall we say, characterfull pubs in the City Centre always a good pint. Some odd looking people behind the bar, great fun though. I would still go in if I drank in the city but l don't live as close nowerdays.

[EmmaJones76 10]

 

No doubt Sheffield Council will let the place rot till it falls down like Leahs Yard next door.

 

 

Are the council the owners of the building then?

[paula4sheff 10]

That's a shame - a decent city centre pub, which is increasingly rare. Always seemed busy too, since the recent takeover.

 

Fingers crossed someone will reopen it as a pub.

[taxman 12]

It was a decent enough City centre boozer but the shambles next door to it, all the scaffolding, plus the building work around there more recently probably put the last nail in the coffin.

 

With all the scaffolding etc it was difficult to see there was a pub there, let alone if it was open or not.

[RandumDave 10]

The council own it because it's under compulsory purchase order. But have rented it out for past 10 or 15 years when the whole severnstone project was starting out.

 

I think the death knell has come because bottom of the road is closed for the HSBC building. Henrys closed and the boards went up round leahs yard so it's not a natural place to walk past now. No passing footfall means no profit.

[cityspinner 10]

Was always going to be short-term in view of development.

 

Have they been given notice by Council or is it just no longer profitable?

 

Big Shame, as was nice to access Kelham Island Beers range in City Centre.

[smithy266 21]

The wife and I were in the city on Monday, and amazed by the amount of coffee shops....seems every other building is a coffee shop..... sorry to see another pub closing...

[Guest makapaka]

The wife and I were in the city on Monday, and amazed by the amount of coffee shops....seems every other building is a coffee shop..... sorry to see another pub closing...

 

It's because a large part of the youth of today prefer to drink moccafrappucino's in the coffee shops whilst perusing potential sexual partners on their mobile phones - rather than going down the pub, socialising and meeting people.

[Bilge 34]

I hope it doesn't close down as a pub for good. It's a historic pub and we don't want to lose any more of those in the city centre. It's loads better than the Wspoon/Yates-type options nearby.

 

But I must say, although I've been in a few times it's not a favourite place. I'm not keen on Kelham beers and there isn't always something I want to drink available. Plus it's just a bit, err...dull.

 

I don't think the scaffolding issue is a good enough excuse. How do pubs like the Bath or Red Deer manage without passing trade? If it was a really good pub people would seek it out and given its location near the City Hall etc it would do well.

[slh73 32]

I hope it doesn't close down as a pub for good. It's a historic pub and we don't want to lose any more of those in the city centre. It's loads better than the Wspoon/Yates-type options nearby.

 

But I must say, although I've been in a few times it's not a favourite place. I'm not keen on Kelham beers and there isn't always something I want to drink available. Plus it's just a bit, err...dull.

 

I don't think the scaffolding issue is a good enough excuse. How do pubs like the Bath or Red Deer manage without passing trade? If it was a really good pub people would seek it out and given its location near the City Hall etc it would do well.

 

Agreed. In my younger days, I was a regular in the sportsman when it was a rock pub, before going on to the wap or rebels. Nowadays, I'm a lot more discerning in what I drink, and I'd say 5 times out of 10 when we've called in, we've looked at the taps and walked out again,. It's a shame it's closing, it has a lot of history, but it's not unexpected unfortunately.

[Powerage 10]

They should have left it as a Rock Bar was very popular and me and my mates loved it in there. I went in once after it changed hands not keen on real ale myself so wasn't much for me to drink but there was no atmosphere at all dull as ditchwater! No wonder it died a death.