The Sheff

Two brilliant Sheffield pubs have been named among the best in the UK

'Rugged charm' and real ale

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 27th July 2026

Two fantastic pubs in Sheffield have just been named in the top 20 in the entire UK.

A comprehensive new list of the top 22 pubs in the country has been published by Time Out, which spans the length and breadth of the country looking for the watering holes that nail a ‘convivial atmosphere, charming staff, charismatic decor and, above all, a varied selection of well-kept, well-served drinks’.

And it was not one, but two of our city's boozers that caught the eye of experts, one praised for its 'rugged charm' and the other for its impressive real ale selection.

While the top spot went to The Peveril of the Peak in Manchester, Sheffield's own The Rutland Arms came in at a very respectable seventh place.

Time Out celebrated the pub's 'glorious' tiled exterior, the unpretentious interiors, the jukebox, and its small plates and chip butties.

They wrote: "There is a rugged charm to this low-key but excellent Sheffield pub that has been my go-to for many years.

"After entering its gloriously yellow tiled art deco exterior, you are welcomed into a place, filled with various nick nacks, that has no time for pretentiousness or fancy adornments.

"Instead the Rutland Arms focuses on the bare necessities: superbly curated beer, delicious food (it’s as famous for its knockout small plates as it is its chip butties) and a stacked jukebox. It’s always lively, with a nicely tucked-away beer garden, and it’s a rare kind of pub that is bursting with personality."

Across town, Time Out also singled out Kelham Island Tavern as being one of the best in the UK.

The list said: "Tell a Sheffield native that the Tav is your favourite pub and watch an expression of quiet admiration wash over their face.

"Perched on a street corner on the city’s man-made islet, this gem was rescued from dereliction in 2002, and boy are we glad to see it still standing.

"With no less than 13 ale hand pumps and an ever-rotating list of beers from the country’s best brewers (including co-owner Josh Jepson’s signature blonde), Kelham Island Tavern is to Sheffield’s pub scene what barley is to, well, beer.

"Not a fan of real ale? Take a trip to the Kelham Island Tavern and come back to me."

Read more: International fashion brand Urban Outfitters to open in Sheffield city centre

Featured image: Google Maps