The pub that started Sheffield’s real ale revolution is back with a takeaway service – and its brewery is delivering
and live on Freeview channel 276
Kelham Island Brewery and The Fat Cat pub, which are both on Alma Street in the revived former industrial quarter, closed last month when the Government tightened restrictions to enforce social distancing measures.
But now the brewery has reopened its online shop, while The Fat Cat is trialling a takeaway service this week from Thursday to Saturday, May 7 to 9.
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Hide Ad“We’re going to give it a bash as an off-licence this weekend – we will be selling a couple of selected casks and various bottles and you can bring your own containers for us to fill,” said the pub’s bosses.
The opening hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be 2pm to 6pm.
At the same time, the brewery's web store is selling Kelham Island classics such as Pale Rider and Easy Rider in mini casks, boxes and bottles. Home delivery orders are being dispatched to ‘S’ postcodes on Wednesdays and Fridays – but staff are working on postal options for customers outside Sheffield too.
The Fat Cat was opened in 1981 by Dave Wickett and Bruce Bentley, and is credited with starting a beer renaissance in Sheffield that led to the city being named the world’s ‘real ale capital’ by a report in 2016.
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Hide AdThe pub’s founders wanted to provide an alternative to the venues owned by large breweries – prominence was given to beer from small independent producers, and a guest beer policy was introduced, the first ever in Sheffield.
Kelham Island Brewery was built in The Fat Cat's beer garden in 1990. Pale Rider has gone on to win the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain award, a highly coveted prize.
The reopening comes after the nearby Kelham Island Tavern also returned with a takeaway service. The tavern explained that the move would help to keep its team on 100 per cent wages.
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