retiredmartin

March 2025. Sheffield.

A few folk back in Waterbeach have (apparently) expressed surprise that I won’t be returning back to the “family home” at Sunnyside following Mum’s death, oddly oblivious to the fact I only left it recently to avoid the flat monotony (and pot holes) of the Fen Edge.

Within 15 minutes of my house at the Blind Monkey I’ve got the Rivelin Valley, the abandoned ski slope, a venerable football ground, a tram line, a top Chinese takeaway, and at least a dozen pubs that you would really like as your local.

I try to visit the GBG pubs of S6 at least once a year, but coming back from Ripon along the A61 I realised I’d rather neglected one of north Sheffield’s most venerable institutions, and failed to notice it slip from the Guide this year after what seems like decades. Time to find out why.

What an exterior,

what a lovely bar.

A Castle Rock pub, so a pint of the bellwether Harvest Pale, taken to the raised area in the lounge underneath the Shangri-Las.

It was good enough but a bit thin, in truth (NBSS 3), and as I look around all I see is folks my age drinking Madri and Newky Brown from the bottle. But, more importantly, they’re having the time of their lives.

A year ago I witnessed the cultural highlight of Morris men in the car park, and now we have “Bring Your Own Vinyl Afternoon”, whereby folk bring along plastic boxes of “beloved” (ugh) 7″ singles.

to be played at a louder volume than they’d ever be able to in their Hillsborough terrace.

Frankie Valli gives way to Canned Heat, Canned Heat to KC and the Sunshine Band.

I decide to stay for second, unwisely a pint of Luddite Dry Cider in what is (improbably) the Yorkshire Cider Pub of the Year. It’s sensational.

And as the DJ moves us into the ’80s with The Style Council, the music is sensational, too.

Press PLAY now to watch the only possible reaction to that intro to “Shout To The Top“.

The New Barrack is a Wednesday pub,

but there’s no TV football and no-one seems to notice the Owl’s equaliser at Cardiff.

For now, it’s all about the music.