retiredmartin

February 2024. Rotherham.

Mrs RM had finally, finally, been released from her week of restraint and was in “Go big or go home” mode.

She really wanted to visit the medieval looking Bridge Inn, but with an hour till 3pm opening it was a flat white in the cafe opposite the Minster or a pint in the Cutlers Arms.

I told her the Cutlers was an absolute classic,

and not only did she believe me, it’s also true.

8 years since I last popped in; more recently I’d actually been over the road New York Tavern, Chantry’s other classic boozer.

Now, Sheffield has great pubs, but the restored Cutlers is something special.

The windows ! The windows !

And the fire,

where Mrs RM headed now. Not that it was cold, unlike a certain Manchester Heritage pub I shall tell you about shortly.

Take that hat off, Mrs RM.

“Special reserve for me” shouts Mrs RM.

“Half ?“

“Pint !”. That’s my gal.

I stick to the Pale, which is cool and complex, perhaps a 4.5, and I have to remind myself this is beer brewed in a shed on a Rotherham industrial estate.

I’d have brought you tasting notes on the Reserve, but it’s already nearly gone and I have to get another half to tell you it’s a chewy NBSS 4.

The ingredients of a classic pub are quite simple, really. Welcoming staff and customers, fast-moving beer through clean lines, proper seating and a quirky soundtrack.

But sometimes you get a little bit extra, that “WOW” factor I sometime mention.

And this afternoon it’s just the steady flow of regulars, in and out, out and in.

As Pete Postlethwaite said in “Brassed Off”.

“The truth is, I thought it mattered – I thought that beer mattered. But does it bollocks? Not compared to how people matter.”

What a wonderful pub,

and if you like your tribute bands, only Crewe does it better;

NB Talking of folk who do it better, I highly recommend Simon’s blog on the Rotherham Four.