The Fargate, Sheffield: 'I visited the Thornbridge Brewery pub inside a former bank - it's a good first impression'
Let’s give The Fargate a great big compliment.
It looks as if it’s been in the middle of the proud city of Sheffield forever and it really could not be more central, with one side of the building facing the City Hall, a confident construction, with the full-on solid arrogance of the Victorian era if ever there was one.
After the rationalisation of the Yorkshire Bank, what had been one of their branches was snapped up by the always enterprising Thornbridge Brewery team, and is now their flagship in these parts.
It opened in the late months of last year.
If you like brown, then this is the brownest of brown pubs in all of Yorkshire’s browndom.
The bar is brown, the fitments are brown, the tables are brown – you get the picture. Oh, except that on the first floor, there are no pictures, or posters, or much signage either.
There’s an upper floor, and that too is brown, albeit of a more honey-tone.
The clever trick here is that it all feels quite familiar, nicely “lived in”, and it doesn’t have that long-lingering whiff of “new.” A proper pub, and not a shred of pretence.
There’s a spiral staircase to the upper floor, where you’ll find the restaurant, and (trust me) spiral staircases aren’t very compatible with holding full pints as you ascend – for there’s no bar upstairs, just the horseshoe shaped one below.
It’s probably the only thing really wrong with the overall design. (Hint: there’s another normal staircase tucked away to the rear.)
There’s a printed drinks menu, and the wine list is exceptionally good – as is the selection of whisky, which include some from Japan.
Oddly, there’s no mention of the beers, but then, given that here’s the place to discover possibly the widest range of Thornridge ales for many a mile around, maybe having them printed on a list could be construed as stating the fully obvious.
There’s Green Mountain, Wild Swan, Lord Marples, all the true tried and supped favourites, and more. No wonder that the place is buzzing.
There’s talk of outside seating in Town Hall Square when the better weather comes, so we’ll have to wait and see to find out how that catches on.
It’s got to be said, this venue has certainly made one enormous wallop of a first impression.
Welcome 4/5
Atmosphere 5/5
Drinks choice 5/5
Prices 4/5
The Fargate, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2HD