Especially for Paul Mudge of Stafford, here’s the evidence that Sam Smith’s Sheffield star is back with a bang.
Mrs RM and I tipped up at 10.42pm, the latest I’ve been in a pub for a while. No sense of “You’re a bit close to last orders” like I get in some pubs at 10.30.
Unmistakable low-key Sam’s exterior, unmistakable Sam’s bar.
A couple of blokes in the left-hand room discussing politics; a dozen blokes congregating at the right-hand bar discussing life. Or the Blades, to you and me.
Mrs RM went left.
It sparkles, it really does. Literally; the landlord was scrubbing the tables ferociously at 11.05.
The OBB looked magnificent too.
“Glad to see you back open” I said. And I was.
“Really good OBB” And it was. NBSS 3.5.
Mrs RM had a double G & T, which was 2.5x dearer than my pint, but I forgive her.
Our drinking companions were onto “post-capitalist society” and the myth of choice.
“What have you had tonight then ?”
“3 pints of OBB”
“Why’d you need choice then ?”
In the other bar, the debate about “putting it in the onion bag” rumbled on.
retiredmartin 
Ah, yes, a lovely reminder of when I was there on 9th June.
I couldn’t get a seat but that just proves Humphrey needs to open more proper pubs to satisfy the demand for his OBB.
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Yes indeed, there were spare tables last night, but then again it was 10.45pm and even a few post-football visitors can’t boost Tuesday trade toomuch.
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Don’t think I was even aware of the existence of the Light Mild previously.
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Scott,
I remember when Sam Smiths brewed two cask Milds, Light Mild which was a weaker version of the Bitter and 4X Best Mild which was darker.
Now Light Mild is just one of Humphrey’s eleven keg beers.
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Only eleven? Quite like the keg dark mild.
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Ah, the Bear… I still remember an afternoon/early evening in there 14 years ago. Never been back since.
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I was waiting for a punchline that involved encasing the groom-to-be’s legs in concrete, Morten. But we had that one from BRAPA last night.
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Ah, did that fool, who claimed to be ex-SAS, draw up a chair uninvited, Morten?
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Lots of wonderful details in this one– almost felt I was there. I imagine you overhearing that conversation and grabbing your pen and paper. “The myth of choice. That’ll make a good blog title one of these days.” 😉
If a gin & tonic is 2.5 times the cost of a pint of ale, you’ve got to wonder what the economics were behind the days of the gin palaces. The tax structure must’ve been propping up gin back then.
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You’re spot on, Mark. Except only Simon or Mr Coldwell would use something as obvious as pen and paper when we have phones. Yes, I do get a frisson of excitement when the theme or great line comes up. It’s a shame that Simon is SO far behind on his blog we’ll have to wait till Christmasfor his report on the Keyston Pheasant I took him to on Saturday !
I guess the issue with gin is duty/tax. Sam Smiths double G&T still half the price of this famous one;
https://retiredmartin.com/2016/12/05/surviving-south-west-london-part-2-tooting-to-clapham/
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Paper wins every time. I’ve dropped my note book in the urinal a few times, just dry it out in front of the fire and off you go again – try doing that with your mobile!
All Sam’s pricing is done on either duty or whether they can produce it in house theirselves. The wine is exorbitant, and comparatively the dearest product as they have to buy it in, mind you so do Tescos. Similarly with the cider which is produced by an independent producer and is £3 a pint. All the really cheap beers, like the Light Mild, are only 2.7%.
Here’s one to ponder – what if they did cask Sovereign? And dry hopped it a bit? Mmmmmmmm.
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Not sure I’ve ever had Sovereign. But I had 2 pints of Museum just before they scrapped it. There was a beer.
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“here’s the evidence that Sam Smith’s Sheffield star is back with a bang.”
At least I can read the bloody writing on this map. 😉
“one’s enough”
Decisions, decisions. 🙂
“a dozen blokes congregating at the right-hand bar discussing life. ”
In this day and age, politics IS life to some.
“Mrs RM went left.”
Scratch my previous comment. 🙂
“Action shot”
What the bloody hell is Diet Indian Tonic Water?
“and the myth of choice.”
Didn’t Confucius have something to say about that?
Cheers
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Just a point of order; Sam Smith’s do not, and never have, owned the Sheffield Star which is wholly owned by Sheffield Newspapers LTD, I believe.
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That confused me for a good five minutes. #literal
Oddly, saw some great apparently freestanding Sams windows on Bridge St which I’ll post soon.
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