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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
Red Deer, Sheffield
Sheffield
S1 4DD
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Red Deer
This is a traditional back street pub in the heart of the University area, but pleasantly hidden away in a side street off the main West Street student drinking “run”.
It’s a former Tetley’s pub and etched windows demonstrate that, before that, it was a Gilmour Windsor Ales pub.
On my recent visit, somewhat discouragingly, a sandwich board outside was advertising a “Swap Shop” exhorting one to bring your unwanted womens clothes, shoes, accessories etc and swap them for something different. Tickets for this events were going for £ 10, or £ 6 if you brought a donation with bubbly and nibbles on arrival.
There’s more room inside than the small frontage would suggest and a split level interior extends back quite a way, ending in a small patio outside at the back. The internal layout would suggest it was once multi roomed. It’s a comfortable, carpeted interior with little of specific note. It seems to have had a bit of a spruce up ( and change of ownership ?) since my previous visit in 2009 and, on my recent early lunchtime visit, the lack of custom and atmosphere created something of a hotel bar feel.
Having said that, there are clearly times when the pub is busier. For instance, we see advertised Square Hole Comedy Nights on every second Monday and acoustic sessions every first Thursday.
The pub is clearly now offering a much more adventurous beer range than when last visited by me in 2009 and there is now a growing pump clip collection on the walls by the bar.
On my recent visit, beers on were Copper Dragon’s Golden Pippin, T T Landlord, Toolmakers Yankee Driver, Raw Jester IPA, Kelham Island Easy Rider, Moorhouses Pride of Pendle and North Star Endeavour ( ie – including several local micros that wouldn’t have been on the bar a few years ago ) . The pub is listed in the 2014 CAMRA Good Beer Guide and beer quality was fine on my visit.
Worth a look in if in the area, which wasn’t the case previously
On 13th May 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Red Deer
Called in again last Thursday during a mini crawl round the area. Much quieter on this visit, so the service was very good, as were the ales. Still not the most inventive selection in Sheffield, but well worth a visit now.
30/10/2010
Called in again on Tuesday evening to see what changes have been made. Much better selection of beers than previously although 3 clips were turned round. This may well have been because it was packed as there was a Halloween based quiz on. The pint I had was well kept and the other half says the wine was OK as well. With it being so busy I couldn't really see much of the inside, although the outside looks a lot better. Up a point for now, due to the better beer selection, but we'll call in again for a proper look soon.
09/11/09
This is a nice enough pub built on two levels. Quite comfortable but not really an outstanding interior, or exterior come to think of it. Has 5 handpumps but not a very inventive selection and they never seem to change either. Black Sheep Bitter, Adnams Broadside, Landlord, Deuchars, nothing to write home about. I had a Broadside which was very good, the other half had a Deuchars that she wasn't impressed with (and she's had quite a bit of experience of drinking Deuchars). It's OK but not one to go out of your way for.
On 7th January 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Red Deer
Traditional local pub with real fires, although the pub has been opened up to make a bigger space, but still very traditional feel.
Its slightly 'worn' but nice.
5 real ales of very good quality
On 17th December 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1542 recommendations about 1519 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Red Deer
Eight ales and cider on offer on our visit. Straight away I went for Moorhouses Pride of Pendle, which is one of my fav brewerys. Have to say the barmaid was very welcoming and chatty on our visit. As Will mentions the prices were steep. Have to to say if you're out and about round Sheffield, this pub should be on your list, as it is a proper traditional pub.
On 22nd April 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Red Deer
The new managers have taken a while to settle in, but there's a different atmosphere and a different beer policy now from a couple of years ago. The bare walls referred to by PSM below are now adorned, if that's the right word, with enlarged framed cartoons - "Rapunzel, you'd better come down, the alopecia specialist is here" gives the flavour - and on my recent visit a Christmas tree was taking up some space that could have been used for sitting or standing, because trade is booming. There was some odd background music - heavy on the bass and muffled treble, and no it's not my ears. This is an improvement on the previous tenants, when as I recall it was all too easy to identify, and be irritated by, well known and hated tunes from yesteryear.
As I mentioned above, there have been changes on the beer front as well - and after all, this is a pub - with only Landlord and Easy Rider (and possibly Copper Dragon and Pride of Pendle) remaining of the "usual suspects" that used to take pride of place here. Now there are also beers from Castle Rock, Geeves, Caledonian (Flying Scotsman, not Deuchars IPA) and Jennings, the latter being an old favourite of mine: Sneck Lifter. This was in excellent condition, and my only complaint would be that it was a little pricey at £3.10 a pint. The collected pump clips on the wall show that even more adventurous choices than these have featured in the recent past. (The previous regime kept all the pump clips on the pumps.) Clientèle appeared to be mostly students or people of a similar age, though with a smattering of parents (or people of my age).
This has been a pub that I've visited no more than two or three times a year, just for a change, but perhaps more frequent visits are called for (though I'll have to raid the piggy bank if that £3.10 is typical).
On 5th December 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Red Deer
The Red Deer is a tidy little back street pub in a handy location for many of the University buildings. You enter into an L-shaped carpeted bar area with dark wood panelling and white walls. There are a couple of fireplaces, suggesting previous partitioning and the room is fitted out with some functional banquette and low stool seating. The place feels a bit bare, with a couple of plain mirrors on the walls and a row of pump clips on one of the beams, which means that it all feels a bit characterless, although it’s also fair to say that it looked spotless on my visit as well, so they clearly take pride in their pub. At the rear of the room, beyond the servery, there is a raised seating area which was full with diners during my late-lunchtime visit. The menu looked like good value, with main meals of the standard pub grub variety around the £6-8 mark. Music seems to be a big part of the pub’s identity from the soundtrack playing quietly in the background to the various posters advertising live music performances in the pub’s function room, as well as the latest music magazines alongside the daily papers on the bar counter. There is also a movie lounge that shows a sci-fi movie each Sunday.
The pub is GBG listed and there was a healthy number of hand pumps, albeit dispensing what might be deemed a fairly mainstream line-up – St Austell Tribute, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Bath Gem, Kelham Island Easy Rider, Adnams Broadside and Moorhouse Pride of Pendle. The Bath Gem was a decent drop and I was served by a cheery young barmaid who was enjoying some good banter with a couple of scousers who were propping up the bar.
This might not be Sheffield’s most exciting pub and the bland decor means it won’t live long in the memory, but I thought it was a welcoming place and therefore a decent enough spot to retreat to for a quiet pint.
On 5th May 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Sarah E left this review about The Red Deer
This is my favourite Sheffield pub, hands down. The quality of the ale is unparalleled, and they serve a wide variety of interesting local and regional ales from 9 handpumps. There's an excellent whisky selection as well. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with friendly bar staff always willing to provide a recommendation or have a chat. There's a nice beer garden out back with graffiti from local artists. The function room upstairs is home to a wide variety of events, including comedy nights, folk music, university seminars, and meetings. The 8:30 Tuesday quiz is a popular event that I particularly enjoy--rounds cover all sorts of interesting topics, and there's always a creative component. I've been coming here for over a year, and I've never been disappointed by the quality of the products or the service provided. Highly recommended!
On 28th November 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Red Deer
I went in this pub before its refurbishment but i thought this was a decent pub when i went in, the pub was on two levels i sat on the lower one the seating was comfortable and i thought the pub seemed quite smart there were six real ales on the bar i had a drink of Kelham Easy Rider and this was a very nice drink the other beers were Black Sheep bitter, Tetley bitter, Bombadier, Deuchars IPA and Abbot.
On 30th January 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about The Red Deer
I was at university in Sheffield for three years, and to my shame never got around to visiting this place. So last sunday's visit had been a long time coming, given its listing in the 2010 GBG which I have in my possession. It has a simple, crisp interior of comfy seating and dark wood, plus a real fire which burns away to the left of the entrance. Ales available were Castle Rock Harvest Pale, TT Landlord, Tetley's Cask, Kelham Island Easy Rider, Black Sheep Bitter & Battledown Natural Selection. Food was available and appeared good value, complementing a decent ale selection. Not in the elite of Sheffield pubs but a solid option for a swift one when in town.
On 2nd November 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Stephanie Urquhart left this review about The Red Deer
The Red Deer has new tenants!! My partner and I took over 8 weeks ago, and since then we have given this lovely little traditional pub a bit of a facelift. We have restored the old fireplaces to allow for real crackling open fires in the winter and given the whole place a lick of paint, as well as completely refurbishing the toilets! The front of the pub is now deep burgundy in colour, fresh and inviting.
We have 9 hand pulls, serving 8 real ales (which rotate every week) from around the country and one pouring Westons Old Rosie. We have a large range of whisky to warm your cockles in the winter, and we will be serving mulled wine and hot winter Pimms. Our gin range will be growing in the summer to keep you cool and refreshed.
We will be serving a full home cooked, traditional menu, starting Friday 15th October. We will be introducing music nights, comedy nights, movie nights, etc.
Any suggestions of what you would like to see in the pub, please let us know.
On 14th October 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]