The Scarbrough Arms, Upperthorpe, Sheffield

The sole remaining old building in a modern, or nearly modern, housing estate, the Scarbrough Arms has a plaque set high in the wall which dates it to 1857. Inside, the once multi-roomed interior has become, as in so many cases, one large room, but there are still remnants of the old layout to be seen. There's a fireplace in the wall to the right which looks as though it would once have been in a snug or private room. To the left there's a pool table and a TV, and the bar is now set against the back wall. The décor is pleasant, with dull gold painted walls alternating with crushed strawberry, a colour scheme that finds echoes in the carpet and the upholstered benches. The atmosphere seemed friendly, and there was no obtrusive loud music. From my point of view this pub lacks only one thing: real ale. There are multiple offerings of the keg lager or smooth beer variety, and I ended up with a Tetleys Smooth. This wasn't as bad as some beers I've had elsewhere when no real ale was on offer, not being too cold to drink, like the John Smiths which was the other option for beer drinkers here. At just £2.40 a pint this was better value than a number real ales I've had in London pubs, where a perfunctory London Pride or Courage Best will be available at twice the price and a much worse drink. However, given the choice of really good beers to be had in pubs little more than a stone's throw from here, a return visit doesn't seem to be on the cards.