The Bell Jar and The Cremorne

 

Now then, boarded-up boozers and abandoned ale houses are common sites in towns and cities the length of the country. Some are taken over by Tescos et al whereas others are reborn as restaurants but we are lucky in the Steel City to have a number of thriving pubs and even some that have been reinvented or revamped successfully. On London Road (an area that has been crying out for a decent pub for ages) we have two cases in point; The Bell Jar and The Cremorne

 

Formerly known as The Albion, The Bell Jar is a bit different. With a name taken from a Silvia Plath novel, this pub has quite an eclectic interior with lots to look at. It is very much a `work in progress` but it is a promising first chapter on London Road and it certainly is different to anything else in the area. Our visits have found the beer to be local and pretty decent including the likes of Sheffield Brewery and Wentworth on the five pumps. Music is prominent too.

 

The Cremorne has been recently redirected since gaining an able new manager. It also has an arty vibe with regular live music and popular pizzas on offer plus a pleasing selection of ale. There are plenty of handpulls plus a couple of ciders as well as a hefty back-bar. Despite being spoilt for choice on my last visit, I couldn`t get away from the Pictish Chinook which was in fine fettle. Saltaire is a prominent brewery on the Cremorne bar and they seem to bring with them a host of high quality swaps. Sheffield`s own O`Hara`s rum is also stocked here and really needs to be tried. In fact, both of these `new` bars merit a visit.

 

Further along the Abbeydale corridor (97/98 buses), there has been lots of change amongst the public houses. The Millhouses is now very much food-orientated as is the Robin Hood across the road but better beer is to be had at The Ale House (formerly The Sheaf) just off Archer Road home of the long-established  GBG stalwart Beer Stop. The Wagon and Horses still retains its coaching inn style but is now an Italian eatery named Pesto whilst at the Beauchief, the bar is currently named Jack`s and is a cosy spot offering Thornbridge wares. Pick of the bunch though would still have to be twobeergeeks favourite The Broadfield if you can get a seat, and, if you cannot, there`s the brand new bottled beer specialist Hop Hideaway almost next door. You could certainly do worse than an Abbeydale ale adventure!

Edit (1.1.15) - Whilst the Cremorne is still doing well Bell Jar closed and is due to re-open as The Albion which was its previous name and it will be a free house.