Pub 96, Day 36 – Arena Square

By Andy

Well, dear readers: Rob's fucked off to Rome.

We've been here before of course: almost as soon as the blog began, I nobly relocated to Howden in East Yorkshire for work. I came back a couple of years later, but as soon as I did Rob selfishly fucked off to Coventry for his first job. After a few months he too returned, and for the first time in years we were both in Sheffield. Progress would be relentless.

Then, after just six months in the adult world, Rob decided that what he really needed was to relive his previous 24 years as a student, and packed in his steady 9–5 to dodge taxes once more. He began a PhD in Late Ancient History, and before you knew it, he jetted off to Rome on a 3-month “residential research course”. Well there isn't much research taking place based on the photos you're putting on Facebook mate!

So, while he's off eating pizza and driving Ferraris, I'm left looking after the metaphorical children, writing up entries for the pubs we've already visited...

***

Having ticked off the pubs surrounding Bramall Lane and Hillsborough, we thought it was high time to visit those near Sheffield's other top-class sporting venue: the arena.

We were joined by previous guest-blogger Lucy, along with Rob's girlfriend Hannah.

Our first stop was Arena Square, a large family-friendly establishment which belongs to the Table Table chain. Although technically just a stone's throw from the arena, in reality this journey involves a perilous dash across 6 lanes of traffic, ensuring your adrenaline is pumping upon arrival.

The pub was spread across several rooms, all of which were completely identical. The furniture was about as nondescript as it was possible to be: cheap, wooden and wobbling. The atmosphere of the place was flat, bordering on soulless.

Pubquest Points were awarded for a decent beer selection, from which we selected Dirty Tackle, a winter beer from Wychwood Brewery (the makers of Hobgoblin). Dirty Tackle turned out to be far superior to its more famous sibling, which felt the wrath of our review in 2012.

Having been stung once before by pubs that weren't serving food, I had called at the nearby KFC beforehand, and gorged myself on a Zinger Burger Box Meal. The others were not nearly as forward-thinking as I, and chose from the Arena Square's menu.

Rob and Hannah both opted for chicken and pea pie, which was your typical reheated fare. However, the accompanying chips were appetising enough for me to steal a few when Hannah went to the bar.

Lucy went for a salad of some sort, so I won't hold the Arena Square responsible for her catastrophic error of judgement.

As the name suggests, the pub's defining feature is its proximity to the arena, rather than any particular dedication to beer or food.

I suppose when your trade is made up of concert-goers eagerly awaiting their annual trip to see Take That, there's no need to provide Europe's finest pilsners or Yorkshire's freshest food: just be open, serve alcohol, and make sure you get your staff rota aligned with the arena's schedule.

Pub: Arena Square (3 Arena Court, S9 2LF)

Rating: 6/10

Pint: Dirty Tackle

Brewery: Wychwood Brewery (Witney, Oxfordshire)

NEXT UP: Sheffield in a nutshell, at The Wentworth...