Update April 2025 THE DOVE INN

The Dove Inn, Doncaster Road, Barnsley was sold at auction in January and it was reported, to the anguish of many, that the new owners planned to convert it to a house of multiple occupation. The consequent uproar made the front page of the Chronicle, the long history of the pub and its association with Barnsley FC being stressed. Happily, the owners took full note of the uproar and have now announced plans to reopen in April, even though previous owners, Old Mill Brewery, had stripped the place out. The business will be run by Luke Thompson who also manages the Silkstone on Park Road and the Retrodome, New Street. Luke and his colleague Tom Sykes have posted ‘We are currently renovating the pub – all is staying the same including the fantastic Sunday Dinners before from Paul (previous licensee)’

THE FLYING DUTCHMAN

After a short period as the Woodlands, the Flying Dutchman in Jump reopened last November after refurbishment and reversion to its original name. The lounge now has bench seating along two walls, chesterfields, a log burner, an attractive sloping bar counter and a tasteful, largely dark green and cream colour scheme. In the sports-oriented public you’ll find a pool table, dartboards in an alcove and a big TV screen. A handpump has been installed in the lounge, serving a changing local beer each week from the likes of Acorn, Chantry and Bradfield.

FITZWILLIAM ARMS

The end looks to have come for the long-closed Fitzwilliam Arms, Elsecar with a planning application submitted to create a complex of eight holiday lets on the site. A structural survey had apparently shown the building to be ‘close to collapse and the roof has already been removed. As a Branch, we decided only to comment if objections to loss of the pub were made by local people, and there were none. Elsecar is, of course, not short of excellent pubs, including the Crown a few doors away from the Fitz. The Council’s decision was awaited at the time of writing.

THE HOYLAND TAP

The Hoyland Tap, Hoyland has closed – a Facebook message said ‘this is due to not enough regulars around the area to keep the pub side of things open’. This micropub occupied the back bar of the former Potters Wheel and only opened in 2023. At first, one real ale was sold on handpump but that didn’t last long – sadly, neither did the pub.

PLANS FOR MAPPLEWELL MICROPUB

A planning application has been submitted for a micropub at 20 Towngate, Mapplewell. The premises are currently vacant but have planning permission to operate as a hot-food takeaway. The application states ‘We will be unique as only local ales will be served. Local brewers have been prewarned and are excited by the prospect of promoting their products. Mapplewell is a magnet for real ale drinkers and we can only make it stronger.’

NEW TRAVELLERS

After reopening in May following stylish renovation, the New Travellers, Shambles Street, Barnsley shut its doors in November. The owners stated it was ‘time to move on to somewhere that can deliver our plans of a bigger future for live music in Barnsley town centre’. The lease of the premises is being advertised.

VAULT 27

That ‘somewhere’ turned out to be Vault 27, occupying part of a former bank on Church Street, previously home to the short-lived AJ’s Lounge Bar. The large single room has a stage at one end and the bar at the other, with a sort of open-plan snug to the side of the bar. It’s very much a music pub (with décor to match) and live music features every night it’s open. Salt Jute is the most interesting of the keg beers on offer.

INCREASE AT WETHERSPOONS

Earlier in the year, Wetherspoons increased beer prices in most of their pubs, with around £2.70 per pint becoming the new going rate (though £3.60 and northwards in central London). Happily, our two outlets continue to offer excellent cask ales at the bargain price of £1.99 (£1.79 on Ale Wednesday or just £1.49 at other times if you’re a CAMRA member using your vouchers.)

MAISON DU BIERE

Frank Houssaye is the new owner of Maison du Biere, Elsecar though Nigel is still around in an advisory capacity and the team is unchanged ‘ready to keep delivering the great service you love.’

JOLLY BOYS

Jolly Boys brewery has moved from Wilthorpe, its home since foundation in 2014, to become brewery-in-residence at the newly-opened Wakefield Exchange (or WX as it prefers to be called) in Wakefield’s former market hall. There’s also a bar, the Exchange Tap. Happily you can still enjoy the wondrous SuperCitra and their other beers at the Jolly Tap on the Arcade in Barnsley.

SPRIAL CITY

Also in the Victorian Parade, the ground floor of Spiral City has been neatly extended into the area formerly the Vinyl Underground record shop (which has moved to larger premises opposite).

OLD NO.7

At the time of writing, Old No.7, Barnsley was temporarily shut whilst owners Valiant Pub Co sought a new franchisee to run the pub.

BOXERS ARMS

A previously unreported new pub is the Boxers Arms, opposite the former Collingwood in Bolton-on-Dearne. No real ale though.

THE BRIDGE

The Bridge, Thurgoland is reopening, with Kat and Paul at the helm. They promise a great place for ramblers and non-ramblers alike to grab some refreshments and take in the views from the beer garden.

THE NORMAN INN

The Norman Inn, Monk Bretton no longer sells real ale. The two handpumps currently dispense ciders from Thatchers and Westons though neither conform to CAMRA’s definition of real cider. The only Monk Bretton real ale outlet is now the Full House which has well-kept Wainwright and Greene King Abbot Ale.

NEW INN

Other reported real ale losses are the New Inn, Penistone and the Furnace, Hoyland.

ALEXANDRA WMC

Sam Smiths have applied to demolish the Alexandra WMC, Royston, stating they had no intention to reopen and, in the meantime, vandals and trespassers had badly damaged the building, Options for the site were ‘at an early stage of development’. To make matters worse for Royston club-goers, approval has been given to demolish the ‘Klondyke’ club and build five bungalows on the site. At least the Midland club is still going strong.

THE WHITE BEAR

The White Bear, Church Street, Barnsley has been through turbulent times recently with several changes of ownership. A new company, MCR Pub Co Solutions, has now stepped in with plans to ‘make the White Bear great again’. They promise the return of live music plus a new drinks offer and revised menu. Renovation work is also planned though it’s not that long since the place had a significant makeover. On the real ale front, two beers have been regularly available, most recently Ubu and Mad Goose, both from Purity.

THE SPREAD EAGLE

The Spread Eagle, Penistone has reopened after a tasteful refurbishment with new flooring and seat upholstery plus refreshed decoration throughout. The tap room bar counter has been altered to straighten it out. Marstons 61 Deep remains the regular cask ale whilst Brixton Reliance Pale Ale has been added to the keg line-up.

WORTLEY GOLF CLUB

Wortley Golf Club has real ale in the shape of Bradfield Farmers Blonde, with a second beer in summer and at Christmas.