By
Rob
Andy
and I – along with Andy's workmate and previous guest-blogger Katherine – stood outside the Gardeners Rest, the final
Kelham Island pub on our never-ending tour of Sheffield's ale houses.
More than five years after Pubquest began, an important chapter was
about to close.
In
many respects, Kelham Island was the jewel in the crown of
Sheffield's pub culture: the birthplace of the city's real ale
movement, home to some of its greatest venues, and a shining example
of post-industrial urban regeneration. Without it, Pubquest would
have surely failed to grow into the earth-shattering success that
it's become today.
Compared
to the other Kelham Island boozers, the Gardeners Rest is a bit out
of the way. Fortunately, the walk isn't too arduous and offers a good
opportunity to catch sight of old industrial Sheffield, without the
obscuring layers of gentrification you'd find in the busier parts of
the quarter.
Like
its nearby cousins, the Gardeners Rest is a handsome looking pub
from the outside. Once indoors, it continues to impress with an
old-fashioned, shabby chic feel (although some of the upholstery is
perhaps a touch more shabby than chic). The pub is bigger than it
appears from the street, with a nice extended seating area at the
back, leading out into a quirky little beer garden. Not only this,
but we discovered a bar billiards table inside, which was a rare
treat!
The
ale selection was excellent, and we each ordered a pint of Crucible
Best, a perfectly pleasant traditional bitter from the Sheffield
Brewing Company.
The
Gardeners Rest has been a community-run pub ever since it was saved
from closure by The Gardeners Rest Community Society, who raised
more than £237,000 to purchase the business after the former
landlords retired. Concerned that property developers would swoop in
and repurpose the pub into yet more fancy Kelham Island apartments,
over 400 investors pitched in, each donating between £100 and
£5,000.[1]
The
pub has a strong community focus at its core, which guides their decision-making
(just when you thought pubs couldn't get any better). As part of this, they provide amenities and opportunities for various groups
throughout the city. These include an exhibition space for local
artists, as well as facilities for people with mental health
issues.[2]
As
the Gardeners Rest continues to thrive, we can only hope that this
neat business model catches on elsewhere, saving other great spots
from being closed down and converted into less interesting spaces.
I’ll
take a pint of Magnet and a packet of pork scratchings over a
prestige living space any day of the week.
Rating:
8.5/10
Pint:
Crucible Best
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