December 31st. Sheffield.
I’m not one for New Year’s Eve, celebrating 22 December is enough for me.
But I needed to meet up with Will to plan a pub crawl, sorry “curated exploration of beer houses” and our only requirement was that we met up before the silly hours, when pubs became ticket only.
I like to do the Sheffield Guide entries annually, and hadn’t been to the Red Deer all year.
Boak and Bailey were impressed with this gorgeous but unassuming all-rounder in 2023, when they noted how Sheffield was resisting the £4 pint.
Well, the £4 pint is certainly with us now, though £4.20 for a rich Landlord Dark still seems a bargain compared to the thin beer in the Leeds Tim Taylor flagship.
I excitedly told Will, who showed no interest at all and went Black Sheep. It’s still (almost) a free world.
The Red Deer is a cosy gem. Loads of comfort food under a tenner, bench seating, roaring fire, old and young, student and dropout.
Perfect place to end the year and head back home to watch Jools Holland Hootenanny, but it never works out like that.
retiredmartin 
Odd thought, out of order in county list, etc.
But do you know that the Red Lion at Penn Pond, Bucks is open after a delay and rather wonderful.
Check it out again! (Some pashminas, but not too many).
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I stopped watching Hootenanny after I discovered that it wasn’t live & was filmed a couple of miles from our house.In November.I think it’s got a bit samey anyway -Rick Astley was actually quite fun until he went behind a drum kit & sang You Shook Me All Night Long which was a bit too bizarre for me
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Yes I read it was filmed ages ago this week ! Not that I’ve ever watched it. A bit predictable and old music wise.
Rick Astley sang Smiths covers at Glastonbury 😉
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They might as well put the same one out year after year, nobody would notice.
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Lucky man. Great pub with good beer at reasonable prices.
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It’s lucky that my cap had its annual visit to the washing machine a few days before our photoshoot in the Red Deer. It’s far more photogenic than me these days anyway, but its agent is bothering me about fees for the session. Apparently a pint of Ram Tam would be acceptable…
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Would your cap be allowed a pint in Spoons before payment ? It’s worth a go.
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