Sheffield 22nd July 2011

13 Blade Runners were up for it:

Yupmeister, Mid Week Tone, Pedro, Granpop Bill, JayCee, Dasher, Mr Tahoohigh, Tim Mothy, Corky - Graham Cork, Keithee's up for it, Sean of the County Wounties, Ali Gee, Stubbee, and Jacko

 

After previously postponing due to the increase in train prices, the trip to Sheffield finally went ahead, 2-3 months later than planned. The return tickets were booked well in advance at just over £23 each for those starting at Stoke station, giving Mid week Tone time to re-assess the pubs and produce the Squarry Club’s first  interactive google map.

 

 

For anyone preferring an old fashioned map : -

 

 

 

 

The travel details, for future reference were:

Outbound: 

Stoke-Stockport 11.48 - 12.16,

Stockport – Sheffield 12.54 - 13.35

 

Inbound:  

Sheffield – Stockport 20.32 - 21.20,

Stockport – Stoke 21.36 - 22.07

 

 

 

Mid week Tone along with Mid week Chris collected Jaycee and Yup and made their way to Stoke station. Mid week Chris sat in the passenger seat holding a couple of fresh cucumbers as presents for Jaycee and Yup, but they sadly turned down the offer to avoid having to carry them around Sheffield all day.  'What am I going to do with them now', she asked, with a huge smile developing.

 

Jaycee, changing the subject slightly, confirmed he’d have to be extra careful whilst nibbling today as he’d just had a wisdom tooth removed by a dentist who stood on his bottom lip.

 

 
We met with the rest of the gang at Stockport where we had plenty of time for a brew.
 

 

 

 

  
Sean of the County Wounties, had recently had his mug-shot taken and could now be seen as 'The Face of Staffordshire Highways’, on every poster in the Midlands. Talking of mugs, he’d also been mugged by a gypsy recently in Bratislava, whilst having his palm read.
As we came out of Sheffield station, a couple of ‘Nivia’ girls handed out free samples. Sharp as a knife, Yuppy returned for a second time for more saying, ‘These’d make good xmas pressies’. 

 

 

Keithee posed with his taped up fingers and a very soft palm, so we were reliably informed. Had he been using Nivea? I wonder what the gypsy in Bratislava would have made of that?

 

The first pub on the interactive map was basically under our feet on the platform, The Sheffield Tap. There were 4 Thornbridge ales available including Jaipur, although most headed for the Wild Swan, apart from Dasher who took on the Dark Harry, with no dash. We took advantage of the outside patio area to gaze towards the city and the university.

 

The Wild Swan ran out as Stubbie moved in, so he chose the Magic Rock Brewery’s Curious instead at just 3.9%, which turned out to be an improvement on the Swan. Inevitably, most chose the Curious next as we moved indoors to avoid a shower.

 
The shower eased so we headed off as Mid week Tone helping Jaycee to finish his ale. It’s my gaping hole’, he said. ‘Must have a gaping hole every time we come out’, someone noted.
     

A water feature attracted the group and it seemed an ideal opportunity to take a photo, before we made our way up into the heart of the City, passing a poem on the side of the uni.

 

 

 

Through the Winter Gardens where pies at Gregory’s were a ‘must have’, Dasher was just stuffing his face as his mum appeared and a mighty hug ensued in the middle of the high street. Ah eh.

     
The oddly shaped, 'pointed', 3 Tuns was only a cock stride across the centre with very friendly bar staff and an excellent selection of ales. Timothy Taylor's Landlord and Bradfield Brewery’s Farmer's Boy were the main choices.  Dasher, still overwhelmed at meeting his mum, also tried the Landlord, and without a dash.

 

 

A game of Jenga was set up between the Structural Engineer, Mid week Tone, and the Traffic Engineer, Dasher. The stresses and strains began to tell as the blocks were removed one by one. The game finally came to an obvious conclusion of course with the structure failing when ‘shaky Steve’ took an uncalculated risk with the wrong block. You can see the tension building in the video by clicking on Dasher's hand.

 

Our next port of call, The Kelham Island Tavern, was a delightful place with a very colourful oasis at the rear. The Flaming Nora was delightful, but I don’t recall any others.  They were good though .....

 
Jacko sat with his socks exposed to remind himself of his name, just in case he lost his memory.
     
The next pub, the Fat Cat, was just round the corner and it too had a large selection of ale. Most opted for the Pale Rider and a portion of tasty pork pie, sliced by magician Dasher, just like that.
 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Drinks were required for the Indian which was unlicensed, so we slipped into the Kelham Island Brewery shop next door. The young sales assistant displayed her ample stock and offered us a couple of jugs. Sadly we were running late, so we declined her kind offerings and instead bought a couple of cases of pale rider and a dark alternative. Wine was bought from a boring Tesco shop nearby.

 

We missed the Harlequin out as time was against us.  The Chamin Indian was easy to find and we climbed the stairs to the upstairs restaurant arriving at 6pm. www.chaman.co.uk . The quality of the food was excellent and unbelievably cheap, being around £15 each, including the cost of the drinks bought previously. A very nice lady also looked after us making us feel very welcome.

 

There was only one mishap on the return journey which involved Granpop Bill, who decided to slip off to the gents at Stockport without informing anyone. And we all know what happens next. Luckily he managed to catch a train just half an hour later with the Keithees.

 

Sadly I lost my notes when updating my mobile phone the next morning so I had to make them up as usual.  No change there then.

 

An excellent well planned day out and full of interactivity. Well done Tone, and here's to the next visit.  Cheers.

 

Yuppers

(enjoy yer jugs)