retiredmartin

September 2026. Sheffield.

With the new Good Beer Guide about to drop (ugh), and a big trip this weekend I didn’t want to go chasing lone GBG 26 entries these last few days.

But as you’ll know my brain doesn’t respond well to being denied daily stimulation, or my legs exercise, so I trotted down to Sheffield Station and stared at the Departures board*.

And stared…

And then gave up and walked from Platform 1b into the Sheffield Tap.

Well, I said I ought to compare the Taps.

I guess it’s hard to be objective about your local pubs, and I don’t visit the Sheffield Tap often, despite staring at that departure board two or three times a week, and thinking the back room one of the UK’s great pub places.

It’s just, I’ve already done it, and there’s little new to say, and I’m bound to be required to pop in whenever we host (ugh) visitors to our little city.

Still, the cask here (their own Untappd Aurora, VERY GOOD) is only a half point below the very best Sheffield has to offer, and if you can find a spare table at 6pm you’re doing well.

Frustrated by the lack of new blog material experiences, I briefly considered joining the search for Kiwi,

but instead stumbled into the big Spoonies**.

Traditionally I’d have said that CAMRA members disparage Wetherspoons, I’ve seen “lowest common denominator” used to describe their clientele.

Which has always been really unfair, as Spoons attracts a wider range of custom than your pokey lager-hating micro.

But the Bankers Draft has always had a deserved reputation for being a bit “fusty”, the Wellington (Brum) of The North. And James and his housemates always had stories of lively behaviour.

Well, without having the multi-million pound renovation of Spoons elsewhere it doesn’t need, I’ll just say the Bankers isn’t that bad, and the bargain Jaipur beautifully served in its own glass is a cracking 4.5 (Campaign to Bring Back Half Points).

That pint comes with the Thursday Curry Club Katsu Grilled Chicken with apologetic looking side serving of bhajis and samosa.

And that pic reminds me, never, EVER, have the grilled chicken option with Katsu chicken.

*_{Options seemed to be Scunthorpe, Swinton and Shireoaks, of which more when the GBG embargo is over}

**_{Blame Lana for “Spoonies”. I know their real name is Timbo’s}