The Bridge Inn, Rotherham

Decent pub near to Rotherham's bus and train stations that has a focus on live music during more normal times. Parking is fairly difficult here. Although there is a car park just along the road where payments go to charity. The pub has a long, thin bar, with a small amount of seating. There is a second floor with function rooms. Gents toilets are in a basement and are surprisingly spacious. All real ales are from Old Mill. Their Traditional Bitter is the regular ale. Guests on this occasion were Azacca IPA, Styrian Wolf & Blonde Bombshell. After a number of disappointing pubs, this was finally a pub that restored my faith in pubs and put me in a much better mood for the remainder of the evening. With no football being shown, bar staff were much more relaxed than in other pubs we visited, which made the atmosphere all the more relaxing.

Fine old riverside pub now run by Old Mill Brewery. Elongated bar with a number of seating / dining areas, although when I visited the customers were congregated near the front end. Mix of traditional furniture but the decor was much lighter than expected (with displays of pump clips and football scarves being the main features). Various other spaces either closed off or in darkness. Makes a point about holding an 'all year poppy appeal', so I guess that the landlord is ex-forces (an impression reinforced by the slightly gruff, if friendly, welcome). Four real ales - the regular Bitter and 1884 Frickley (£3.00) plus Bombardier and Robinson's Dizzy Blonde as guests - from the various handpumps.