Kelham Island Crawl

Kelham Island has long been the heart of Sheffield’s real ale scene, and this crawl sticks firmly to tradition. Expect well-kept cask beer, historic pubs and short, easy walks between each stop. This is a crawl for people who care about what’s in the glass and like their pubs full of character rather than gimmicks.

Start at The Crow Inn

(Optional but Recommended)

If you want to do this properly, start at The Crow Inn, just up the road from Shakespeare’s. It is one of Sheffield’s most traditional pubs and also has rooms if you fancy turning the crawl into an overnight stay.

The beer range varies from traditional cask all the way up to imperial stouts, always from respected regional breweries. It is calm, welcoming, and a perfect place to ease yourself in before things get busier.

Shakespeare’s

From The Crow Inn, it is less than a five minute walk to Shakespeare’s, one of the most loved pubs in the city and a favourite with CAMRA members. Sitting right on the edge of Kelham Island, this place is all about top quality cask beer and a warm and fun atmosphere.

The selection changes regularly and is always well looked after. Settle down in one of their front rooms or head round the back into their beer garden.

It is friendly, unpretentious, and a place where it is very easy to lose track of time.

The walk from Shakespeare’s to Kelham Island Tavern takes around three minutes and it takes you over the dual carriageway into Kelham Island.

Kelham Island Tavern

Kelham Island Tavern is one of Sheffield’s most famous pubs and a natural starting point for the main part of the crawl. Known nationally for its range and quality of cask ale, it is a must visit for real ale lovers.

The pub is traditional, busy for good reason, and ideal if you want to try some of the best beer the city has to offer.

From Kelham Island Tavern, it is a three minute walk to SALT.

SALT Kelham

SALT Kelham brings a more modern feel while keeping beer quality high. The space is open and lively, and it works well early in the crawl when things are just starting to pick up.

While it leans more towards keg, it is still a good contrast to the traditional pubs and keeps the crawl feeling varied. This would be a good spot to grab a bite to eat if you are starting to feel a bit peckish. They have a kitchen operated by Seoul Chicken, who serve up a range of Asian-inspired chicken delights.

From SALT, walk under the archway by the entrance and turn right, it is only a couple of minutes to Hymn to Ninkasi.

Hymn to Ninkasi

Hymn to Ninkasi sits comfortably as the most unusual spot on this list. The narrow micropub has a relaxed feel, a strong collection of beer fridges, and three keg beer options. No cask in this location but a venue I had to include because they do incredible keg.

It is an easy place to spend longer than planned and works well as a steady middle point on the crawl. If you wanted to make your crawl a bit more upmarket you could have something to eat from DOMO the restaurant opposite. This is one of Sheffield's best Italian restaurants so you may need to book ahead. If you are reading this whilst standing outside you might be too late.

From Hymn to Ninkasi, it is around a two minute walk to the Fat Cat.

The Fat Cat

The Fat Cat feels like a proper local pub that just happens to serve excellent beer. The cask range is dependable, the crowd is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. At weekends, the beer garden is the main attraction, usually full and buzzing. Previously the tap for Kelham Island Brewery, it remains the most famous pub in Kelham Island.

From The Fat Cat, it is about a five minute walk to The Millowners Arms. Head towards Kelham Island Museum and follow the path down to the river, where you will find it tucked away by the water.

The Millowners Arms

Sitting right by the water, The Millowners Arms is a great place to slow things down. The pub keeps things traditional, the beer is well looked after, and the setting makes it a fitting place to finish the crawl. They also have pool and darts available if you are feeling competitive.

It is calmer than the earlier stops and gives you a chance to enjoy the surroundings and reflect on a proper Kelham Island pub crawl crawl nicely without straying too far from the area’s beer roots. I hope you enjoy this crawl as much as I did. Pace yourself and enjoy!