The Wellington, Kelham Island, Sheffield

Millstone Old Git, Foxfield Horn of Plenty, Little Ale Cart Jeanie Deans & Saint Johnstoun, Boewulf Finn's Hall Porter & Hurricane, Salamander Byzantium, Cheddar Valley cider, all £2.00-£2.40, some had tasting notes on board behind bar. Enter to open area at short end of L-shaped bar, smallish traditionally furnished room behind, left into lounge with real fire crackling in victorian fireplace below large mirror, upholstered banquette seating, wood chairs/tbls. Walls are somewhat sparse, detracting from the ambience, & could benefit from decoration, pictures, photos, maybe old pumpclips (of which there must be many) would improve the look. Standing at the bar, with the pub quiet on snowbound Monday, I couldn't help noticing the noisy glass-washer (machine, that is), a tiny point but summat that could be addressed. If it's still there, check the noticeboard opp entrance for the self-mocking (RATs-style p.take) announcing ‘Beer Tickers have been conned for years; even 1968 LongLife has now been rolled out as Glentworth Golden Showers'. Also, all new beers were, in reality, disguises of Stones & JS Smooth! Barman was deep into a word/number puzzle and one would think the pub would be more welcoming when busier, but that's still a good beer line-up!

This turned out to be my favourite pub on a Saturday spent in Sheffield. Being on the edge of the Kelham Island area it had much more of a local feel than the central pubs as it wasn't overwhelmed with punters. It's a small red brick end of terrace basic boozer. Inside there are two small rooms off the bar area which has some nice tiled flooring. After ordering a beer and discussing with a local about what a dump Uxbridge on the edge of West London is, I retired to one of the seating areas. On the bar several of the pumps were unused but available were four Little Ale Cart beers Brancepeth Castle, Coal Porter, Flying Scotsman and DSB, Salamander Mudpuppy and Townhouse Apollo. Lined glasses were used despite no obvious sign of sparklers being used on the beer. I went for the Brancepeth Castle (£2.50) and the Coal Porter (£2.80) both of which were in excellent nick. The brewer of these beers is clearly a railway buff as while everyone has heard of the Flying Scotsman, Brancepeth Castle is an obscure steam loco that is depicted on the pump clip. For me this was the Kelham Island area pub that really stood out (not that the others are bad!).

Yet another real ale mecca in this part of Sheffield, The Wellington is, according to branding outside the “Ancestral home of the Little Ale Cart Beer and Pub Company Company”, who brew at the back of the pub. Externally, the pub very much looks like a private house. It is known as “The Bottom Wellie” to distinguish it from the nearby Hillsborough Hotel up the hill on Langsett Road which also used to be called The Wellington. It’s a comfortable, traditionally furnished pub with a central lobby and a smallish bar servery. There’s a comfortable lounge on the left – denoted as Room 3 – which is carpeted and has padded seats. White painted walls are decorated with several old railway prints, but it’s a slightly bare and spartan feel overall which could do with a few more photos and prints to break up the wall area. From this room, you can hear the trams rumbling past from nearby Shalesmoor tram stop. The room on the right, just off the central lobby, is much smaller, but similar in style and has some Salamander Brewery posters and some unusual shaped tables. Fine banded and frosted leaded windows contribute to the fine, traditional feel. Don’t miss the rather amusing framed cartoons – “Real Ale Twats” – on the walls of the passageway leading to the gents. On my recent visit, 5 Little Cart Beers were on, of which Old Black Nose - £ 2.70p – was an extremely palatable dark porter style beer. Also on were beers from Pictish and Millstone. This is another CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular and, whilst it’s not as well known as either The Fat Cat or The Kelham Island Tavern, it’s a decent pub in its own right and I’ll definitely call in again sometime. .

Very traditional corner pub of an old fashioned nature. There are 2 rooms plus bar area with padded seating around the white walls. Pictures of the pub and various other scenes on the wall. Its handy being right next to the tram stop (Shaftsmoor) but very much out of town feel adjoining the busy road network. 6 real ales, including 3 Little Ale Cart offerings.