Four Sheffield pubs including ‘best double act in the country’ feature in new book
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For more than 40 years Mike Critchley has been on a journey where has recorded and graded each pub that he’s visited
Four Sheffield alehouses have made it into a new book, highlighting some of the country's most interesting, historic and quirky pubs.
Happy Hours – A Great British Pub Diary is a record of author Mike Critchley’s 42-year journey through character-packed inns ranging from spit-and-sawdust boozers to majestic Victorian drinking palaces.
The book is designed to take you through years of experiences highlighting both the best times - and a few low points of Mike’s journey which has seen him visit around 2,000 boozers.
Mike has delved into the finer details of 175 pubs in total, including 27 from Yorkshire, with four of those notably coming from the Steel City.
These are two-time National CAMRA Pub of the Year Kelham Island Tavern along with Fat Cat, Gardeners Rest and Rutland Arms. A quartet which are often rated highly by our readers as well.
Commenting on his selections, Mike explains: “Sheffield has been one of my favourite drinking cities since re-discovering it in 2015 and it helps that most of those pubs are all in good walking distance.
“The Fat Cat and Kelham Island are arguably the best pub double act in the country and I have spent many a happy hour over there with a pint or two of Pale Rider.
“I loved the Gardeners Rest – and especially that outside drinking area that the term ‘beer garden’ does not do justice.”
However, only one pub could be Mike’s favourite.
“My current favourite – in a high-quality field – is the Rutland Arms,” he said.
“It is not simply the great choice of beer or those legendary ‘Rutty Butties’, but I love the quirks, eccentricities and the rebelliousness of the place. It is unique.”
Favourites aside, Mike also decided to touch on some of the drinking dens he likes to visit that didn’t get a mention in his book.
He adds: “Sheffield has so many excellent pubs and bars and the Sheffield Tap is always the great start and finish to any visit to the city.
“Of the city's newer bars I have been very impressed by Old Shoe – an excellent choice of beer and a really pleasant and welcoming vibe among staff and customers alike.
“Drinkers are spoilt for choice in the city – and there cannot be many better patches in the country than the cluster of excellent pubs in Kelham Island district; Crow Inn, Harlequin, Shakespeare’s and the Wellington.”
Mike weaves in many personal anecdotes and social history as the book charts significant changes to the way people drink and the world about us.
He adds that the challenges surrounding local pubs at the moment we’re one of the things that inspired him to write this book.
“I had to write this book,” Mike said.
“At a time when we are losing pubs hand over fist due to a multitude of reasons, this book is a reminder of the importance of these wonderful institutions and community hubs, and the role they play in society,” he said.
Priced at £14.99, the book is now on sale and can be ordered from Scratching Shed Publishing Ltd or Amazon.
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