The Harlequin, Kelham Island, Sheffield

This is a pleasant riverside freehouse with a smart interior and excellent range of ales. Essentially a single L-shaped room, albeit split over two levels, you enter into a carpeted bar area with a number of banquettes and standard chairs either side of the front door. Walls are decorated with bits of brewerania and there is a nice little fireplace in the front corner of the room. As you pass the end of the bar, you reach the lower level which has a vinyl floor and bench and standard chair seating. A semi partitioned section creates a safe darts area in one corner and elsewhere there is an upright piano. Shelves hold a collection of old beer bottles and I spotted a book swap as well. There was a good crowd in when I arrived on a Saturday evening, but unfortunately most of them left when they were asked to vacate their tables to make way for the live music that was due to take place on the lower level. Music was playing during my stay whilst the band set up their equipment, but it was so quiet that I couldn’t make out what any of the songs were. I didn’t notice a particular predominance of beer tickers in here and the notes I made at the time actually mention the diverse nature of the crowd. There are loads of blackboards in this pub detailing the various beers available, of which there are a considerable number. The ten handpulls offered Brew Co Best Bitter, Blonde, Proximus and Cedar Lake Amber, Raw/Off Beat Hop Chick, Real Ale Corner Rack and Ruin, Ascot Anastasia Stout and On the Rails and Acorn Ollie’s Army. There were no mainstream keg products, with the likes of Brooklyn Lager and Frulli available instead alongside a comprehensive bottled beer range. The aforementioned blackboards listed an impressive ten ciders and perries. I gave the Hop Chick a try and although it was a bit intense for my liking, there is no doubt that it was served in top condition. I really liked the feel of this place and would have probably stayed a bit longer were it not for the imminent prospect of live music – not a bad thing in itself, but not what I was after on this visit. I would say this is a must do for anyone on the hunt for good beer and it would make an excellent choice as somewhere for an extended session.