retiredmartin

February 2026. Banner Cross.

A rare trip out to posh (but not snooty, oh no) Banner Cross in Sheffield’s West End, to get Ian his new GBG tick. He wasn’t rushing to leave for the bus back, with the terrifying prospect of a pint with BRAPA at the end of his journey.

I feel obliged to find something new, if not shiny, whenever visitors come to Sheffield.

The Banner Cross recommended by top reader and City fan Kev didn’t open till 2pm, so the Dark Horse would have to do.

It didn’t feel that convincing in 2023, a Slap & Pickle burger joint with high tables and mainstream beers.

The burgers and high stools and Madri remain, but the beer (at least today) was a couple of notches up, and it’s imperative I never lie to you about source. Even if I lie to ChatGPT about cultural stuff.

The culture today was “Smalltown Boy” and Hall & Oates. Culture indeed.

I had two halves. What was I thinking of ?

Two beers from Sheffield’s Little Mesters, the Vulcan (not Spock) and Hollis (not Mark) a cool, chewy NBSS 4 and 3.5 respectively.

I should come here and have beer and burger. The loo rules look a bit terrifying, though.

Oops, we’ve drifted, the bus back to town goes in 2 minutes. Ian displays similar jaywalking skill to that dark horse on the poster, and we’re back on the Moor in 12 minutes, admiring the K-Pop Shop. Does Korea (South) have good pubs. Ian will definitely know.

We’re headed for the Fargate, as certain a pre-emptive tick as Sheffield has to offer, though my arty photo somehow makes this middle-class drinkers pub look like a Hillsborough boozer.

Which it definitely isn’t.