Historic Sheffield pub listed for lease after controversial planning application rejected

The Plough Inn, on Sandygate Road, escaped demolition earlier this month after Sheffield Council's planning and highways committee narrowly voted in favour of rejecting plans to knock it down and turn it into eight new four-bedroom homes with a car park.

The Plough Community Campaign, with the help of Councillor Anne Murphy, who represents the Crosspool ward, have fought to save the venue and its heritage since it shut in 2015 and reiterated their ambition to restore it to a pub with the possibility of a visitor centre for sports fans following the decision.

The original rules of football were thought to have been drafted and developed at The Plough and Hallam FC – the world’s second oldest football club – were founded there. Former landlord Thomas Armitage is also the only cricketer to play a first-class match for both England and the USA.

Since plans were rejected the pub has been listed for lease on the website of commercial property consultants Crosthwaite Commercial, who confirmed it was still available on Monday (17 August).

Peter Duff, the chairman of The Plough Community Campaign, said the group are aware of an individual who has submitted an outline lease proposal to restore the building, which is thought to require significant refurbishment, to a pub.

He said: “He wants to work with us but he has his own business plan as well. He wants to run it as a pub and he’s got experience in the trade.

"We are getting to a position where I think we will make some kind of formal approach to them [developers Spacepad Construction].”

A brochure for the property said rental offers in the region of £50,000 annually are invited. It also states the property has suffered vandalism since it closed.

The Star understands another party is also interested in acquiring The Plough but not for use as a pub, although there would be an community use element to the lease. Further details of any potential plans are not currently known.