New themed micro pub for Sheffield as trend for tiny hostelries continues

Sheffield has lost many of its traditional pubs in recent years, but the trend for new micro pubs is going some way to making up the deficit.

Now The Venue, at 271 Ecclesall Road, is to become the city’s first micro sports bar.

Former Champs owner Danny Grayson has teamed up with businessman James Dobson to create the bar in the old Country Club unit this month.

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It will focus on showing live sports, but also offer locally sourced food and local cask ales, mainstream keg lagers and beers.

Danny said: “There is a niche in the market for this type of establishment.

“Having owned Champs on Ecclesall Road for six years we found it hard to fill a big venue.

“The Sport Shack will be smaller but will focus on a better atmosphere with our slogan being: ‘small on size, big on atmosphere’.”

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There are also plans to roll out the concept to other sites.

Sheffield’s first micropub was The Beer house, also on Ecclesall Road, which opened in 2014 and has since added unusual wines and locally sourced food platters .

Since then there have been a spate of new openings, from Itchy Pig in Broomhill to Brewer and Hop Ltd on Wolstenholm Road, Nether Edge,

Work is also now ongoing to transform a former tea room and gift shop under railway arches on Ecclesfield Road in Chapeltown into a micro pub.

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Former teacher John Harrison, owner of The Beer House, said: “Micropubs are offering what the big establishments lost – community.

“With no TVs, gambling machines and music people interact and the buzz of conversation is a wonderful sound to hear.

“I love how each new one has the stamp of the owner and their vision for what a pub should be so you’ll always find something different rather than a generic Greene King-style laynout. “Micro pubs are beathing life back into our high streets that are being decimated by online shopping, which is a real positive for the communities they support.”

n It’s back to school for Sheffield students, and a supper club at The York is capitalising on this.

Ironic twists on Turkey twizzlers, jam roly poly and crisp butties will be served at the Broomhill pub from 7.30pm tomorrow, Thursday September 6.

It costs £25 per person.