retiredmartin

December 2025. Sheffield.

I’d left Mrs RM in Rye (Home 3) to keep an eye on her parents while I popped back on the train to check on Dad and Sunnyside (Home 2).

But I also needed to make sure our actual home in Sheffield (Home 1) was still standing and pick up post, so it’s a good job that advance Cross Country single fares can be had for £17.10 as long as you’re willing to get up at 6am and cope with a carriage of “enthusiastic” rail travellers. Who starts drinking at 9am ?

Back in Sheffield last Friday I was at least going to get an authentic Black Eye Friday experience,

but possibly not in the sedate surroundings of the shiny new Thornbridge pub, bouncers at 11am and all.

It says a lot about our travels that Mrs RM still hasn’t been in the Fargate, and this was my first time since opening day.

Like a lot of new and shiny openings in Sheff, it seems to be doing well, well enough for 10 handpumps on the bar,

and fills a gap in the market for a smart drinking stop for mature shoppers who want a soundtrack of “You’re So Vain” and “Young Hearts Run Free“. Notably, NO Christmas music, and low key deccies. I really think we’re past peak Christmas in this country.

Something akin to a Fitzgerald pub in Newcastle, I guess, where ladies share a bottle of Chablis and Margarita pizza and discuss plans for Disney on Ice at Christmas. With all respect, that’s not happening in the Brown Bear.

My opening day Jaipur was sensational, this Extra Special Bitter from the Unions is a rich 4, it feels a GBG cert (though I said that about the Beer House).

It’s pleasant, but it’s not a place to celebrate the ancient festival of Black Eye Friday, certainly not at noon.

I text the Sheffield Hatter. “Fancy a pint Will ?”.