Sheffield, is a very different place these days. There is today, at the end of 1999, No major local brewery. Earlier this year there was Wards, at the bottom of Ecclesall Road, and not long passed are Bass Charington, at Claywheels lane, Hillsborough, William Stones Cannon Brewery, Rutland Road and The Historical Exchange Brewery, Bridge Street Which closed in 1993 after 170 years. Even ten years ago, you could sample the familiar brewing smells the length of the city.
     These facts are the result of the British brewing industry monopolizing and swallowing it's smaller rivals. If you travel around Sheffield, the city pubs are emblazoned with masonry signs, on their gable ends and upper floors, indicating the brewery that they once belonged to, and probably built them in the first place. And they are numerous. But that was a bygone age, now we are rapidly moving toward a day when there is a choice of only the same three draught drinks in every establishment.
     At present, these as far as I can tell, are the following categories of pubs :-

Category 1. Is Brewery Tied Pubs

1. Tetley - They serve Tetley Bitter, One guest Bitter ( Castle Eden or Calders ) Carlsberg and Castlemaine XXXX lager, Stella Artois strong lager, and Guinness. Tetley's Pubs are the most common in Sheffield, probably because their pub stock has been aquied from more local brewing companies in past takeovers.
2. Whitbread - They Serve Whitbread's Trophy Bitter, Boddingtons Bitter, Heiniken Cold Filtered Lager, Labbat's Lager, Stella Artois V.Strong Lager, Guinness, Murphy's Stout, Woodpecker and Strongbow Ciders.
3. Wards - There are lots of pubs that used to be Wards houses, but now Wards has gone, they seem to be stocking quite a lot of different brews. Although the pubs still say Wards on their signs.
4. Stones - They Serve Stones Bitter, Caffrey's, Worthington CreamFlow, Carling, Carling Premier and Guinness
5. John Smiths - They serve John Smiths Magnet Bitter, John Smiths Smooth, Guinness,
6. Manufactured Irish Pubs - Always do  Guinness and Murphy's, and Kilkenny, and often have quiet patronizing irish music in the background, and often have loads of crazy crap on the walls and shelves, like Bicycles, books( stuck on ), notices, and a stupid old sack barrow. They always have small plainly made wooden furniture.

1. Weatherspoons Have no music at all. Which makes the atmos more like a cattle market. Beer is quite cheap due to nation-wide buying power and ( just in time ) stocking policy. They usually have a big emphasis on food menu and always a large no smoking area. The drinkers in a Weatherspoon pub do seem to be more smartly dressed and late twenties upwards, in their age group.
2. Tom Cobleigh - Making large pubs out of old derelict buildings, which they often pay Millions of pounds for. Usually with large grounds as well, they are impressive, and usually in prime sites. They always make the place into a pub / restaurant, and it is a smart atmosphere with log fires and plush carpets.
3. Tut 'n' Shive - The walls appear to be made of doors and stupid papier mache mouldings, crusties and punks are attracted. And rock music is de regeur. Often the patrons have gone too far with tattoos and face jewellery. The Pub often puts a band on. There appears to be at least one of these pubs in every city.
4. Firkin Pubs - Stupid theme pubs from Allied Domeq, Where they insist in serving Firkin beers which are a bit ropey, and brewed in a micro brewery in town. There is often a piano but it is always bust. Trying to be the perfect formula for the pub of the 90's. Air cleaners, Coffee, great cheap wholesome bar menu. No carpets and tons of crap on the walls and ceiling. Often advertise Firkin T-shirts, Baseball Hats and Knickers. All the bar staff wear shirts that say " I'm a Firkin Bar steward ". If you've never been in one before you think it's one of those new tacky irish bars, 'cause the stuff on the wall is exactly the same from the same warehouse.
5. Hoggs Head - Supposed to be a quality boozer. Usually lots of cask ales, wooden floors and no carpets. No music and you can hear lots of talking, like a cattle market.

Often owned or managed by an enthusiast, there are always loads of different beers on sale, and they are usually well kept. Sometimes local small scale beers can be sampled here, very strong beer and often novelty beers. These are the pubs that are least likely to have an annoying gambling machine in the corner, and often play tapes or cd's instead of a jukebox.

Category 4. Is Independent

Small freehouses, often brewing small quantities of ale on the premises. Often a specialist establishment, with regular contact with CAMRA ( the campaign for real ale ). Always a large variety of beers, regular guest beers, and do things like offering a sample mouthful before buying a full pint.

Estate Pubs ( Usually A Tied Pub )
    These establishments often occur in the midst of a 1960's housing estate, and often jut out like a shoebox, or some other peculiar shape. You can spot an estate pub from ten miles away. The side walls are made of the same brick or concrete as the nearest flats, the front wall is a massive plate glass and a black bit from waist height down.
     Often these pubs are empty, with the only person inside, a barmaid sitting atop the bar watching soap operas on the pub's t.v. Outside are always some industrial size galvanized dustbins on wheels ( the big tubular ones ). The beer is almost always terrible, and tastes of beer pump cleaning solution, which strips the lining from your throat. Sometimes they try to tart the place up with hanging baskets, but they shouldn't bother! There is always an industrial strength fence erected by the council at the back. These are about the only type of pub that you are likely to see a fish tank.
     Often these pubs are where trial landlords on their first pubs, are sequestered to. There is often a barking dog in the back yard. And enough parking space for a truck stop on the A1. Which is why there's always more than the average allocation of picnic tables outside.