Old Queen's Head, 40 Pond Hill. The only Sheffield pub to be Grade II* listed and the city's oldest residential building. One of the few remaining pieces of medieval Sheffield in the centre of the city. It was built in the late C15th as a hunting and banqueting lodge for the nearby Sheffield Castle. It became a pub in 1841 and is named after a likely visit by Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th century.placeholder image
Old Queen's Head, 40 Pond Hill. The only Sheffield pub to be Grade II* listed and the city's oldest residential building. One of the few remaining pieces of medieval Sheffield in the centre of the city. It was built in the late C15th as a hunting and banqueting lodge for the nearby Sheffield Castle. It became a pub in 1841 and is named after a likely visit by Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th century.

15 of Sheffield’s most historic and culturally significant pubs perfect for a Christmas drink

David Walsh
By David Walsh

Business Editor

Published 8th May 2023, 13:09 GMT

Who doesn’t love a pub with character?

Relaxing moments can be few and far between at Christmas - and especially welcome as a result.

For some that could mean lazing on the sofa watching a classic film, but for many the best 'me time' to be had is in a pub with friends, drink in hand.

And where better to escape the modern ills of runaway consumption than in a heritage boozer, surrounded by the fixtures and fittings of yesteryear and with an atmosphere to match?

The Campaign for Real Ale has long appreciated this and produces a special guide called Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs, edited by David Pickersgill.

It highlights original feature such as old carvings, leaded glass, exposed beams and tiled floors, and details historic events, from a murder in 1859 to the Arctic Monkeys first ever gig. These rare pubs offer the perfect blend of heritage and atmosphere.

Here’s our pick of 15 in the city centre including two of ‘exceptional national historic importance’ that give meaning to Christmas.

103-107 Norfolk St, S1 2JE. Grade II listed for the Classical Revival style. The building started life as a Sheffield & Hallamshire Savings Bank in 1860 designed by architect T.J. Flockton. In 1997, it became a boozer for the first time, The Fraternity House.

5. Head of Steam

103-107 Norfolk St, S1 2JE. Grade II listed for the Classical Revival style. The building started life as a Sheffield & Hallamshire Savings Bank in 1860 designed by architect T.J. Flockton. In 1997, it became a boozer for the first time, The Fraternity House. Photo: .

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69 Broad Lane, S1 4BS. This boozer is as well know for its landlords as its heritage. One of the oldest pubs in central Sheffield, the Barrel was built c1790. The last major change to the interior was in 1953. In the past 100 years, there have been three long- standing licensees: locally-born and ex-Bomber Command, Michael Joseph (Joe) Fagan ran the pub from 1948 until 1985. He was succeeded by Thomas (Tom) Boulding and his wife, Barbara who only retired last year by which time they were the longest-serving licensees in Sheffield.

6. Fagan's

69 Broad Lane, S1 4BS. This boozer is as well know for its landlords as its heritage. One of the oldest pubs in central Sheffield, the Barrel was built c1790. The last major change to the interior was in 1953. In the past 100 years, there have been three long- standing licensees: locally-born and ex-Bomber Command, Michael Joseph (Joe) Fagan ran the pub from 1948 until 1985. He was succeeded by Thomas (Tom) Boulding and his wife, Barbara who only retired last year by which time they were the longest-serving licensees in Sheffield. Photo: .

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Mentioned as a key player in the 1840s Chartist protests, the Sheffield Outrages and the 1920s Sheffield Gang Wars. The outrages saw the 1859 murder of James Linley: ‘saw-grinder, was sitting at the Crown Inn, Scotland Street.’ 35 Scotland Street, opened in 1797 as a Rawsons pub, the C20th saw a series of changes ending with the closure of the pub in 2010 as the building became a small hotel. It reopened as a boozer in June 2019.

7. Crow Inn

Mentioned as a key player in the 1840s Chartist protests, the Sheffield Outrages and the 1920s Sheffield Gang Wars. The outrages saw the 1859 murder of James Linley: ‘saw-grinder, was sitting at the Crown Inn, Scotland Street.’ 35 Scotland Street, opened in 1797 as a Rawsons pub, the C20th saw a series of changes ending with the closure of the pub in 2010 as the building became a small hotel. It reopened as a boozer in June 2019. Photo: ,

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109 Norfolk Street, S1 2JE. Grade II listed. One of the oldest pubs in the city centre, it is a square-set Georgian building built in the late 1700s. There has been a pub on the site since 1822. In 2005, it was taken over by Samuel Smith and given an extensive renovation. CAMRA states it is an example of an C18th Sheffield public house being sympathetically restored.

8. Brown Bear

109 Norfolk Street, S1 2JE. Grade II listed. One of the oldest pubs in the city centre, it is a square-set Georgian building built in the late 1700s. There has been a pub on the site since 1822. In 2005, it was taken over by Samuel Smith and given an extensive renovation. CAMRA states it is an example of an C18th Sheffield public house being sympathetically restored. Photo: ,

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