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Devonshire Cat, Sheffield

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user reviews of the Devonshire Cat, Sheffield

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Surprised by some of the negativity of previous reviews. This pub has the biggest selection of bottled beer of any pub I have ever visited. Infact their selection of bottled beers puts most CAMRA beer festivals to shame. Added to that there are 20 or so superbly kept real ales on tap not to mention 5 or 6 real ciders. Oh and they also brew their own Pilsener to a German recipe! Although nothing spectacular the food is very good and the service quick and friendly. When we tried to order food at 8.59pm (the kitchen closes at 9) they were only too happy to take our order where a lot of places would have turned us away. Ok so it is a quite a large pub with modern decor and because of that the place can lack a bit of atmosphere but who cares when the range and quality of beers is frankly exceptional. Ignore the grumpy gits -this pub is fantastic.
undeaded - 6 Apr 2015 23:20
Just been, all the atmosphere of a morgue, plus disinterested staff. Beer range interesting and nothing wrong with the one I had. Decided to spend the rest of my beer money on cab as was bored and it's raining rather an awful lot.
SGA - 2 Mar 2014 21:40
Always an excellent range of beers in this modern bar which is well worth seeking out (as are most of the pbs in Sheffield - a great drinking city!)
mcroyal - 5 Nov 2013 09:44
Mixed feelings about this place. The beer offerings was quite exquisite. I sampled a pint of a stout which was very tasty and very well kept. However the price was quite steep at £3.10.

The furnishings and layout makes me tend to think it's more of an eating place rather than a pub. I did sample the fish and chips which was top notch.

I was somewhat flabbergasted when paying compliments to the young bar-lady who abruptly said: It's got nothing to do with me!" Christ can you not pay compliments without feeling guilty these days?

Will I return? Probably not.
realalerules1983 - 5 Jan 2013 12:03
Superb pub with a decent regularly changing line up of ales. Open plan but has a few booths and sofas if you fancy a little bit of privacy. Staff very friendly. Usually has a few students in but not the kind that cause trouble.
jarofporter - 13 Dec 2012 15:05
The penultimate stop on our lightning tour of some of Sheffield's pubs. This one was chosen, not for its looks or atmosphere but for its range of beers and I'll admit they were pretty impressive. Service was swift and the Blue Bee Bitter that I had was splendid. As a pub it is typically city-centre being large and open plan and not really anything to write home about architecturally, but for the dedicated drinker a must visit. The growlers (pork pies) were pretty good too!
doctorpint - 19 Sep 2012 21:03
Decent enough pub close to the main part of town where all the theme bars / clubs are. This is a nice place away from all that and the selection is good, plenty of ales and different lagers (inlcuding Steigl, never seen that in the UK). Just not sure what its rated so highly.
theposh - 30 Sep 2011 10:33
Open-plan establishment with 2 banks of 6 handpulls plus a few ciders and perries, alongside an excellent bottle selection to the side of the bar. Ales on offer were Brew Company Devonshire Cat Pale Ale, Abbeydale Deception, Acorn Sorachi Ace IPA, Oakwell Barnsley Bitter, Kelham Island Pale Rider, Thornbridge Jaipur, Copthorne Classic, Theakston Best, Blue Bee Tangled Up IPA, Bradfield Farmers Blonde, Cottage Western Glory & Phoenix Black Shadow. Ciders and perries were Westons Country Perry & Old Rosie & Saxon D'Agostini Perry & Stoned Love. There is a kitchen in one corner and meals seem to be fairly popular here. Certainly one of the best pubs Sheffield has to offer.
blue_scrumpy - 12 Jun 2011 20:30
Has a J D Wetherspoon layout which is strange. Friendly staff. Great cask line up.
dynamiteninja - 18 May 2011 17:27
You could be fooled into thinking this was a JD Wetherspoon by the size of the place and the layout, the give away is that it's better, much better, in almost every aspect. Around 11 Real Ales, well priced and in good condition, no horrendous wino types, and kept much cleaner than a JDW and nicelt decorated. There's a student hall of residence next door but has a mixed crowd. This is the place for bottled beer, especially of the Belgian variety. I had the food which was good wholesome pub food.
Abteilung - 21 Apr 2011 19:27
Very voluminous airy pub with polished wooden railings & a sizeable bar for receiving large crowds. There were 11 ales on tap & all interesting. Cost was �8.55 for 3 pints of nice tasting Salamander Stout. Excellent range of Belgian ales - so much so that they have a beer list to match - look out for the 'stock room' of botted beers to the right of the bar. Could be rammed in the evenings so afternoons are better.
Booze_Allen - 20 Apr 2011 15:56
Brilliant pub, great atmosphere and beer quality top notch!
AlRobis - 18 Apr 2011 09:09
Decent pub quiz. The best I have found so far in sheffield. A gallon of beer as the prize, 8.30pm Mondays. Wide selection of beers that change frequently so I wouldn't like to comment on what was there although I had a Dunstable Giant; if that is still there when you go I recommend it.
RealAleSocietySheffield - 26 Mar 2011 03:49
From the outside it doesn't look like a real ale mecca and inside it looks a bit 'Litton Tree' ish, but the selection of beers here is amazing. 10(?) handpumps mainly serving local beers but also have some from further afield. A range of foreign beers available from the menu. Food is v. good. A pub not to be missed in Sheffield.
BeeryRog - 7 Mar 2011 12:54
They had a massive Glass Cubicle next to the bar area, where they keep their awesome selection of bottled beers chilled, when i went there....

Seemed a novel idea, instead of having Fridges....certainly meant that as i first walked into the boozer, i was left in no doubt that this pub meant business, when it came to smart beer!

One of several truly fantastic Beer Pubs in Sheffield...
clevedonquaffer - 24 Feb 2011 13:51
Always a favourite when we are in town. Great range of beers; efficient service and usually plenty of room - even on football days. Modern bar with traditional standards.
mcroyal - 16 Feb 2011 22:53
I often fancy a trip to the Dev. Cat. It's big enough to handle larger groups and it's never too noisy with music or anything. I take people new to Sheffield there so we can bask in the number of beers on offer, always with a local selection on draught.

If only it was closer to my office in the city centre... it's one of the longer treks to get to the Dev. Cat for us, but it's worth it more often than not - and then it's not too far a walk to either BB's or Bulters Balti.

The only criticisms of the Dev. Cat I could even think of would be the following 1) the staff seem to turn over quite regularly, so it's not easy to build up relationships that mean anything, and 2) they used to have this really nice smelling almond type soap in the bathroom... that's gone now.

Oh, last time I was there the Moonshine was off... drat! ;-)
Hippogriff - 25 Nov 2010 15:41
12 Real Ales on including a Raspberry Stout. Blue Monkey was very good. Excellent food, very busy.
rpf1955 - 30 Sep 2010 16:14
Fantastic pub, I will definitely be coming back here. With a range of well kept beers on handpump even the fussiest of real ale drinkers will be satisfied, and the massive bottled beer list means there's always something new and interesting to try. The food was delicious and a reasonable price, and the staff were pleasant and capable.
littleredone - 26 Sep 2010 15:05
Pictish Maelstrom, Acorn Green Bullet, Thornbridge Jaipur and Abbeydale Moonshine all excellent. Our third visit here; always worth a shout.
in1dryboy - 7 Aug 2010 13:40
Visited this pub twice over the weekend as once was not enough! Exceptional selection of draught and bottled beers and lagers. Plenty of staff to keep the service fast and taxi's available close by. Super pub, a must visit if you are in Sheffield.
fetchman - 28 Jun 2010 16:27
I was here last month - very friendly and helpful staff, music wasn't run-of-the-mill and not too obtrusive, and the beer was in excellent condition. Unfortunately I had time for just a brief visit but I hope to get back here soon.
Ordinary - 26 Jun 2010 22:25
First visit a coupleof weeks ago while visiting for the football. Handy pub near to Brammall Lane. Excellant range of beer (bottled, draught etc) - the Kelham Island Pale Rider on top form, as was Thornbridge Jaipur IPA, Acorn Motlika (?) IPA, the house beer by ? and Abbeydales' Moonshine & Absolution.
The food was great value, and a very tasty piece of steak as well.
An essential pub to visit on my next visit to Sheffield
On the day I only had time to visit here and another pub before the game (which instead of attending would have been better spent in the pubs in hindsight) so hopefully return visits to Sheffield will be on the cards next season. Hopefully at a weekend next season.
bloomfieldjpm - 27 Mar 2010 04:36
When I saw the outside I was expecting something quite ordinary, but this place is truly mind blowing! I've never seen a range of beers like it anywhere and they had some superb bottles of cider on offer (my tipple of choice). Food was also delicious. It got very crowded as Friday evening approached and had a wide mix of clientele, but a good atmosphere. I need to find an excuse to go to Sheffield again, for a second crack!
jeff1637 - 21 Mar 2010 22:28
Been here quite a lot recently. Must say it gets better with each visit. Some excellent beers on; Kelham Island Pale Rider, Acorn Pacific Gem IPA, Thornbridge Halcyon, Stone Ruination IPA (on draught!) and lots of great imported bottles. The food in here is excellent too if you're willing to part with around 8 quid.
Slake - 7 Mar 2010 22:25
By and large Quinno's review speaks for me too and I was also there out of term on a very wet Saturday lunchtime. It felt as though when there weren't the student numbers to keep the beer flowing, there was not quite enough trade to ensure quality for that number of handpumps. Worth checking out though because it is trying and maybe will succeed
Arctium_lappa - 10 Jan 2010 17:22
Went there on Saturday just gone and was very impressed with the range and price of the ales. The quality was superb as well. Well worth a visit.
King_Viv - 4 Nov 2009 19:45
Semi-famous ale outlet situated below a large block of student digs housed in a modern-Wetherspoons-like interior (clearly new and open-plan but trying to be trad) enhanced by large glass windows which give a nice light and airy feel. There�s lots of interesting ale available (around 10), listed above the bar on chalkboards with a bit of info � which actually bore little relation to what was actually coming out of the handpull�which concerned me slightly. I tried two ales, both of which were tired and past their best � rather like the girl who was serving in actual fact � very little idea of what she was doing. On the upside, there�s lots of foreign beers available (take a look through the glass-sided storage room window) and on the shoeing of the ale, I�d advise you to stick with those if you come here. The toilets have some excellent quality tiling (yes, you can tell I�m looking for positives here, can�t you?). The phrase �caught it on a bad day� must suffice. I certainly wouldn�t recommend it here based on this experience, that�s for sure. Perhaps the only excuse is that I went in on a weekday out of term-time. But that�s very flimsy.
Quinno - 24 Aug 2009 20:57
I fell in love with Belgian beer here. Excellent range of Real Ale too. Cant wait to go back! Its been far too long.
realalechav - 8 Jun 2009 21:59
Visited this week for the first time in a while and this place is still as brilliant as ever - it perplexes me it only gets a 7.2 rating on this website. The selection of guests was outstanding - I had terrific pints from Acorn and Allgates breweries plus a very nutty mild from the Derwent brewery. Sharps, Thornbridge, Kelham Island, Abbeydale and Barnsley breweries also represented. This pub is stupidly good.
ChrisP87 - 26 Apr 2009 12:32
Devonshire Cat Best Bitter(?), Abbeydale Moonshine, Fernandes(Wakefield) Garnet, Barnsley Bitter, Thornlaw Jaipur IPA & Saint Petersburg, Acorn Perle IPA, Gt Newsome brewery �Pricky Back Otchan� (pumpclip states �What a mouthful�), Rudgate Aris�Ale & Quaff, Phoenix Hopsack, 1 unclipped. The bottle store (�tap room� effect) to rt of bar is a good feature, otherwise the d�cor has something of a �spoons/chef&brewer stylee, but look again at that beer list & forgive any architectural shortcomings! Clientele bridges a large age range. Specials board offered Wild Mushroom ristto �5.50, Seabass fillet �10, Lamb rump �11, Venison casserole �8. Beer prices rose by abv, avg �2.45, good range, well worth a look.
trainman - 11 Mar 2009 11:03
Tried to get a pint in here on Saturday evening. Three deep at the bar and only 2 serving. We gave up after 10 minutes. Get some more staff on guys!
ROBCamra - 9 Mar 2009 11:09
The "upmarket Wetherspoons" comparison is generally valid - similar layout, reasonably-priced food and a wide selection of decent draft beers (including a tatsy pint of 'Barnsley' from the Oakwell Brewery). The glass-sided 'bottle store' is an unusual touch too. More interesting than it looks from the outside.
rpadam - 28 Feb 2009 15:53
A contender for one of the very best city pubs in the entire country - a great selection of real ales and menu of foreign (mainly belgian) beers running over many pages. Food is hearty and freshly prepared in a kitchen at the end of the large open room. Staff a friendly & efficient.
Popular with real ales fans, fooball fans (Bramall Lane is a 10 minute walk, and the pub is also along the tram route to Hillsborough), and students.
NellySays - 15 Feb 2009 13:06
Great selection of beers that should cater for every palate. Absolutely packed with all kinds of clientele, as it is well located in the trendy part of the city. It's not one to come to for atmosphere though, as it's a bit barn-like and, as noted, slightly redolent of an upmarket Wetherspoons, without the deadbeats. But all in all a safe bet for a good pint.
Carlurmston - 4 Feb 2009 13:03
Like a spoons pub but clean , no smelly old codgers on an all day soak.
The beer is fantastic.
rob372 - 4 Feb 2009 08:54
Excellent bar with a relatively upmarket clientele, although can be filled with students at times. Great range of ever changing cask ales always including a couple from Abbeydale. Seating varies from dining tables to armchairs & sofa's to high tables for standing. Plenty of staff on as well. Nice place to call in.
ROBCamra - 28 Jan 2009 10:44
Late review from October when this was the third of the 3 pubs doing pub-tic-tram-sport that we visited. The most disappointing for new ale choice, but we did have 2 good quality beers here.
gillhalfpint - 17 Jan 2009 11:58
great pint of kelham island to be quaffed here, lovely lookin pub too, 8/10
fat_beer_badger - 28 Nov 2008 19:03
I've come back to this pub time and again. Always had a good pint, and there's an impressive selection. Expect to see beers by Abbeydale, Whim, Thornbridge, Theakstons, Kelham Island.
Slake - 25 Aug 2008 15:07
Modern JDW type pub, but lighter and fresher looking (more lights in the ceiling helps!). 14 casks plus kegs and bottles. The pub claims 100 different beers - though most are standard issue Belgian bottles.
Food is around �7.
OK, pleasant place with good choice of beers.
We visited in the afternoon when it had a calm, laid back atmosphere and plenty of seating. I'd be quite happy to come back here.
SilkTork - 4 Aug 2008 00:04
Excellent selection of ales and even better selection of your bottled Euro beers. Ale was excellent but you require sun glasses to go to the toilet. Unique Tiling job.
TheHorsesMouth - 2 Jun 2008 14:09
Fantastic pub, a victim of its own success. Very crowded at weekends, but wonderful during the day. Superb selection, you're spoilt for choice. Heard good things about the food.
ChrisP87 - 25 Apr 2008 13:48
wen i first walked in here i thought id walked into a winebar...but on closer inspection it served some damn fine real ale an all...took me a bit to find this down a steep hill but was worth the walk all the same..friendly staff and a warm atmosphere.
graybagsinburyonceagain - 13 Apr 2008 20:10
The best place in Sheffield City Centre for beer. Amazing range, well kept. Friendly service unless it's really busy, which it usually is Friday and Saturday nights. Also has a good range of cider, but not so good for other drinks. Food also very average. But the beer is the point, and it is faultless.
SheffieldMickey - 2 Mar 2008 23:08
This pub has Sheffield's best range of beer - bar none! Whatever your tipple, the Dev Cat will have something to suit, whether it's British real ales, ciders, European wheat beers, abbey ales...

It's situated below a block of student flats, but it's not a student pub - there's always a mixed customer base in the pub.

Typically friendly bar staff, and most of them (certainly the blokes) seem to know a thing or two about the beer they're serving. The pub does get busy at weekends, but that's probably fair given what a decent pub it is.
Paulaner - 12 Jan 2008 01:13
Not the most intimate of pubs, as has already been remarked upon, but I found nothing else to moan about and the range and quality of ales makes it a must visit
Rich66 - 31 Dec 2007 21:41
A LOT of real ales. Nice atmosphere, knowledgable staff, but a bit expensive.
sleb - 21 Dec 2007 22:54
I visited for the beer festival being shared by 3 Sheffield pubs, and found an excellent range of beers on offer. The beers were in good condition even though we were drawing off the first of the day, and they usually have about 12 beers on offer that include guests from micros. It is a massive room but the decor is good.
gillhalfpint - 9 Nov 2007 17:55
This being my local for my first year of University I do have a somewhat sentimental attachment to the place. However, you simply can't fault the beer. It says on the profile here '5-6' real ales on draught but it's actually that many plus about 5 guest ales, all kept and served excellently. The bottled beer selection is phenomenal. From a Londoner's view the prices are very reasonable. Also, most of the staff are very friendly and the food is really very good.

In terms of faults, it is more of a 'beer restaurant' than a friendly local 'pub' so I can see why people are comparing the feel to Wetherspoons. I still think the place has a nice atmosphere, though. And yes, it does get really very loud when busy, although this is only really on Friday and Saturday nights in my experience.

Basically, if you appreciate a good beer and are in Sheffield you should make an effort to have a pint or six here.
richjluk - 29 Oct 2007 19:41
Visited here with London Saints on 29 September. Walked in and it was like an Aladdin's Cave of beer. Had the Jaipur IPA which was superb and three ohers. Nice to see a beer list on the table, fantastic range of foreign beer and on draught too. Food excellent too. Coming from London can't fault the prices. Minor gripe is the Wetherspoons feel to the place but based on the beer this place is top class.
GuideDogSaint - 7 Oct 2007 20:51
Good range of beers but in a barn of a place rather like a Wetherspoons. It's in the student part of town and took us a while to locate, but was worth it for the beer. The chatter was somewhat loud in there being mostly students, but thats fine.
imdownthepub - 4 Sep 2007 17:57
have to agree with "incredible range of beers".
seemed a bit out of the way, but worth a visit.
quality brews are definitely their priority.


reynard - 14 Aug 2007 13:43
Pricey, but worth it for the incredible range of beers available and the quality of the atmosphere.
sleb - 17 Feb 2007 20:21
Very good choice of real ales and the staff appeared friendly and attentive. My only gipe was the noise levels, as the predominance of hard surfaces leads to the ampliphication of peoples voices ang general clatter. Apart from that, well recommended.
Beerybloke - 4 Jun 2006 12:54
Great choice of beers, and knowledgeable staff. Nice atmosphere.
Luigee - 15 Mar 2006 14:13
Best pub that I've been to in Sheffield. Great range of beers and ciders, prices aren't bad either.
patrickjsm - 11 Feb 2006 21:33
One of the best pubs in Sheffield City Centre. It's tucked out of the way slightly, but word of mouth seems to have spread and its always packed on the weekend. Unbeatable selection of beers and a few ciders, if a little pricey. If there's someone with you who cant drink the selection of low alcohol or softdrinks is quite poor, but this is a minor gripe in what is a quality pub. One other moan - it needs to be larger - it needs a second floor, or more seating at least.
anonymous - 11 Feb 2006 01:20
if you're a beer connoisseur, then this is the place for you. Expect to pay for your quality and choice though. Other drinks ridiculously overpriced. Small TV which shows sport, a nice atmosphere, nice seating, staff weren't exactly accommodating in fact they looked very bored, but an ok atmosphere.
anonymous - 9 Sep 2005 23:02
When I walked through the doors and saw the selection of beers availble I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Paradise on earth :o)
BigJapp2 - 28 Jul 2005 15:07
Great beers, lots of room and plenty of seating. Excellent pub.
too_many_BSE_burgers - 9 May 2005 15:15
This pub has a wide selection of drinks and is a wonderful place to relax in with good friends.
RichyD - 31 Dec 2004 09:40
Plenty of variety of drinks to choose from, but a little bit pricey. Also, as it's off the main drag, it tends to lack atmosphere
TOM - 1 Jun 2004 02:07
Big, airy, convenient, central. A good spot for younger real ale fans to meet on a Saturday nite before clubbing. City center prices though.
Ken - 29 Feb 2004 23:26
If your like your ale's it's a must! no chance of pulling though
Carl - 20 Feb 2004 13:20
mmmm raspberry and cherry flavoured beer!
anonymous - 9 Jan 2004 19:29
Amazing variety of beer, both lager and bitter, and all in all a fantastic pub just far enough away from the heaving student infested pubs (I even happen to be a student!). Shame about the lack of atmosphere, but for a quiet night of truly great drinking, the 'cat has no rival
James Bruce - 13 Aug 2003 20:42
Quite a good pub, but not as welcoming as Sheffield's more traditional hostelries. One or two of the staff were a little sullen during my visit earlier this year. However the beer range is superb and the food's quite good so do try & go there as part of a crawl.
lad_newton - 12 Jun 2003 17:44
Modern, spacious, bohemian town centre pub that is just far enough from the Circuit. Great beer range including numerous real ales (some on gravity dispense ie straight out of the cask (barrel))and continental beers. Good wide range of food too. Well worth a visit after doing the shopping and before boarding a tram for the 'Northern Sector' crawl.
Simonf - 12 Jun 2003 10:55

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