CoffeeBeer >> Pint Pleasures >> Early Bar
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Early Bar, 96 Crookes Road, Crookes, Sheffield, South Yorkshire |
I’d been wanting to visit Early Bar ever since I first noticed it back in early March 2020. Called Late Bar back then, the attractively turquoise corner entity on the unlikely corner of Crookes Road and School Road, formerly a butchers and a deli, looked impossibly tiny to be even a micropub. And then, before I and my friends had the chance to investigate, the first Covid-19 lockdown happened two weeks after opening, which was a bad omen for any new business.
But when things temporarily opened again in July 2020, this tiny pub once again showed signs of life. I considered stopping in, now that I had learned it had cask ale. But my dilemma was that Late Bar had changed its name to Early Bar and now opened at 10am because it was offering espresso drinks as well as beer and cocktails. So should I stop in early in the day to research a coffee review, or later on for a beer review?
And then, of course, there was another lockdown. And then another. By late May of this year pubs were finally allowed to open inside as well as outside. So after a recent weekend of surprisingly cold and rainy weather in Sheffield -- while my friends and family in America all sweltered in unbelievable record-breaking high temperatures -- I took advantage of a slightly warmer and definitely drier Tuesday afternoon to finally check out Early Bar.
When I walked through the door I was surprised to find the place much larger than it appears on the outside, with a second room to the left of the main room where the bar is located. This second room was emitting a lively, jovial vibe; but I had come with the intention of sitting outside in one of the custom-built wooden areas. So I first ordered a pint of Horatio Bright (4.5% ABV, Crosspool Beer Makers Society, Sheffield, South Yorkshire). This Citra golden ale is named after Horatio Bright, who lived in Lydgate Hall in Crosspool from 1881 to1906 and was known for always wearing a top hat and smoking a cigar. After he died the hall was demolished, and the Crosspool Beer Makers brewery is now on the site.
As I took my pint outside I thought the surprisingly large empty booth on the far end of the pavement seemed a bit too lonely for one person, so I perched on a stool at the tall wooden counter. I had a perfect view across the intersection of Wesley Hall which, dating from 1836, was the first Methodist church in Crookes, and also Cookies & Cream, a dessert and ice cream shop dating from a couple of years ago. But my favourite part of the view was located directly across School Road from me: the unique bench that sits by itself where Pickmere Road has been ended with a raised kerb. I’ve always wondered why the bench is there, because no buses go up School Road. And there’s not really anything to sit and contemplate from the bench, as it faces the street. But now, I suppose, anyone who sits there can observe the customers at Earl Bar, sipping their drinks on the tiny patio. I suppose that’s something.
While I sipped my pint, three men were sitting at the two small tables discussing, for some reason, the details of John Wayne’s death. At least it was different than the usual discussions about football or whatever was on Netflix last night.
Meanwhile my pint of Horation Bright was a bit yeasty for my taste, so I probably should have tried the other option. Nevertheless it was fun sipping a pint on this corner that I’ve walked by so often. And I do love contemplating that bench. Perhaps, someday, I’ll walk up here and sit on it for awhile so I can observe the people sitting in Early Bar’s patio -- seeing how long it will take me to cross the road and order myself a pint.
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