Brewery boss shuts down Sheffield pub after ‘not serving his favourite dessert’

The Cow and Calf in Grenoside shut indefinitely on Tuesday, August 18, just weeks after it had reopened following the easing of lockdown measures.

After customers expressed their shock, Louise Brownhill, who had run the pub with her husband Steve since last year, took to Facebook to explain what had happened.

Sheffield's Crystal Peaks shopping centre confirms shop closure - and more could follow

She said Humphrey Smith, owner of the Samuel Smith brewery to which the pub belongs, had visited that day and been disappointed when they were unable to serve him his favourite dessert.

They were fired, she claimed, despite explaining that they didn’t have the dessert – understood to be a chocolate fondant – because they hadn’t been provided with a freezer.

“We are sad to be leaving as we have made many great friends here, but onwards and upwards,” she added.

All 13 Sheffield postcodes with new Covid-19 cases this week - including one with 16

"Thank you for all your support and we hope to see you at our next venture.”

The brewery declined to comment when approached by The Star.

Customers reacted with dismay to news of the pub’s closure, with one describing how the outgoing managers had been a ‘breath of fresh air for the place’ and served ‘amazing’ food.

MOST WANTED: 14 men in Sheffield and South Yorkshire police need to speak to

Humphrey Smith has reportedly ordered managers of his pubs to ban customers from swearing or using mobile phones inside, with anyone caught breaking those rules liable to be thrown out.

When pubs reopened following the lockdown, it is understood that prices of some drinks at Samuel Smith pubs rose by up to £1.