The Man and I love being in the thick of things, so we were beyond excited to be invited along to the launch of ‘Tavern On The Quays’ in Sheffield. Previously languishing as an unloved storage space within The Quays Hotel, the magnificent, Grade II listed Arches have undergone a massive transformation under new [Canadian] owners, The Tavern Collective.
Bringing the traditional English pub smack up-to-date with an eclectic, steampunk vibe, Tavern On The Quays will have a wide appeal; not only with the innovative, pan-global food, but also with the huge selection of drinks on offer. After sipping some Prosecco, I dipped into a rather tasty espresso Martini (complete with rice-paper bulldog, JD, - The Taverns’ mascot and logo) and His Nibs had a pint of Madri. Keen-eyed locals will appreciate the names of the tipples, paying homage to the Steel City’s iconic musical heritage.
Whilst it was relatively quiet (we’d arrived a little early), The Man and I took the opportunity to have a peek into the various arches, to see what they had to offer. Two arches house private dining spaces for up to forty guests, and coming soon will be a ballroom that seats up to 200 folks: perfect for conferences, shindigs and celebrations such as weddings.
Having taken in the venue, we went to grab a booth table under yet another arch…which just happened to afford us a great view of the Chefs in action; quelle surprise! Lush faux foliage and recessed seat-level lighting created an intimate, chilled vibe that was enhanced by the original stone arches and warm-toned brickwork. The steel beams were softened by the warm hue of the lighting bulbs in the sleek, matte black tube lights that hung from on-high.
The serving team were soon bringing round the first of the food samples: cubes of Pizza – ‘Beach in Heat’ (The Taverns take on Hawaiian) for me, and a heavy-punching Spicy Pepperoni one for His Nibs. These morsels are one of the brand’s hallmarks, being ideal to share and Detroit deep-dish in style. We later had some veggie and meat-feast samples, too, which were equally delicious. As the evening progressed, we were also treated to Jack Daniels-glazed Chicken Wings (glorious) and an impossibly silky Cheesecake.
I do love an Espresso Martini, but couldn’t pass up the chance to try Tavern On The Quays’ Spiced Cucumber Margarita. Refreshing and citrus tanged, the rim on the glass was the devil of the detail here: think Cajun-esque heat and layers of spice and you’re not far off the mark. Somehow, a glass of fruity, rich Rioja found its way into my hand, too! As the designated driver, His Nibs was sipping mocktails which a lovely chap named Ryan kept coming – what a star.
Those with fur-babies will appreciate the lengths the Tavern team have gone to include dogs. Not only is there the usual stuff on offer (water and cute, bone-shaped treats), your hounds can chow down on choices from their own menu – I kid you not! It isn’t your run-of-the-mill animal menu either; designed by local dog bakery, Ruby and Sophia’s, they can go for a Steak-and-Egg combo (£5) or tuck into meaty Sausages.
Sheffield has lucked-out with this unique bar and restaurant, and I predict that it will become a firm favourite with gastro-fiends very quickly! We had a marvellous time and can’t wait to return.
Here are a few more of the photos;
