Red Deer, Sheffield

What can you add to a pub with a lot of reviews? A basic T shape with a raised area to the rear through an arched wall. Nine pulls with four in use for beer and two more with ciders, then others unclipped. It has a quad T-bar and four solos with a fairly standard Heineken based range. Pump clip decor on the ceiling at the front and above the counter, plainer otherwise, although there are lots of blackboards. Less studenty and more foody than I remember on previous visits but still a decent pub.

Very much an old school back street boozer both in looks and clientele. The beer lineup on handpull was Bradfield Farmers Blonde, Black Sheep Bitter, Theakston Quencher and Old Rosie Cider, doesn't exactly get the pulse racing but the Blonde was extremely well kept. It's good to see this type of pub maintaining a foothold and can recommend a visit if nearby.

The Red Deer has been through a couple of periods of closure and changes in management since the pandemic but remains much as it has always been: a university pub that is frequented by students, staff, parents and others. There's a quiz every Tuesday and open mic nights every other Thursday. The beer policy has been through some changes too - no discount for Camra members these days - but the now regular line up is Black Sheep Best, Bradfield Farmers Blonde and Titanic Plum Porter, with one or two others, plus Old Rosie cider. I've been going in more often lately, as the Black Sheep is always in very good condition; once I was in at a slightly busier than usual time and saw that it had gone off, and asked the lad behind the bar when it might be back on. He said it would be half an hour or so as he had to clean the lines, so I went elsewhere for 45 minutes and on my return he greeted me with "pint of Black Sheep?". There's service!

Facebook page of the Red Deer - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of the Red Deer - www.facebook.com