The Harlequin, Kelham Island, Sheffield

This is another great old boozer just across the way from the Kelham Island pubs. It's one large room with a carpet so somewhat different to the other pubs in the area but at least there is room to swing a cat, a fat one at that. I noticed there was a dart board in here as well, the only one I had managed to spot on the day. Amongst the many handpumps there were four Sky's Edge beers so I went for their Rum Cask Stout (£2.80) which was in first class condition. I was happier having a pint here than the busy and more famous places up the road.

This is a traditional one bar open plan pub on Nursery Street, situated the other side of the River Don from the other “Valley of Beer” pubs and opposite a number of newish residential apartment blocks. It’s a comfortable split level interior with carpets, spindle back chairs, padded seats and a rather dark, slightly gloomy, old fashioned 1970’s air. This is another enterprising real ale pub which also offers an extensive foreign bottled beer range, all listed and described in what is probably one of the chunkiest leather bound drinks menus that I can ever recall seeing. On the real ale front, and a development since my previous visit in 2009, the pub is now the brewery tap for the imaginatively named The Brew Company, who brew in a nearby former factory. My recent visit saw 6 of their ales available ( Blonde, Best Bitter, Kiwi Pale Ale, Crazy Horse IPA, Ale Monster and Simco ) being available, supplemented by beers from Milton, Great Heck and Heritage Ales ( Victorian Porter ) Both the Brew Company Beers sampled ( Kiwi Pale Ale and Crazy Horse IPA were fine tasty pints ) My Sunday afternoon visit found the pub virtually deserted, in marked contrast to both The Fat Cat and The Kelham Island Tavern, but I enjoyed the visit and I’d look to return, despite the obvious competition close at hand

Large open plan ale house near Kelham Island. The interior follows the bar around and there is a dropped'pool' area in the bottom corner with a piano, which could all be done better, but overall its a nice place. The traditional jazz pipped music works Beer was very good.

This traditional pub is well worth a visit. The bar staff were friendly and helpful and the condition of their ales were spot on. Seven ales on handpump on our visit, I went for the Brew Co Blonde, which was a good session ale. This pub is a must when in Sheffield.