News from the Branch
PUB, CLUB & BREWERY NEWS
April 2026
Bailey’s Bar & Bistro, Hemingfield has added a second handpull. However, the big news here is that owners Russell and Clare have also taken the tenancy of the nearby Albion Inn. This has been very much a locals’ pub and, until recently, hadn’t sold real ale in living memory. When Bailey’s arrived last autumn selling cask beer, the then-tenant of the Albion installed two handpumps though sales apparently weren’t great. Russell was in two minds whether to keep cask going here but, at the time of writing, one handpump was operating, selling Morland Old Speckled Hen on a recent visit.
More new handpump news. The Rose & Crown, Darton has reinstated real ale after a gap of several years. Of the three handpumps on the bar, two are occupied, both with Tim Taylor beers, Boltmaker and Landlord.
After a short closure, the Keel Inn on Canal Street, Barnsley has reopened. The new owner is Kevin Simpson; it’s his first pub but he’s lived in the area for many years. Happily, one of his first acts was to restore real ale, with Acorn Barnsley Bitter initially on the single handpump. Kevin has also carried out necessary renovations and refitted the kitchen – at the time of writing, a chef was still being sought. It’s great to see this very characterful pub in good hands.
In 2021, the Old Bank opened in Hoyland in, well, an old bank and was essentially a cocktail/wine bar. It’s now been taken on by the local EyUp pub company who have given it more of a pubby flavour which includes installation of two handpumps. First offerings were Bradfield Belgian Blue and Acorn Barnsley Bitter though, on a recent visit, only the latter was available (but in good nick). Real ale drinkers are invited to suggest beers they’d like to see on the pumps.
We’re told that the Sportsman Inn, Pitt Street, Wombwell now has two real ales available but this hasn’t yet been investigated.
Finally, in this section, Nigel at Maison du Biere, Elsecar has fulfilled his long-term intention to install a handpump to accompany the many high quality KeyKeg beers.
We also welcome a couple of new openings. There’s a separate article on the excellent Old Mounts in Royston whilst, in Butchers Yard, Mapplewell, Eaden’s Bar 2 opened in November, a smart little courtyard pub occupying a former slaughterhouse. It has two rooms downstairs plus a cosy space up in the eaves. Walls are a mix of exposed brick, painted plaster and panelling made from recycled pallets whilst seating is both benches and stools. The two large TVs are mostly devoted to sport. A recent visit found Bradfield Farmers Blonde and Belgian Blue on the two handpumps; other beers have subsequently been reported This is a nice addition to the village’s burgeoning pub/bar scene.
Another opening that meets CAMRA’s definition of a pub is the Rose Box, Church Street, Darton. However, the beer choices at this wine/cocktail bar are limited to canned Guinness and a few bottles.
And still the new micropubs come, or want to come. Unfortunately, the Council’s Licensing Board has rejected an application for a small ‘community-focused’ pub in a former antiques shop at 30 High Street, Dodworth. Seven nearby households had raised concerns about its possible impact, including noise and pedestrian safety though supporters had said the micropub would bring new life to the village centre. The applicant had agreed to a range of measures including limiting customer numbers, restricting outdoor drinking and installing full CCTV but this was evidently not enough.
On a positive note, plans for a micropub in a former newsagents at High Street, Grimethorpe have been approved by the Council.
A new Irish bar, Katie O’Brien’s, is set to open on Glassworks Square, Barnsley, in the premises formerly occupied by TGI Friday.
The excellent Spiral City in the Victorian Arcade, Barnsley now offers a 10% discount for card-carrying CAMRA members on its three changing real ales.
The Ash Inn, Wombwell has new tenants, Jayne and Paul. At the time of writing (mid-Feb) they were progressing well with refurbishment of the pub and aiming to open the kitchens for breakfast, lunch and evening meals in late March.
Another pub with a new licensee is the Cock Inn, Birdwell. It’s a first pub for Amy Hates, though she has spent her working life in hospitality. The pub reopened in mid-February and Amy has been bowled over by the support local people have shown. Occupying the handpumps will be beers from Bradfield e.g Farmers Blonde and Tim Taylor e.g. Landlord plus a changing guest. By the time you read this, a full menu will be available including breakfasts and Sunday dinners. There’ll be a quiz night on Thursdays and perhaps a music quiz Sundays. It’s dog-friendly too.
Sadly, but unsurprisingly in the current climate, we must report some closures, hopefully only temporary ones. Both the Honeywell Inn, Barnsley and Red Lion, Worsbrough are shut though, in both cases, owners Stonegate are advertising for new tenants – they’re doing likewise for the Tavern, Hemingfield, the Miners Rest, Old Town, Barnsley and Tom Treddlehoyle, Pogmoor. (News just in – the Red Lion will be re-opening soon under new management, initially as a bar but with food offering launching soon afterwards)
The Old School House off Summer Lane Barnsley (formerly the Polish Club) closed for business on 9 December. The future use of the building is not yet known.
The Royal, Barugh Green announced in February that it was closing its doors because ‘the current state of the hospitality industry has made it unsustainable for us to continue’. In recent years, the place has operated essentially as a Tapas restaurant though it retained a handpump for Tim Taylor Landlord. When your editor last visited, he waited ten minutes for someone to serve him a pint then gave up.
The Engineers Arms, Higham is shut again so it’s no-business-as-usual at this Sam Smiths pub – at any one time, around half of this brewer’s pubs will be closed which is a strange way to operate.
We understand that Darfield Road Working Men’s Club in Cudworth has closed.
An application has been submitted for a full premises licence at the Picture House, Eastgate, Barnsley.
The Tarn End Tap, Racecommon Road, Barnsley is up for sale. The owners all have full time jobs, hence the current restricted opening hours. The sales particulars highlight the scope for additional trading.
The always excellent Huntsman, Thurlstone has further increased its handpump count. As well as the three regulars (Tim Taylor Landlord, Abbeydale Moonshine and a Woodland beer) there are now five guest ales to choose from.
The best pint your editor has had since the last issue? A quite magnificent Thornbridge Jaipur IPA at the Joseph Bramah, Barnsley – beer quality here is outstanding at present in my view. Wetherspoons normally alter prices in the new year and I didn’t expect the £1.99 price for real ales Mon-Wed to survive. I was right – but it went in the other direction to £1.89 or an amazing £1.39 if you’re a CAMRA member using your vouchers (it has now skyrocketed back to £1.99)