District Pub of the Season Summer 2016

Three Stags Head, Wardlow Mires Our District Pub of the Season award is a programme that recognises the good ale pubs in the Derbyshire part of our branch area, some of which is rural parts of the Peak District National Park. Pubs are nominated and voted for by our members who drink in those pubs. The winner of our inaugural award, which has been voted for over the summer, is the Three Stags Head at Wardlow Mires. Words like legendary and personality are often used and either word could apply to both the pub and landlord here. Jeff and Pat bought the pub originally when they were looking for premises to conduct their pottery business – which is in stables behind the pub – and ran the pub as something of a sideline, open just at the weekend catering for locals including farm workers, walkers and others in the area. The draught beer choice consists of 4 handpulled ales from Abbeydale including the special, quite strong, house beer called Black Lurcher, named in memory of the pub dogs that used to be resident in the bar area. These days there are still plenty of dogs and sometimes even a hawk to keep you company. The beer range and Jeff’s attitude to it once made it into the Sheffield Star newspaper thanks to the sign above the bar that read ‘please do not ask for lager as a smack in the gob often offends’. A range of quality European bottled beers is however available! The pub is listed in CAMRA’s national inventory of unspoilt historic pubs – it has changed little since the 16th century – featuring two rooms with stone flagged floors, low ceilings and proper open fires. Home cooked, locally sourced food is available at meal times with game often a speciality – especially if the landlord or one of the regulars has been shooting recently! There are also some excellent jumbo pork pies available as bar snacks. This is a pub run the old fashioned way – embrace the character of the pub and behave accordingly (starting by not leaving the front door wide open!) and you will be made welcome and enjoy yourself. Landlord and staff are all equally straight talking people who have no qualms about encouraging people they don’t like to sling their hook! We’ll be running a minibus trip from Sheffield out to the Three Stags Head to present their Pub of the Season winners certificate on Saturday 12th November, departing from the Old Queens Head by Sheffield Bus Interchange at 1pm and stopping off at some other pubs along the way (potential future winners?). If you live in the area and fancy meeting us for a pint the rough schedule is: Anglers Rest, Bamford 13:30hrs; Queen Anne, Great Hucklow 14:25hrs; Barrel Inn, Bretton 15:15hrs and Bulls Head, Foolow at 15:55hrs with 30-40 minutes at each. We intend to be at the Three Stags Head from 16:40 to 18:10, returning direct to Sheffield, arriving back by 7pm.