IS THE RUTLAND ARMS A TOP 3 PUB ?

January 2025. Sheffield.

To Mrs RM’s chagrin (always loved that word) I failed to buy a funeral suit in Cambridge, but partially redeemed myself but buying her a sumptuous slice of millionaire’s shortbread on the way home from arranging Mum’s memorial service.

The Railside Café at Alfreton Station (long story) is highly recommended for the chunky curry, chips and naan for under six quid,

and the introduction of Torpedoes as a new regional term for bread products.

Wednesday afternoon saw me dragged into Sheffield Marks & Spencer’s for a suit I will probably only wear four times (if I’m lucky), which I then had to drag into the pub and remember to pick up off the seat 2 pints later.

The Rutland Arms is definitely one of the Top 3 pubs in Sheffield to take a funeral suit.

It’s also, one of Boak and Bailey’s Top 3 pubs to visit before you die. Jessica and Ray are not only great writers, they clearly have good taste in pubs. So why is it that Wednesday was our first visit undisputed classic to this in over a year (coincidentally that was in the company of Jess) ?

Probably because it’s always packed. But not, it seems. between food sessions on the last Wednesday in Dryanuary.

Mrs RM nabbed the seat and I admired the tat.

I know I’ve taken the photo of the Kernel keg tap, but it was the cask Kernel stout that stood out.

“Just to warn you, it’s 7%” says the helpful barman.

“That’s OK, it’s Boys Bitter strength for my wife“.

Blimey, this was sensationally chewy stuff (NBSS 4.5), wish we saw more Kernel on cask. It made my own Blue Bee Hillfoot, almost the house bitter, a little pale (as it were) in comparison.

I went to explore the board of banned music,

(good, too much Dylan),

and when I got back Mrs RM had overtaken me.

“Is there any culture we should do while we’re here ?” asks Mrs RM, which is code for “Shall we have another of those and get p****d“. It is a skill to understand what women really mean when they speak, a skill I rarely have.

A second pint of the Kernel, then,

“Just to warn you, it’s 7%“,

and a half of Pastore because, Waterbeach, innit ?

But at least I remembered the poppadoms and Monster Munch this time.

And if I had any criticism of the Rutland it would be the absence of a mango chutney dip in the poppadoms and the lack of pickled onion flavour Monster Munch. These things matter.

As does the ritual of pouring your pastry sour into the stout pint glass, producing this magnificent bloom of foam.

They don’t teach you THAT in beer sommelier school.

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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.

15 thoughts on “IS THE RUTLAND ARMS A TOP 3 PUB ?”

  3. If not for the staunch leadership of Mrs RM, I dread to think what you might end up wearing as Father of the Groom in years to come. Although I suppose you’ve pretty much reached the age of “eccentricity”.

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  5. I walked straight past the Rutland this afternoon after an epic bus trip from Barnsley (signal failure since you didn’t ask). Do I lose my membership of your club?

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  7. If you had worn your suit into the pub rather than keeping it in a protective wrapping, you’d have had to buy another one. I’ve never been a fan of the Rutland. All that dirt and tat undermines my confidence in the beer, perhaps.

    I was last in there 13 months ago when I was given a tip that The Kernel Victorian Mild 5.6% was on the bar. Strangely, it was not as good as the same beer in a bottle from Beer Central in the market, which was where I got the tip.

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    1. Will, The trouble with keeping a suit in a protective wrapping is that it shrinks a bit each year and then is useless when eventually needed for a funeral.

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