Bungalows & Bears, Sheffield

An absolute cavern, as you might expect from a converted fire station, not helped by me being the solitary customer on a Monday lunchtime... Anyway, the U-shaped bar counter is quite impressive in its own way, and the sound system was actually very good given the space it had to fill without echoing, etc. Disappointingly, if perhaps unsurprisingly, just Abbeydale's Moonshine (£4.00) available from the bank of handpumps.

Official site of Bungalows & Bears - www.bungalowsandbears.com

Official site of Bungalows & Bears - www.bungalowsandbears.com

One large room with an eclectic mix of seating, including sofas. There's a large sign that says "To The Woods" directing you to the toilets which is amusing. Jazzfunk playing on the sound system at a sensible volume which is always OK with me. Surprisingly for this type of bar there are 4 handpumps. Abbeydale Moonshine is a permanent along with 3 changing guests according to the friendly barman. Very civilised on a Thursday night. There was one numpty in the bar, but he was asked to leave very promptly.

My first visit for a couple of years, prompted by having seen the place closed last autumn for a refurb. Hard to tell what has changed - probably freshened up as much as anything, with newer furniture. Four hand pumps on the bar, serving Abbeydale Moonshine, Adnams Ghost Ship, St Austell Proper Job and Thornbridge Jaipur at the time of my visit. The usual hard-to-identify music from the alternative/jazz/funk/indie/who-knows end of the spectrum was still playing, although this time there was a loudspeaker the size of a chest of drawers stood next to my sofa, with a stomach-churning bass making it hard for me to enjoy my beer or, perhaps more importantly, to write some notes to enable me to compose a coherent review of the pub.