September 2025. Sheffield.
You’ll remember (well, Russ will, he takes notes) that I’d started the Sheffield Half Pint Marathon in full Bass Star kit, spraining a metaphorical ankle by losing the stickered map after a week, having to start again, then losing interest when the new GBG “dropped” (ugh).
I actually made three (3) trips to European beer bar Kapital (I forgot my map once), though that 3rd visit did give a taste of Oktoberfest (still on my bucket list), the Hofbrau a winner and Kapital’s barman a gem.
It’s all a bit of a fun and a few quid for Sheffield Mind, it’s not as if you win a day on the p**s with BRAPA or anything, but as the countdown to 30/9 approached I took the last rays of summer sunshine as a sign to at least get to the half-marathon level and get my print.
There’s a fair few “Proper Pubs” on the trail, but these last three won’t, perhaps, make Stafford Paul’s Sheffield To Do list.
Hop Hideout, a longstanding city beer shop, had opened a bar in gorgeous Leah’s Yard last year,
and although their barrel of cask Abbeydale had just run out,
the Cloudwater Festbier was a joy.
I’ll never bore of telling you how chatty Sheffield’s bar staff are, and if they were bored of asking how many stickers I had to get you wouldn’t know it.
The last two bars are run by True North, who sponsor this pub marathon, two bars across the road from a forlorn ex-Brew Dog.
The Common Room had even put on a Ryder Cup beer; it clearly wasn’t a fast seller,
but then trade to watch Villa v Fulham wasn’t brisk either. “Good food there” says James, who goes there to watch proper football.
Next door in café bar Forum the kindly young barman went in search of my winners (everyone’s a winner, I suspect) print from the True North office,
as I called time on my 13th pub with a lovely Strawberry and Rhubarb sour.
I shall keep that print with my Milton Primary 100 metres swimming certificates.
retiredmartin 
Well, what a lovely prize for you after all the effort you put in. Oops. sorry. I missed the plural of “swimming certificates”.
The Half Pint Marathon print is pretty good too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll have you know I am a proud holder of the Primary Certificate of the Welsh Beekeeping Association. No bee secrets are hidden from me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“You’ll remember (well, Russ will, he takes notes)”
Pfft. I just have a good memory (or use your search function when necessary)
“though that 3rd visit did give a taste of Oktoberfest (still on my bucket list)”
It’s loads of fun!
(did it back in 1980, when I backpacked around Western Europe (and the UK) for 11 months)
“it’s not as if you win a day on the p**s with BRAPA or anything”
Hah! What a good idea for a raffle!
“Hop Hideout, a longstanding city beer shop, had opened a bar in gorgeous Leah’s Yard last year,”
I kinda like a pub/bar in a quieter spot, rather than the town square or some such. The town square is great for people watching, while the ‘side alley’ thingy has a more convivial feel to it.
“the Cloudwater Festbier was a joy.”
Uh, yeah. It’s right in the name of the beer.
“two bars across the road from a forlorn ex-Brew Dog.”
How the mighty have fallen?
(I’m going on innuendo over here for that)
“The Common Room had even put on a Ryder Cup beer; it clearly wasn’t a fast seller,”
In the pic below, are they hitting that keg with their golf clubs?
“Next door in café bar Forum the kindly young barman went in search of my winners (everyone’s a winner, I suspect) print from the True North office,”
You totally lost me there.
“I shall keep that print with my Milton Primary 100 metres swimming certificates.”
I have certificates for 200 metres swimming!
(of course, that was 20 times at 10 metres each)
Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Next door in café bar Forum the kindly young barman went in search of my winners (everyone’s a winner, I suspect) print from the True North office,”
You totally lost me there.
I’d hate you to be lost, Russ. The Forum is a café bar run by True North Brewery (they brew Stones Bitter now) as their flagship, and their office is upstairs. They also organise the Half Pint Marathon and had produce some nice prints for folk who did at least 13 of the pubs (half marathon !).
LikeLike
(takes notes, for the first time)
Got it! 😇
LikeLike