The Blake Hotel, Walkley, Sheffield

Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Blake Hotel

I try to plan pub crawls as efficiently as possible. But it's inevitable that something will go wrong at some point. I seem to recall the publicans at the New Barrack Tavern saying that the Blake Hotel was slightly uphill. They did have a sense of humour and I now know that their comment was very much tongue in cheek. I certainly wasn't expecting a road with railings along the pavement to help you haul yourself up (and down)!

On a cold winter's evening, I walked into the Blake Hotel dripping with sweat. They didn't seem too peturbed at the bar. Maybe this is the state that most customers walk in like.

Behind the bar, a youngish barman was showing an even younger barman the ropes on what was a quiet Thursday evening for trade. The landlady appeared and wanted to discuss how the experienced barman would pay the younger one at the end of the night. For some unknown reason, she amusingly tried to communicate it in French so that the younger one wouldn't understand. The older one certainly didn't understand and the younger one looked on perplexed. It was all a bit cringeworthy.

On the real ale front, Neepsend Blonde is the regular beer. Guests were Neepsend Alphito & Callirius, Blue Bee Bessemer Blonde, Jolly Sailor Selby American Pale & Whim Hartington Bitter. Craft beers were Neepsend Stout, Alcito & Alcis & Kirkstall Virtuous Grapefruit. I opted for the Callirius, billed as a hazelnut stout. The barman did question my choice as he said it was a bit of an acquired taste. He also offered me a taster, but I was only having a half. In the event, I could see why people wouldn't like it, but found it quite palateable.

Once I'd recovered from the climb up the hill, the French linguistics and the beer choice, we could settle down and appreciate this pub a little more. It certainly does have a bit of character. Worth a visit if you are able to get up the hill, or perhaps I should have done it immediately after the Blind Monkey earlier in my crawl.

On 1^st February 2024 - rating: 7
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