Champs, Sheffieldback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Very large & interesting pub in a sea of shops down the Ecclesall road. Modern it may be but the decor & the twists & turns make it a good place to drink - avoid major sporting events if you want a quiet drink as there are TV's everwhere. Beer range was mostly Thornbridge with a bit of Kelham Island - I think there were about 8 ales on. Had meat & salad wrap for �5.30 which was good.
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In a student area and also well-frequented by students, there were some enthusiastic punters following the on-screen Cheltenham race meeting when we called. In theory this is not the type of place I like, but in practice the choice of 12 mainly local ales, of which those we tried were in top condition, as well as the generally pleasant atmosphere and friendly service, made our visit well worthwhile
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Now isn't this an interesting one isn't it. A sports bar. God, I hate them. Just as I was leaving Sheffield for London back in the day, Champs opened down the road, the first 'American-style' sports bar in the UK apparently, and I though blimey, couldn't we have better than that?
Now? Oh it's still a 'sports bar' for sure given the teles (must be 30 or more), but instead of tasteless fizzy rubbish for folk who know no better, it has 12 different real ales on from the likes of Abbeydale, Thornbridge, Kelham Island and so on. Nothing of architectural merit at all, but if you're going to watch Ingerlund in the World Cup in a pub, then do it here and drink proper English beer. I had four pints on my last visit and aside from a slightly insipid and tired Moonshine, they were all in very good shape.
I might argue with the claim that at the time it was the first American-style sports bar in the UK, but I wager it's the only, local brewery-supporting real ale sports bar.
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Committed modern sports bar in a studenty area of Sheffield, with an American feel and about 30 screens showing sport- not one for the traditionalists. The walls are covered with sporting memorabilia and sporting shirts, including old Sheffield United/Wednesday shirts and even a North Korea football shirt! There's several distinct areas but this theme doesn't vary throughout them. Food is also served.
Until recently this would have been like any run-of-the -mill soulless 'yoof' bar, but they've recently had a real ale revolution of sorts, and now the long bar sports 12 (steel) handpumps, with 4 beers from Thornbridge and 4 from Kelham Island microbreweries, plus Black Sheep and a real cider on my visit. Tried a pint from each, Jaipur and the house beer Champs brewed by Kelham Island, and they were both in excellent form.
It's a bold move for such a place and it seemed to be working, so hope it goes well.
This isn't normally my sort of place but in view of the beer selection now available I wouldn't be averse to visiting again to watch a game, although to be honest there are far more traditional venues that offer a similar selection in Sheffield. On the whole though not bad at all.
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Completetly changed from the sports bar days with the daft semi-circular bar. Now its got a traditional long, straight bar - much easier to access.
They've also got a deal with some local breweries (forget which, though possibly Thornbridge) which ensures there are always several real ales on the pumps.
Food was basic but good value, e.g. baked potatoes have a set price for the toppings, i.e. if you have one topping you may as well 3 because the price is the same.
Decor is still sports focused which is good showing what the local sports teams have done over the years.
Bearing in mind the dearth of good ale pubs along Ecclesall Road well worth a visit.
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Completely changed! 12 hand pumps including a house ale brewed by Kelham Island. Visited September 09
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Completely changed! 12 hand pumps including a house ale brewed by Kelham Island. Visited September 09
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Worked here 2003-2005; last visited 2007. Always had one handpump selling Kelham Island Pale Rider. Wide range of bottled lagers & extensive spirits/liquers for all the cocktails. Extremely busy on bank holidays!
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Champs is a specialist 'Sports Bar' with a rather chaotic 2-bar arrangement and lots of televisions. As mentioned there is no ale but it is usually busy due to the ever-dwindling number of pubs that can afford to keep sky and setanta. I've watched rugby league here on a couple of occasions which was good but there's no real reason to stay once your chosen sporting event has finished.
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called here last summer.
one for the very young.
sports tv, darkly lit [disco style], loud music, very sticky floors & carpet, no cask ales.
not really to my liking.
verdict :
a 1 from me.
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