Red Deer

This is a great traditional pub in the city centre. There's a wide variety of high quality real ale on tap. The food is delicious and reasonably priced, with lots of vegetarian options.

One of the best things about the Red Deer is the service - the bar staff are extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

There's a function room upstairs and a nice beer garden out back with graffiti from local artists. There's lots of live music, comedy, and a very popular pub quiz.

I've been coming here for over a year, and I've never been disappointed by the quality of the ale or the service provided.

Highly recommended!

We went in the Red Deer one Friday night, having been unsuccessful in finding any place to sit in the many bars on Devonshire Street. We were treated to an excellent array of real ales (I had draft Easy Rider), and whilst the place was far from empty there were available places to sit.

There was a very friendly atmosphere and a good mix of people. Well worth a visit.

If it's just a drink you want, give this pub a miss. I was in Sheffield from Monday April 4th to the 7th and I did seven pubs in the Good Beer Guide, mostly at lunch time and some again in the evening.

No problem in getting served except in here (about 1:25PM). Nobody behind the bar, some young woman rushing around with food orders, saying to me "I'll be with you in a minute." I didn't wait, went to the Old House instead.

It was busy but I was served straight away. If the owners or whoever can't manage things better they don't deserve to be in the Good Beer Guide. The bar should all ways be attended to. Better buck themselves up for the members weekend!

Things are looking up for the Red Deer.

Andy, from The Cobden View at Crookes will be running the business for Sam & Simon who have moved on to other things, down South.

I am sure the original atmosphere will be re-captured if the Cobden View is anything to go by, where you never get served an off pint, there is always a wide selection of beers. There won't be a chance of the Red Deer running out of beer again if its run like the Cobden.

I am sure we will see changes pretty soon, and I look forward to visiting it again!

I echo the last comment. I have also been going for years, but lately the beer prices have gone up, and the quality has gone down, and that's when they have any on.

Taylor's Landlord seems a distant memory - its never available, and last Wednesday the pub ran out of beer. Oh dear, Red Deer on the way out.

Well the owners seem to have lost interest so why shouldn't the customers? Reminds one of the lament of the old Hallamshire, the Bee Hive, and Hornblower. All alas no more.

What has happened to the Red Deer off Mappin Street? I have used it for years and it has always been a haven in the city centre - lively with people but no music blasting out. Great beers and good staff.

However, the last few times we have been in most of the beers have been off. This spans a period of at least 9 months. On Saturday, out of a choice of 6 beers only 3 were available at the start of the evening - and by the end there was only one!

They may have given the walls a lick of paint and re-covered the seats but it's the beer at the end of the day that makes this type of pub special!

The historic Red Deer pub in Sheffield, a city centre institution known for its traditional cask ales, is ushering in a new era under the leadership of its new landlord, Jack Donnelly. As the pub approaches its 200th anniversary, Donnelly has unveiled a fresh look for the establishment along with exciting plans for its future, aiming to breathe new life into this local favourite.

The Red Deer, located on Pitt Street, has been a staple of Sheffield's pub scene for nearly two centuries. Recently taken over by On Point Pubs, the venue closed its doors for ten days in mid-July to undergo a much-needed "general spruce up." This renovation, spearheaded by Donnelly, included new flooring and walls, the restoration of the coal fireplaces, and the sanding down and re-varnishing of the tables. The result is a brighter, refreshed space that honours the pub's rich history while looking forward to the future.

Donnelly, originally from Liverpool and previously at The Crown Inn in Elsecar, expressed his enthusiasm for the new venture, noting the unique atmosphere of managing a city centre pub. "It's different because it's in the city centre and it's got a different vibe to The Crown Inn," he said. While the summer has brought a slow start, it has provided Donnelly with valuable time to connect with regular patrons and gather their input on what they'd like to see as the pub evolves.

The Red Deer remains committed to its legacy of offering a wide selection of cask ales, with nine Cask Marque Accredited casks available. In addition to ales, the pub serves a variety of ciders, and bottled and canned drinks, ensuring that there's something for everyone.

A major highlight of Donnelly’s plan is the upcoming revamp of the pub's food menu, set to roll out in September. The pub is currently seeking a new chef, as the current chef, Rory Simons, is relocating to Australia. Despite the changes, the menu will continue to feature the popular gluten-free and vegan options that have become a hallmark of the Red Deer.

Beyond the culinary updates, Donnelly has plans to reintroduce open mic nights on Thursdays, which will start in the coming weeks, and continue the much-loved Tuesday quiz nights. Looking to diversify the pub's offerings further, Donnelly is also working on creating a retro games room upstairs, adjacent to the free-to-hire function room. This new space aims to provide a nostalgic entertainment option, appealing to both locals and visitors alike.

While the future of the Red Deer is still unfolding, Donnelly remains optimistic. "We don't know what the pub will end up becoming, especially in the current climate with pubs closing all the time. It's really hard to constantly keep coming up with ideas that are outside the box and a bit more niche," he acknowledged. However, his excitement for the busier months ahead, particularly with the return of students to the city, is palpable. "For me, the best part of the job is seeing people coming through the doors. We see all walks of life," he shared.

To further engage with the community, the Red Deer is offering a 10 percent discount for both CAMRA members and those working in the hospitality industry, underscoring its commitment to remaining a welcoming and accessible venue.

As the Red Deer approaches its 200th year, it's clear that under Jack Donnelly’s stewardship, this historic pub is embracing change while staying true to the traditions that have made it a beloved fixture in Sheffield. Whether you're a regular or a newcomer, the Red Deer's refreshed ambience, exciting plans, and warm community spirit make it a must-visit destination in the heart of the city.

Welbeck Abbey Brewery has partnered with Bakewell-based international development charity Village Aid to bring you "Bili-Bili"; a beer that will raise funds and awareness of the charity's life changing work.

Keep your eyes peeled in the month of February for limited-edition ale "Bili Bili", a collaboration between Worksop-based microbrewery Welbeck Abbey Brewery and Bakewell-based international development charity Village Aid. Hand-crafted on the Welbeck estate, this fruity pale ale is packed with hints of zesty orange, reminiscent of the fruits of West Africa where Village Aid works.

"Bili Bili" takes its name from a popular traditional alcoholic beverage brewed in rural communities in Cameroon. The drink is brewed at home, primarily using sorghum malt and is thought to have many health benefits. Village Aid works in partnership with human-rights based organisation MBOSCUDA in North-West Cameroon. They work to build peace between farming and grazing communities by increasing equitable access to natural resources such as land and clean water and working with the communities to resolve violent conflict peacefully. Find out more about this and Village Aid's other life-changing projects in West Africa by visiting their website: www.villageaid.org.

This charity cask ale will feature in local pubs through Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and South Yorkshire. The design is bright and colourful and features the silhouette of the African long-horned cow, an animal central to the livelihoods of grazing communities in this region of Cameroon.

10 pence from the sale of every pint of "Bili Bili" will go directly to Village Aid's projects in West Africa, enabling their life-changing work to continue into 2018. If you run a pub and would like to find out more about supporting this project please contact Welbeck Abbey Brewery on 01909 512 539.

The launch event takes place Friday 2nd February 2018 at the Red Deer pub on Pitt Street in Sheffield city centre from 6PM.