March 2026. Sheffield.
Back from Driffield in triumph, East Yorkshire GBG complete, I find Mrs RM in full-on “Operation Yank Invasion” mode, with a list of jobs to make the house ready for Chicago guests (not Dick and Barb) last weekend.
Saturday night had been earmarked for a Curated Exploration of Kelham Island Public Houses, and Mrs RM suggests some “reconaissance” work, which shows how easily she’s persuaded down the pub.
Even if that pub has an advert for Clarkson (not the famous one) outside.
The Fat Cat doesn’t get our custom as it once did, which says more about the end of the simple food trade than the end of Pale Rider.
In any other city it would be rightly lauded, and it’s still a GBG regular,
but despite the quality of the beer range (NBSS 3.5 yourBurton Bridge Chinnok) the left hand room feels quieter of late, too quiet.
But the character of the place shines through at the last, as a lady returned from the ladies with a guilty look.
“Those two lads held the door open for me, I went to say “Thank you” and burped at them“.
“Could have been worse“. I offer, pathetically.
We crossed Derek Dooley Way in search of the mythical “Pub Grub” our visitor apparently wants, and find the Harlequin offering quality burgers with the beer.
It’s ticking over since diversity-friendly relaunch (it was friendly before, mind), and Mrs RM couldn’t really see the physical change, but it’s cosy and welcoming.
Facers Plum Porter and Burton Bridge Mild are good enough, though when James joins us for tea I find his Coley’s “They Didn’t Do A Roll Call” an NBSS 4 stunner.
But as always, it’s the string keg stout from Holland that cannot be denied.
Just £13.50 your Banana Bread Pastry Stout. We shared a third. Blimey, 4.75 on Untappd.
retiredmartin 