The Head of Steam, Sheffield

Quite different to most other Head of Steam outlets I've been to, and this one is something of a mixture. If you enter from the main (Norfolk Street) side with its imposing bank façade, you find the main bar area with an island counter under a high moulded ceiling (albeit with rather more modern furniture and decor than most converted banking halls have). However, if you enter via the Tudor Square entrance (at the base of a very dull office block) you find a more gastro-pub type dining area under a much lower ceiling. Decent selection of real ales and one cider from the two banks of five handpumps, with three from Cameron's, as you would expect, but on a cold winter's day I went for the Acorn Old Mill porter (£3.75). Various craft keg beers too, and what looked like an extensive range of bottled offerings in the fridges. Very busy on a Saturday lunchtime, and you can see why as there is something here for most people.

I have never been in a "Head of Steam" pub before, not sure if I will again. 10 hand pulls on the bar, offering a good selection of mostly Yorkshire brews, the two pints I had were acceptable, although slightly cloudy. Modern, urban / industrial feel to the inside with no soft furnishings and high ceilings made the place very noisey. Multiple flat screen TVs showing more than one football match with sound only served to ramp up the noise levels to ear defender levels, not helped by lager swilling fans standing staring and getting in the way of everyone. The pub serves food, usual Spoons style pub fare and if it had not been so loud, we might have eaten here. Out the back is a slabbed "beer garden" that is actually part of the theatre square complex. It is however much quieter out there with just the irritation of the chain smokers to put up with.

Official site of Head of Steam - www.theheadofsteam.co.uk

Official site of Head of Steam - www.theheadofsteam.co.uk

The Old Monk, as was, re-opens today as the latest addition to the Head of Steam chain.