I'm a bit of a Johnny-cum-lately where the Sheffield Tap is concerned -- see Pete Brown's Blog on the subject -- but I had half an hour to wait at Sheffield railway station for a train to Wombwell (home of Acorn Brewery -- more anon) so I naturally gravitated to Platform One for the recently opened bar in the former First Class Refreshment Rooms.
The spacious bar is a wonderfully ornate blend of tiles, hanging globe lights and wooden settles. The servery is immense, running almost the length of the room, with a massive bank of keg founts that serve tempting beers from around the world, including Bernard lagers from the Czech Republic and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. But I knew the Tap is the result of co-operation between Thornbridge Brewery in Derbyshire and the specialist beer importer Pivovar (the word is Czech for beer), so I naturally headed for the Thornbridge pumps and had a delicious pint of White Swan, with hop resins dancing out of the foam and tingling the nostrils.
The Tap is great news for travellers. It means you no longer have to leave the station and cross dangerous roads to get to the nearest pub, a shabby montrosity with badly-kept cask beer.
My watch was running one minute late and I had barely finished my pint when I saw the doors of my train starting to close. Shock news -- British train leaves on time. I managed to scramble on board but I shall return to Platform One at Sheffield station at the first opportunity.