Rotherham Camra

Pub News

The Blue Coat, town centre
Wetherspoon’s third pub in the area opened on October 4th after an extensive Ł900,000 refurbishment of the old Feoffees pub at the Crofts. The building was originally a school, built with funds from the Feoffees of Rotherham, hence its previous name and the new name recollects the school uniform. The interior is on three levels and decorated in a modern style in contrast to the exterior. Beers on the opening night were from regionals and nationals but in spite of a sign saying local beers on sale, there were none from South Yorkshire breweries. Subsequent visits indicate the maintenance of a good standard of quality.

Tut & Shive, town centre
Generally only 4 or 5 hand-pulled beers on now. As a result, quality is more consistent. Beers usually include one or two Wentworth brews, Black Sheep Best Bitter and guests from independent breweries further afield.

Effingham Arms, town centre
Suffered a fire in a storeroom on Friday September 29th. Only superficial damage was done to the pub, mainly to the Gents toilet, and the pub was able to reopen for the Saturday evening session. Morland Old Speckled Hen is no longer being served; the range is just Fullers London Pride, Draught Bass and Stones Bitter.

The Queens, Masbrough
The lease is currently being offered. Cask Stones on electric pump is available.

Prince of Wales, Greasbrough
Dennis and Christine were recently presented with watches by the Unique Pub Co to mark 22 years at the pub and we would like to add our congratulations. In an age when managers come and go on an increasingly frequent basis, theirs is no mean feat. The price of the changing guest beer has gone up for the first time in 3 years, but it is still excellent value at Ł1.50 a pint, irrespective of strength, especially as lined glasses ensure a full pint is always given.

Church House, Wath
Re-opened as a Wetherspoon’s outlet in early September after refurbishment. Early reports are favourable.

Homestead, Broom
We understand that Bass have won their appeal against objections to their plans to completely change the pub, so presumably the planned alterations will soon be going ahead. The pub has not sold real ale for a number of years. Perhaps it is too much to expect that Bass might consider reintroducing cask ale as part of the changes? As a result of this turnabout, the situation with the Golden Ball at Whiston will have to be watched closely as Bass are expected to appeal against the unanimous refusal of their plans by the council.

The Stockyard Truckstop, Hellaby Industrial Estate
Theakston Cool Cask is now available alongside the Timothy Taylor Landlord, and is said to be popular with the truck drivers seeking a refreshing drink in the evening.

Travellers Rest, Brookhouse
After an all too brief stay, Gary and Karen Gillespie have moved on, and the pub is yet again under new management from the organisation now calling themselves the People Pub Co.

Black Lion, Firbeck
Wentworth Gun Park Dark at 3.4% is now on permanently at the pub under the guise of Wentworth Black Lion. This is an excellent tasting mild-style beer. The Lion usually has one other beer from Wentworth on a rotating basis, and was the winner of the branch Pub of the Season Award for Spring, as well as the local Britain in Bloom Pub Award for the year.

Crown Inn, West Melton
It would appear that real ale is no longer being sold, though the former Barnsley Bitter handpump has not been removed.

Three Tuns, Stainton

Another pub which permanently has a changing Wentworth beer on. This pub has much improved since being taken over by Lynne & Carl Wirth, and is well worth a visit.

Charter Arms, town centre
Camerons Strongarm and the Banks’s/Marstons seasonal beer are now regularly available, along with Mansfield Riding Bitter and Cask Bitter, and often Marstons Pedigree. Mansfield Old Baily has been discontinued following Banks’s takeover of Mansfield.

Plough, West Melton
Now only selling John Smith’s Bitter on a regular basis.

Milton Arms, Greasbrough
Sadly, we report the untimely death of the landlord Ken Bennett, aged 55, from natural causes. We send our deepest sympathies to his wife Sue, family and friends. It was always Ken’s ambition to be a landlord and he took over at The Milton in 1994. He introduced a changing guest beer policy at the pub, and some rare beers for the area have been on offer. We hope that this choice will continue to be available.

Crinoline Bridge, town centre
The pub has been sub-leased to Glenda, an employee at the pub.

Legends Sports Bar, town centre
Despite only opening in December 1999, this bar has been closed for some weeks. A notice in the window suggests that it is closed for refurbishment, but nothing appears to have happened. Perhaps they should have tried a real ale bar instead, then it might have stayed open for longer? There is an application currently being considered to turn the nearby amusement arcade into a bar.

Travellers Rest, Bramley
It has been reported that Fullers London Pride is no longer available. This was the only real ale at the pub.

Falcon, Dinnington Draught Bass is now available at this long-time keg pub.

Squirrel, Dinnington
Has a changing guest beer on handpump.

Cutler, North Anston
Now owned by DaisyChain Inns, who have a registered office in Rotherham, the pub is closed for refurbishment and extentions.

Waleswood, Wales Bar
Has been closed and boarded up for some time. Was an outlet for handpulled Stones.

Red Bull, Masbrough
Apparently real ale is back on sale. Previously sold Barnsley Bitter and Stones.

Hook, Line & Sinker, Kimberworth Park
In spite of the 4 handpups on the bar, it would appear that cask conditioned beers are rarely on these days. It did sell at least 3 Mansfield beers on handpump prior to the Wolverhampton & Dudley (Banks’s) takeover.

Phoenix Sports Club
Wentworth Best Bitter is proving very popular and now Oatmeal Stout has been added as a regular beer. Oversized glasses, too.

Yorkshire Pub of the Year
The White Horse Inn (Nellie’s) at Beverley has been voted Yorkshire Pub of the Year in CAMRA’s National awards. This historic Inn is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Pub Interiors for its multi-room layout, stone-flagged floors, coalfires and gas lighting. And the Sam Smith’s Old Brewery Bitter is only Ł1.23 a pint!

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