INTO THE VALLEY (OF CLOSED PUBS)

It’s been snowing.

Obviously as a reformed Southerner I’ve never seen snow before.

Wonderful Walkley Facebook group is in meltdown (as it were) as buses have got stuck at bottom o’ th’ hill and Walkley-ites will be late for their Feng Shui and Vegan Needlecraft classes.

With nowhere to go, I’m happy to be using my legs for a little while longer, ’till I have to use the train to explore honeypots like Wombwell and Mexborough.

It’s hard getting anywhere by car from Walkley, anyway, with the paucity of parking space. Good practise in getting out of tight spots, mind.

An hour’s walk up and down the valleys of north Sheffield knocks off about 773.6 calories if you take the route most likely to irritate Mrs RM. The 5 uphill minute stretch between the Convenience Store and our house is alone worth 80 calories.

Here’s a nice hour long stretch that takes in tower blocks, attractive pub signage and Chinese takeaways.

James lived in Netherthorpe in his sophomore year at Sheffield Uni so knows these mean streets, but couldn’t tell me which pub used to occupy the site of Amigo’s 2 just above The Ponderosa.

And he’d never heard of the Boomerang (R.I.P.),

or the White Hart (alive, I hope), with its flashy if faded advert for cask beer.

James couldn’t see the appeal of the White Hart, but it’ll be high on my To Do List when pubs return.

We crossed the A61 and toddled around the University quarter, home to the Diamond and some more faded glories. Someone will remember The Albion.

Allen the Peregrine, sponsored by IKEA is disappointingly unrelated to Birmingham’s top Carling advocate.

A wander took in the delights of industry converted in posh bars.

We toddled back via West Street, choosing a Chinese takeaway for later (NCTSS 3.5) and then Kelham. Manchester may have the posher street art (see : Ian Curtis wall in Ancoats), but Sheffield is catching up fast.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

13 thoughts on “INTO THE VALLEY (OF CLOSED PUBS)”

      1. Martin,
        I’ve probably used about two dozen Sheffield pubs from staying with friends in Chapeltown and Conisborough, a weekend at the university in 2003, the beer buffs’ AGM in 2011 and most recently changing trains and the £6.50-from-Uttoxeter Derbyshire Wayfarer day ticket.

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  2. Amigos 2 on Addy Street used to be the Scarbrough Arms. https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/43359/. I had a beer there in 2013.
    I don’t know if the Albion was still in use as a pub when I came to Sheffield (1997). It’s not listed under its present address on Brook Drive in the Sheffield History Forum’s list of closed pubs. https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/topic/8132-index-of-sheffield-pubs/ and the Closed Pubs website is short of info too. https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/yorkshire/sheffield_s3_albion2.html

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      2. Yes, I used to think that “”Comfortable, but juke box rather loud” and “Near central bus station” was all we needed in a description – they’re both from the 1974 Good Beer Guide and there’s a prize if you can guess the pubs – but your well researched fuller descriptions now can be very useful.

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      4. Don’t know if the bus station was where it is now back then Paul, but if so then I’d guess at the Old Queen’s Head?

        The other could have been any of quite a few, I’d say.

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      5. Martin,
        No, they’re in Sheffield not Wolverhampton.

        Etu,
        Yes, well done, Queen’s Head with John Smiths bitter on electric pump.

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  4. “It’s been snowing.”

    Definitely further north than me.

    “Obviously as a reformed Southerner I’ve never seen snow before.”

    Don’t believe everything you read in the Independent. 😉

    “and Vegan Needlecraft classes.”

    Never pondered that fully before. Is it illegal for Vegan’s to knit with wool from an animal then?

    “Good practise in getting out of tight spots, mind.”

    They’re starting to make cars that can do that for you.

    “Here’s a nice hour long stretch that takes in tower blocks, attractive pub signage and Chinese takeaways.”

    Seeing as how this is where you now live I won’t make fun of any of the names. 🙂

    “James lived in Netherthorpe in his sophomore year at Sheffield Uni”

    A stone’s throw from Upperthorpe I’m guessing?

    “but couldn’t tell me which pub used to occupy the site of Amigo’s 2”

    Which, according to the sign is Halal friendly. 🙂

    “or the White Hart (alive, I hope), with its flashy if faded advert for cask beer.”

    There’s a wreath in the middle window so hope’s alive!
    (or the wreath could indicate it’s dead)

    “Someone will remember The Albion.”

    And hopefully not confuse it with the Alamo.

    “Allen the Peregrine, sponsored by IKEA”

    I thought you were joking; until I looked at the plaque.

    “Manchester may have the posher street art (see : Ian Curtis wall in Ancoats), but Sheffield is catching up fast.”

    I put it down to not much else to do. 😉

    Cheers

    And with that, I fall just a little bit further behind. Busy week here for us as it’s both our birthdays, our anniversary* and New Year’s!

    * – getting drunk on our anniversary didn’t help matters. It’s two days later and I’m still not 100% 🙂

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