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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Howard, Sheffield
Sheffield
S1 2LW
Pub Type
Local Pub (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Howard
This is the first pub you see on leaving the railway station and from within, you get a good view of the new Cutting Edge water feature to the station's Sheaf Square, a homage to the city's foundry past. Inside, it's a slightly modernised pub which obviously appeals to the student community and probably the odd rail traveller.
There's a pool table and TVs showing dross with the sound off, so as not to clash with the fairly loud background music. There's very conventional furniture and a part laminate floor.
My half of Ringwood's Forty-Niner came in at £1.55 which was the joint cheapest half of my 13-hole crawl; no wonder it's popular with students then.
This place is nothing like the real heritage, quality pubs to be found in and around Kelham Island, so I'd probably not bother coming here again, not least because of the station's Sheffield Tap, two minutes' walk away.
On 13th July 2019
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Howard
The grey paint in which so many pubs now seem to be clothed sits uneasily with the black and white half-timber of brewers tudor. Inside, it's now surprisingly smart, with carpet tiles over most of the floor, though the original floor boards are still in the area of maximum spillage opportunities around the bar. Elsewhere, there are some pieces of comfortable furniture of pretty decent quality and various styles, and in one corner some booths have been created in the style of railway carriages. Most of the customers were apparently students, though there was a smattering of people my age too.
On the bar, it's still Marstons, of course. There are four hand pumps with Jennings Cocker Hoop, Wychwood Hobgoblin and Ringwood Thor's Choice, plus Old Thumper "coming soon". My Thor's Choice was in very good condition and cost £1.50 for a half. The background music was quite loud and the TVs that were showing sports channels were muted, or (which amounts to the same thing) inaudible.
On 18th June 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3734 recommendations about 3471 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Howard
A friendly barmaid made it a hearty welcome to my first Sheffield pub. While its not the best it is just about fine. A single room with a slightly sunken area to your right on entering from the side. The seating in this part was a bit minty so it was seats by the bar for me. 4 handpumps dispensed 3 ales today, Hobgob, Banks Bitter and Marston's Longer Days.
On 10th March 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Howard
My first visit here for a long time. This used to be a Mansfield Brewery pub, now Marstons have it and are pushing the real ales a bit more, perhaps in reaction to the Sheffield tap just across the road. A banner on the wall outside proclaims Real Ales On Sale, and there are now four hand pumps, which on my visit had Banks's Mild, Wychwood Hobgoblin and a couple of guests from the Marstons stable. The beers were well served by the friendly bar staff, but were just that little bit too cold, which made any flavour hard to detect.
Prices were reasonable for the city centre, and about 50-60p per pint cheaper than the Tap. Some Indie-type music that I couldn't identify was playing at a volume that allowed conversation without having to shout. Definitely one to include, if doing a crawl of the area.
On 23rd February 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3734 recommendations about 3471 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about The Howard Hotel
No doubt like hundreds of others before me, I visited The Howard purely because of its physical closeness to the station. (I’d already earmarked a visit to the Sheffield Tap, but was determined to try at least one other pub.) On balance, I’d have probably been better heading straight to Platform 1.
Nestling in the shadows of nearby Hallam University, it’s mock-Tudor exterior looks vaguely promising, but the split-level, open plan interior is bland and rather soulless. Décor is based on a toffee, cream and purple colour scheme. Seating includes several extended booth type areas, traditional tables and chairs and a handful of leather sofas. A sizeable chunk of the lower floor space houses a pool table, with three or four games machines and large screen TVs close by. Not surprisingly, it does have the whiff of a student’s bar about it.
Just two real ales at the bar, Marston’s EPA and Banks’ Original. Unfortunately, I found the EPA rather under whelming - the usual Marston’s hint of sulphur, but rather tired tasting with it. However, the barman that served me was pleasant enough.
It’s not an out and out bad place, just very average. With a clientele that almost certainly includes a lot of passing trade and (largely) indiscriminate students, you come away thinking it probably doesn’t have to try too hard. For me, a one-time and/or one-pint stop.
On 1st March 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 578 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Howard Hotel
Large pub opposite Sheffield train station. Usual draught selection & the pub has a pool table.
On 15th October 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]