retiredmartin

June 2026. Sheffield.

Having just got back from Sudbury (the drives are now more physically than mentally wearing, which I think is a good thing), I had an actual day in Sheffield. Obviously, I’m not staying at home, that risks gardening or something worse, but a proper walk to Abbeydale Road and beyond.

Why DO people tie shoes to the telegraph wires ? Something to do with money laundering, no doubt.

The route from the station to the craft bars of Abbeydale Road (birthplace of Gordon Banks) is certainly diverse.

Just across the road from the Medina Mosque is Apna Style, Sheffield’s best curry house in my limited experience, and a run of Qurbans, Yamm and Kiswa tells you this is an interesting mile or so.

It’s just not a mile I’m that familiar with, though I really ought to watch the World Cup on the big screen at the Picture House.

When do Uzbekistan play ?

I’m really here as Sheffield’s biggest brewery have just opened an actual tap,

and while Abbeydale Beerworks won’t replace the Kelham run in the affections of the Proper Pub men,

the welcome (from a young chap from Preston) and the Moonshine are exemplary.

Abbeydale’s flagship is the Doom Bar of Sheffield, but Doom Bar can be superb in careful hands, and Moonshine in the KIT or here is cool and chewy (NBSS 4, Very Good).

If the tram ever reaches here I’d come for the Black Mass.

I took a walk through Sharrow, Sheffield’s posh Western Edge,

and a belated revisit to Loxley’s third pub.

Similar size to the Abbeydale Tap, but a few bench tables here. Those tables mean I have to crane my neck to chat to a lovely chap about Mark E Smith and The Fall. We also get to share irritation at the faithfulness of Kasabian’s cover to the Status Quo original of this classic.

Three cask beers for No. 3 seems about right,

and to prove it their Blonde beer with a name I’ll never remember is as good as I’ve had from Loxley.

I’ll never get used to those glasses with the faded ink though.