The Botanist, Sheffield

As is usual for one of the Botanist chain, this bar is found in a loft style space at the top of the building. This means getting the lift or walking up 4 flights of stairs. Also as usual, it's very nicely and expensively decorated. Lots of high posing tables, but leather chairs etc as well as some standard dining tables. 4 cask ales available, most of which are available across the chain. I had a pint of New World Pale which used to be brewed by Cloudwater, but as they no longer brew cask ale I suppose it's contract brewed elsewhere. No matter it was a good pint as usual. At £9.20 for a glass of red wine and my pint, this was the most expensive round in 2 days in Sheffield. I expect we'll be back though as MS CAMRA likes this kind of place and as she'd been dragged round lots of beers pubs it only seems fair.

Official site of The Botanist - thebotanist.uk.com

Official site of The Botanist - thebotanist.uk.com

Modern bar / restaurant in the Leopold Square development, with a front terrace shared with other nearby restaurants, etc. Mixed furniture and decor with more than a nod towards the Victorian explorer (verging on steam-punk) sensibility, that perhaps doesn't work as well as the interior designers intended... Anyway, as well as the tank beer and a broad selection of keg and bottled offerings, it does do four real ales (as evidenced by the glass-fronted stillages to the left as you enter) but you will do well to find them as there are no handpumps. Instead, there are four taps within a fake barrel inset into the bar-back. My pint of Loweswater Gold had perhaps sat in the pipes a bit too long, but was drinkable.