The Little Haven, Parkgate, Rotherham

Micropub on the main drag through Parkgate, that is perhaps the best option locally for real ale. It's a typical micropub interior, being created from a small square-shaped shop. Apparently it was a former post office. It was quite busy with an all male post-work crowd, apart from a solitary woman who turned out to be the barmaid/landlady. She greeted me on arrival and quickly moved behind the bar to serve me. Just the 2 real ales were on - Drone Valley Stubley Stout & Chin Chin First Past The Post. Another handpull had Lilley's Tropical Cider. The stout had to be pulled through, as nobody had had one since the pub had opened at 4pm. In fact, I couldn't see anybody drinking the cider. So everybody else was presumably on the Chin Chin beer, or more likely a keg product. After serving me a half, the girl behind the bar sampled the stout herself. It was either past its best or she hadn't pulled through enough. Perhaps she knew it was nearing the end of the cask and needed to see for herself. Either way, it certainly wasn't the best beer I'd had during the day. Whilst everybody else seemed to know one another, including the local dogs who had also congregated, I quite enjoyed the lively drinking environment. There are a few takeaway options nearby, if you are hungry as I was. I chose the Chop Suey House. However, if such a thing as chinesetakeawaysgalore.co.uk existed, I wouldn't be rating it particularly highly!