retiredmartin

April 2025. Sheffield.

After the Raven, it becomes difficult contemplating not stopping in the Blind Monkey on the arduous 5 minute slog back to Retired Martin Towers, particularly when Mrs RM weighs up the relative appeal of a third reheating of Tuesday’s veg stew against the Monkey’s artisanal pizza.

And as CAMRA life members (“leeches”), we have a sacred duty to score the beers in our local,

even though I already know the Little Brewing of Derby’s Pale will be an NBSS 3, neither a mean or a generous 3.

In truth, while I’m delighted to see my “local” back in the Guide after a year off it’s not always the strongest quality wise, you’ll get NBSS 4 stuff up the hill and over the, er, hill.

But that’s not really the point. It’s simply a great melting point of all of suburban Sheffield, from students to courting couples to toddlers to old folk.

It looks gorgeous, and despite having a huge makeover by a small brewery around the same time as the Raven it has a magical lived-in feel.

So, even if I am sort of suggesting you stick to the keg (Triple Point).

it’s a sort of must on any outer Sheff tour,

but don’t blame me if you lose track of time and end up on the Belgians.

It can happen to the best of us.