Millionaire Jim Harrison has bought it from the founders, real ale boss Dave Wickett and former footballer David Ford.

Harrison, who runs food-based businesses and a brewery from Thornbridge Hall, near Ashford in the Water, and has interests in the Cricket Inn at Totley and the Black-a-Moor at Troway, says: "It is an iconic bit of Sheffield."

Champs, coming up to its 13th year, has a bar with TV screens showing sport as well as collections of sporting memorabilia, plus a restaurant.

It claims to be the first of its kind in Britain.

Harrison says: "I just think it needs freshening up.

"It is still a perfectly sound idea."

He wants to include local sporting memorabilia and promises changes will be "evolution not revolution."

There will be more real ale but he's not intending to make Champs a CAMRA hang-out.

Wickett said he and Harrison were good friends - he helped him set up the hall's brewery - but at 61 he was not getting any younger.

"Changes were necessary in management.

"It's not as if it's gone to some brewery company which is going to wreck it," he added.

It is understood the 50 or so jobs at Champs are safe.

Wickett's Fat Cat pub and Kelham Island Brewery are unaffected by the sale.

It seems a long way to come but catering and hospitality students at Doncaster College are carving out a reputation for themselves in Sheffield.

Under the tutelage of lecturer Ashleigh Hooton, they have run two £25-a-head food and beer evenings at Dave Wickett's Fat Cat real ale pub.

"It's a great way for them to learn outside the college kitchen," says Ashleigh, a former head chef at Castle Skibo in Scotland and the Peacock Hotel at Rowsley.

With Dave, he also wants to promote the idea of drinking beer rather than wine with food.

The next event is September 17. Inquiries on 07855 005504.


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