I was going to put this on the beer thread but felt it might benefit from a separate thread

I spent part of Saturday night at the Camra pub of the year 2009

www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=295822

As this clearly states it is a unique pub in that it is the first in Camra's history to retain the title. Some pub then.

The odd thing is that in my judgement the other two pubs I went into on Saturday night were both better. The others were the Fat Cat and the Riverside, the total distance between the three them is about 400 yards.

In all three the bar staff spoke with expertise about the multiple beers on offer and in each the condition of the beers I had was excellent but the atmosphere and surroundings of the Fat Cat and Riverside I prefered to the Kelham Island Tav. although there was nothing wrong with it you understand.

So, dial in some good company and an excellent night was enjoyed; in fact for the connoisseur of beers and and ales I can't think of a better one, a must do if you find yourself in Sheffield for a night.

This got me thinking, can anyone recommend a three or four pub crawl, with an emphasis of quality real ale, in any other city? We could generate a list of OTF recommended City crawls which could be tapped into as opportunities present themselves. If this has been done before please forgive me and point me in it's direction.

The Kelham-Fat Cat etc. crawl is regularly done by the London Millers before catching a tram down to Attercliffe. Unless I'm with them...

The Harlequin (used to the Manchester Hotel) over near Aizlewoods Mill on Nursery Street as a good selection of beers.

I'm in Sheffield at the end of next month. Thank you for planning my Friday evening for me, GHE! :-)

In fact, I think I may even have to get up there earlier in the day, just so as to make it easier to do 'a crawl'.

On Saturday I'll have to remain at least a little lucid, as I'll be meeting up with several people, then going on to a gig. Plus I'll be riding home, the next day.

Some day, I really ought to spend about a week in Sheffield, just drinking, gigging and exploring the Peak District during the daytimes.

G.O. - I may have asked you this already, but are you down for the Aldershot game on Easter Monday? I expect I'll be having a few drinks with our mutual friend(s) in some of Farnham's better ale pubs either before or after the match (or both). Join us, if you can.

The Altstadt in Dusseldorf: just meander about at random. And it will get increasingly random, I promise.

I've actually found Düsseldorf repays a little bit of organisation. You need to make sure your crawl includes Zum Uerige, Im Füchschen, Zum Schlüssel and somewhere selling Schumacher (the main Schumacher brewery tap being outside the Altstadt, a secondary outlet is needed). Plus maybe a few other places, but definitely those.

I'd say Cologne would be better for an entirely random wander, because there are so many places that brew their own Kölsch.

evilC - Another London Miller and I had a lovely pub crawl round Sheffield prior to our home game against Torquay the other Friday. All of them within striking distance (more or less) of those mentioned by GHE, well apart from the pub at the station but you could always start there I guess.

evilC wrote:
I'm in Sheffield at the end of next month. Thank you for planning my Friday evening for me, GHE! :-)

In fact, I think I may even have to get up there earlier in the day, just so as to make it easier to do 'a crawl'.

On Saturday I'll have to remain at least a little lucid, as I'll be meeting up with several people, then going on to a gig. Plus I'll be riding home, the next day.


When you say 'gig', you mean 'snooker at the crucible', don't you?

dglh wrote:
evilC wrote:
...On Saturday I'll have to remain at least a little lucid, as I'll be meeting up with several people, then going on to a gig. Plus I'll be riding home, the next day.


When you say 'gig', you mean 'snooker at the crucible', don't you?
No, DGLH, did I not mention? - I'm seeing The Black Dog debut their 'Music For Real Airports' at the Millennium Galleries, with visuals by Human, as part of the Sensoria Festival. Richard H. Kirk is DJing.

That's The Black Dog.

...and Richard H. Kirk.

...in Sheffield.

...but mostly The Black Dog.

Just thought I'd mention this, as a follow-up to my Sheffield visit of last month.

Upon the recommendation of one of my acquaintances up there, I did indeed visit 'the pub at the station': The Sheffield Tap.

It was excellent. Maybe not as plush as that article makes it sound, but possibly the best pub for ales I have ever visited. No, not possibly - definitely! When I got there all the tables (and there's not many of them) were taken, so I perched myself on a barstool. This wasn't very comfy and I think it contributed to my impression of the place as being a bit sterile. However, I've never seen such a collection of ales in one place. It might be small and it might be relatively new, but I'd say that this is one pub that all beer enthusiasts that visit Sheffield should try out.

While I was in Sheffield I also visited the Kelham Island Tavern. While it was pleasant enough, I can't understand quite why it has been voted 'best ale pub in Britain' and even more so 'best beer garden in Britain' for 2 years running. It's good, but it's not *that* good. Personally, I think the Hillsborough Hotel is just as good for ales, but since it lacks the darkened 'traditional pub' atmosphere, I can only assume that its pleasantly understated refit works against it when it comes to votes from ale buffs.

The Fat Cat, The Devonshire Cat and The Red Deer were all fine. Only The Frog & Parrot had a slightly 'towny' feel to it, but even so it was probably still better than any pub in the town centre of Farnham, my home town. Oh, and the bar at the Showroom Cinema/Workstation Galleries is absolutely fine as a pub in its own right. their food is pretty damn good too. I drank there each day I was in Sheffield, in fact.

I've got a good stagger in mind for Manchester involving a number of classic pubs, either with delectable ales, great surrounding or a proper atmosphere.

Hopefully the thread is still live when I'm back next on the internet (probably sunday)

Moonlight shadow wrote:
I've got a good stagger in mind for Manchester involving a number of classic pubs, either with delectable ales, great surrounding or a proper atmosphere.

Hopefully the thread is still live when I'm back next on the internet (probably sunday)

It's ahrd to ge wrong in Manchester - there's so many good pubs.

One that seems highly rated by the CAMRA crowd that I've always found right up it's own arse is The Circus - much prefer The Old Monkey just along the road. Never been but I've heard good things about The Peveril of the Peak and The Lass o' Gowrie.

Some really nice places out by Saddleworth as well if you were to fancy a break from the city.

I was at the Crown in Cloudsley Place last night. They had some American Craft Beer on tap.
The barman let us have a taste. It was like watered down Caffreys, stirred with a Twix. Horrible stuff.
Needless to say we stuck with the Staropramen.

Is American Craft Beer a brand, or just a description for US microbrews? If the latter, then that doesn't really make any sense, because US microbrews include just about every style in the world.

That was what was written on the pump.

I have got the impression recently that it is indeed Americanese for 'real ale'.

I had a nostalgic jaunt around Sheffield last month, and we went to most of the pubs mentioned here.

But I thought the Devonshire Cat was a bit anonymous really? Nice for a city-centre pub, I suppose.

I really did like the one at the station though.

hobbes wrote:
That was what was written on the pump.

There wasn't a brand or anything?

Maybe it's a rotating selection and the staff are supposed to know what it is.

That's all that was written on the pump (when I say written, I mean it was a proper pump head, not that it was hand written.)