The Three Merry Lads, Sheffield

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Will Larter left this review about Three Merry Lads

I walked out here to spend my Punch Taverns voucher during the recent Cask Ale Week, though the pub is also reachable by the 51 bus which runs frequently from the city centre. The former multi-roomed stone built roadside country pub is now all one room, with the entrance now via the conservatory-style extension on the right (though the original front door was slightly ajar, giving the false impression that this was the entrance). Beyond the car park is a children's playground on the top of a grassy slope that has an extensive view over the Rivelin Valley.

Inside there's modern and fairly standard pub furnishings and decor, and unfortunately a lingering smell of cooking fat and the equally typical modern scourge: background music. An interesting individual note was provided by a number of watercolours and acrylics by a local artist, which are for sale, and various local scenes depicted in black & white photos, which are not.

On the bar are five hand pumps, and on my visit these were occupied by three real ales: Coach House Honey Pot, Box Steam Porter and Thornbridge Jaipur, an interesting selection. I had the porter, which was very good, and would happily have stayed for another if I could have ignored the lingering smell of cooking fat. Presumably those who come here to eat rather than drink find this less off-putting. This would be a good place to finish a walk around the Redmires or Rivelin reservoirs, or even from Stanage - Redmires Road used to be the major route for pack horse trains between Sheffield and Cheshire, and the way can still be traced in parts.

The above from 30th October 2012

Update: Called in here recently to find not much changed. Three ales on hand pump and three boxed polypins of cider. The cooking smell was less noticeable on this occasion, though there were people eating - it seems to be popular with families with young children. Both the beers we tried were a little tired, suggesting that they can't really sustain three real ales on the custom they get here, which is a pity.

On 20^th September 2013 - rating: 5
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