'Why I'm worried regeneration scheme could close down my 164-year-old Sheffield pub'
Landlord fears for the future of historic pub because of road closures
It’s been serving customers in Attercliffe for over 160 years.
But now the owner of the historic Carlton pub, on Attercliffe Road, fears it could be forced out of business by Sheffield Council’s major regeneration works.
The pub has been running since 1862, with current owner Jim Callaghan in charge for 16 of those.
But now he fears that council road closures as part of its huge changes will bring it down, after it survived the pandemic and two world wars.
Jim is worried that moves that will see Oaks Green and Kimberley Street close, as well as Shortridge Street, will mean that he can no longer get beer to the premises.
He said: “The priority for us is delivery - and my feeling is at the moment that there is a 90 per cent chance that we will be closed by what’s being done. If we cannot get beer deliveries, it will shut the pub.
“Regeneration is a good thing, but to shut everything off is not.
“We have 10 or 11 tons of beer delivered each week in 22 gallon barrels. We’ve been a pub since 1862 but this could close us, and it’s not our fault. To have the council destroy us would be rubbish.”
He said suggestions which had been made by officials had included that they could reverse an articulated lorry down a one way street, which was earmarked for a pedestrian crossing. He and his staff do not feel this is safe.
He said the weight of the deliveries meant that they could not be pushed over a distance.
Other concerns raised in the area have been around plans for a ‘red route’ along Attercliffe Road which would ban stopping.
Local businesses say they do not feel they have been properly consulted on the plans.
Pauline Crawley is closing Direct Shop and Sew, on Attercliffe Road, after 44 years. She said she had brought forward her retirement due to construction of the cycle route affecting parking for customers.
.jpeg?trim=253,0,23,0&width=640&quality=65)
Sheffield Council is constructing a segregated two-mile route bike lane from the city centre to the Arena as part of a £23m scheme announced in 2024.
More than a mile of double red lines through Attercliffe will ban parking, loading and waiting 24-hours a day, backed by a fine.
Some businesses, led by Attercliffe Action Group, say the work is harming trade, and that the cycle lane and double reds will permanently affect access. They do not feel they were given the full details of what would happen.
An online petition against the red route and road closures can be signed here.
However, one Sheffield shop has welcomed the scheme, saying “it will “sort out the unsafe parking.”
Colin Perkins, shop floor manager at Accelerate UK running store on Attercliffe Road, said they welcomed the feature.
He said the area had suffered from unsafe parking “for years” due to drivers parking on double yellows, and a lack of enforcement.
Why is the council making road changes in Attercliffe?
Sheffield Council said in relation to Oakes Green and Shortridge Street, there are no current proposals to reverse the planned changes.
The authority told The Star it recognised the importance of supporting local businesses and maintaining access, and the proposals were about improving how the whole area functions rather than restricting it.
They say measures like the Red Route and targeted street changes are designed to reduce congestion, improve journey reliability, and create safer, more attractive streets. They think it will improve the economy in the long term. They claim simply removing restrictions would not resolve existing issues and risks worsening traffic and accessibility over time.
They believe what they are doing will improve flow, ensuring safe access, bring in better signage and say there is ongoing engagement with businesses to ‘monitor and respond to impacts’.
The council said: “These measures form part of the wider scheme to create a more people-focused high street in Attercliffe, supporting safer movement, improved traffic flow and a more attractive environment for visitors and businesses.
“Access to existing car parks along these streets will continue to be available via alternative routes, and the Council has been engaging with businesses to understand access needs. As part of this, we have committed to improving signage to car parks to make them easier to find, accommodating a longer loading bay on Attercliffe Road near Shortridge Street, and providing additional on-street parking on Chippingham Place and Shortridge Street where feasible.”
They added there were currently no proposals to introduce charges for parking in the Attercliffe area and they planned to improve car parking signs
The proposed parking restrictions were required, they said, to allow businesses to be able to access dedicated loading provision on side streets along Attercliffe Road, ‘enabling safe and reliable access for deliveries’.
“We are exploring whether further adjustments can be made to on-street parking in the wider area to help accommodate displaced parking.,” they added.