Railway stations are known the world over as places to meet and greet old friends. From Saturday 5^th December we can be reunited with the old friend that is the Sheffield station bar. 

Sheffield Midland Station was built in 1870. It was subsequently given two extra platforms and a new frontage in 1905. The enlargement in ‘Grecian Style’ architecture included an extensive and well-furnished luxury first class waiting room – The Refreshment Room.

Refreshment Room at Midland Station Sept 1975

After many years of service the “refreshment room” was closed in 1976 and subsequently fell into disrepair, suffering major water damage and partial collapse of the ornate ceiling.

“An incredibly sad state of affairs” says Jamie Hawksworth (MD of Pivo Ltd) who has worked with his team for two years to gain permission and restore the bar to its former glory. “Despite the dereliction I knew we could restore it” reports Jamie “one piece of good news was that due to the building’s Grade 2 Heritage listing, the original mahogany bar frontage was retained although again requiring some major specialist refurbishment”. 

No 1 Platform Midland Station Sept 1975

The newly refurbished bar, with access from Platform 1 and from Sheaf Street,  will have also have a new name  – The Sheffield Tap. It will feature a range of several hundred specialist bottled beers from across the world and draft beers from award winning Thornbridge brewery. “Once Jamie told us about the plans to refurbish the bar we just had to get involved” says Simon Webster, Director at Thornbridge, “as it will provide a first class gateway into Sheffield and a great showcase for our beers”

Sheffield Tap Bar after restoration

The restoration proposals have been endorsed by Railway Heritage, Network Rail and East Midland Trains. Jamie says that “the vision has always been to make the Sheffield Tap a “gem” within the Station, ultimately used by visitors to the city and commuters during the day, whilst remaining a destination venue in the evenings”