Cricket Inn, Totley

At the Cricket Inn, local restaurateurs Richard and Victoria Smith have joined forces with award-winning brewer Jim Harrison of Thornbridge Hall and Simon Webster of Henderson’s Relish to create a happy, friendly, laid back pub serving wholesome, grub.

In the middle of nowhere on the outskirts of Sheffield, it’s a classic country pub. ‘Dogs, kids and muddy boots welcome’ is the legend over the front door, and it sets the tone for the afternoon, with oak floors, tongue and groove walls and crackling open fires to sit on top of on a perishing South Yorkshire day, of which there are many.

Huge blackboards are bursting with wholesome, appealing rustic dishes like Sheffield style hash & dumplings with stump (mashed carrot and swede) with your personal bottle of Hendersons, naturally. Other rib-stickers include brawn with Cunningham’s pickle, and roast saddle of rabbit with mascarpone polenta and fennel marmalade, or plump for a surprisingly elegant smoked haddock Welsh rarebit topped with a perfect poached egg.

There’s an adequate wine list, but the beer’s the thing, given it’s brewed specifically for the pub; there’s a drinking suggestion alongside many of the dishes, in case you can’t make your mind up (the Jaipur IPA is top dog, or go for the limited edition Richard Hawley pint!). This is a great place to sit out on a sunny day and watch the cricket; worth getting lost trying to find.