Unfortunately a few years ago the breweries, in their infinite wisdom, decided that Sheffield didn't have enough authentic Irish theme bars, and the Mardi gras, which was drinking on West Street gave way to plastic shamrocks and wood panelling.
     The quirky Hornblower, complete with rigging and poopdeck became O'Hagans Irish bar/fake bakery (plastic soda bread on display).

Wrong

     The friendly atmosphere of the Mailcoach with seating able to accommodate large numbers of revellers collapsed under the obvious public pressure for another Irish theme pub in the West street zone (sic) and hence Scruffy Murphys was born.
Now I'm as tolerant as the next man when it comes to Irish theme bars, but for authentic Irish hospitality the well established Broad Lane zone is the place to be.
 

Right

     Finally, The Hallamshire, what can I say? This was once the hub of the vibrant local music scene with live acts playing in the function room upstairs, a room which still remains post refurbishment, due to contractual wrangles, but now lies dormant.  The eclectic mix of people who formerly frequented this bar was surely a blow to popular misconceptions that people of differing musical and dress leanings cannot get along.  Even the geography of the pub layout was correct, with the bar central and easy access from all three surrounding rooms and with possibly the best pool table/room in the city centre to boot.

Sadly all this has been replaced with the standard open plan 'build a pub' kit form design, dead is the landlord now only a shift manager, long gone are the mohawks, dreadlocks and colourful, only to be replaced with hen parties, older townies and the lost.
Hallamshire Hotel RIP....

A Pint Of Guinness - Yesterday