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11-12-2013, 00:30
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The Plough, New Road, Low Bradfield


Part One: http://goo.gl/7nc13u
Part Two:
After window shopping at Bradfield Brewery's shop it was high time to actually drink some of their beer.
I started at the bottom of the hill at The Plough, which I'd heard had changed hands from long serving landlords Chris and Mandy. So I was keen to see what, if anything, had altered.
It certainly looked brighter and plusher when I walked in, but my last visit was during Hallowe'en 2012 when the historic inn was festooned with cobwebs and selling green beer.
So my reference points were a bit skewed. But I do have fond memories of this pub's beer range (Black Dog/Hambleton's) and was keen to see what was on the bar.


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Beer range at The Plough 10/12/13




I've been in a couple of since I started compiling this post and the range seems to be a mix of Bradfield and Kelham Island beers.
Today (Tuesday) there was Farmers Belgian Blue, Farmers Blonde, Farmers Brown Cow, Kelham's Pride of Sheffield, Kelham Best and Thwaites Lancaster Bomber.
During a recent imbibing visit, when I had the Belgian and The Pride, I was told that Black Dog beers still featured occasionally, which were a favourite of the former landlord.
I also heard the pub had had a full refurb inside and out since the change of hands.
Inside it was neat and well upholstered, but what impressed me were the pictures on the wall. I don't know if these were up before the renovations but they struck a chord with me this time.
There were a few Sheffield scenes of The Wicker and one by the river, plus a framed account of the Dale Dike Reservoir disaster in 1864.

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The pub lies about half-a-mile downstream of this reservoir, which burst its banks nearly 150 years ago leading to the loss of 240 lives.
The framed document tells how the pub, which escaped the flood, became a magnet for "sightseers" who travelled from far and wide to see the devastation. Apparently railway companies laid on "excursion specials" in a forerunner of disaster tourism.
Although I'm interested in History, I am no historian and much more detail can be found here at the Great Sheffield Flood Study Guide: http://goo.gl/bffW48


But let's get back to modern day. My first two visits since re-opening have been on consecutive Sundays and it was busy both times. I initially put this down to their ever popular Sunday roasts but it was even filling up at 12.30pm today (Tuesday). I don't know whether this was due to a bevy of early Christmas dinner bookings, daytrippers enjoying an unseasonably fine day out in The Peak District or this was just normal business. Whatever the reason the pub was doing a cracking midweek trade.
When it does get busy inside, and the weather permits, then it's got a good beer garden to adjourn to. It has views towards Ughill or back across the valley towards Bradfield Brewery and my next stop, The Old Horns Inn.
To be continued.


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