After concluding our house viewing Mrs RM, exhausted by questions about gnomes, grommets and gas cookers, said,
“I need a pint“. You can tell who was driving.
The Blind Monkey (ex-Firwood Cottage) only re-opened in 2018 so hasn’t graced the GBG yet. Perhaps it never will, as Don McLean sang.
Worryingly, it’s owned by Speakeasy Enterprises.
More worryingly, there are people in floral shirts in the outside area.
Then Mrs RM gets told off for ignoring the “WAIT HERE” sign at the door and I realise that her impatience is one of the reasons I love her.
We’re shown to our table, opposite another happy family fresh from playing on Ruskin Park.
The pictures tell you all you need.
On our escorted walk through the pub I hardly had time to look at the bar, but could see that they didn’t have the Atomic Blonde listed on the beer menu. 2020 is The Year You’re Not Allowed to See The Pumps.
So I asked for the Blonde anyway, Mrs RM always like the Blonde, and if course it had gone. But I’ll tell you what; the cask Our House (NBSS 3.5+) and keg Saucery were exceptional, as was a shared house pizza.
The “speakeasy” theming might grate after a bit, but if you lived near here you might well become a very fat, drunk, young professional very quickly.
So, where WILL James choose to live ?
retiredmartin 
I’ve not been in the Blind Monkey for a while – last December, in fact. They seem to have changed the beer supplier to the seldom-seen Don Valley Brewery of \Mexborough; at least, I don’t remember that beer offering from previous visits. The former Firvale Cottage was very basic – seemed like it had not been redecorated since the 1970s – but the Blind Monkey has been tarted up good and proper. You can barely move for fear of knocking over some knick-knacks or bumping into a fake statuette. After about 15 minutes there I start to feel the walls closing in…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m guessing a beer brewed in Mexborough is cheap, like the Prospect beers from near Wigan that find their way to Bournemouth craft bars. Notwithstanding that, it was really good (as was the Magic Rock keg).
LikeLike
Does the location or house matter more to James? The neighborhood around the Blind Monkey looks pretty nice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We need to spend a few days or more in Sheffield. That is, when we can get back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be great to see you two here. I wonder how long it will be until that can happen…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would good, you could join me on my “Every pub in Sheffield” tour, which would start in Pitsmoor.
NB That house hunting really was for our eldest lad and his mates, more deliberations for us..
LikeLike
https://whatpub.com/pubs/SHF/576/bay-horse-inn-sheffield
LikeLike
A group touring Sheffield would be a must!
LikeLiked by 1 person
From what I hear our vaccine is due by November third. A very reliable source tells me so. We need to revisit Sheffield. We only visited Kelham island pubs on a quick visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If there’s Russian vaccine I’ll happily test it for them; inject me with anything, really.
I guess the idea is to issue yours on Nov 3rd so you’re incapacitated before the vote ?
LikeLike
“Location, location, internet”, as the househunting programme goes.
LikeLike
Love that Courage mirror. Has the Wrexham factory branched out into Courage tat?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bass market is flooded. Branching into Hancock HB next.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Or Stones! Brew XI! Greenall Whitley! The possibilities are endless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
H-h-h-h ‘ancocks Haitch Bee hasn’t been so wonderful wherever I’ve tried it over the last couple of years, all except for in the Vale Of Glamorgan Inn at Cowbridge, that is.
Pity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, my main HB memory was the Cherry Tree in Tintern (RIP).
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s lots of those around, already!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bill,
That Courage mirror might be genuine.
There was a Courage Russian Stout mirror, the only one I’ve seen, of late 1970s or early ’80s in the Holly Bush at Salt that the recently deceased landlord told me he had from when he’d kept a Courage pub in Coventry much used by students who drank it because it was strong.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“The pictures tell you all you need.” The pub is empty??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha. Actually most folk were outside in the sun. Sun ! In Sheffield !
LikeLike
Could that be the only venue in the world to describe Caffreys as a Craft Beer?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ! Probably. Caffrey’s was one of the first “ales” I ever drank, my introduction to beer.
LikeLike
And producer of one of the worst “chemical” hangovers imaginable. Fairly certain it used to be 5% though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Didn’t think so. Perhaps Boak and Bailey can investigate, Is it still available ?
LikeLike
“Caffrey’s was one of the first “ales” I ever drank”
LikeLiked by 1 person
1997 and all that !
LikeLike
When it was originally introduced at 5% ABV it was surprisingly palatable. Maybe it was the strength that caused the hangovers.
LikeLike