The Princess Royal, Crookes, Sheffield

This is a very smart and comfortable street corner local in a residential area of the city, with mixed housing on very steep hills. There was a family party going on, for a 1st birthday, so there were some unexpected shrieks from time to time, but the apology I got from the barman indicated that this was not normal, so I didn't let that affect my enjoyment of the beer. The pub is carpeted throughout, with upholstered banquettes, stools and very small chairs. One room behind the bar housed a pool table and there were posters indicating that local bands play here on Saturdays. I was faced with a difficult choice from the five hand pumps, as I could happily have drunk any of the beers on offer, but unfortunately all five was not really an option: Tetleys, Black Sheep, Woodforde's Wherry, Double Maxim and Welbeck Abbey's Princess Royal, a golden ale either brewed specially or rebadged for this pub. I ended up with the Wherry, which probably didn't benefit from being forced through a tight sparkler, but I've given up on asking for beers to be poured without. I'll definitely be back, because I can do with the exercise and I'd like to try the place when it's not full of noisy toddlers.