Robbie Macdonald, owner of the thriving Boston Arms in Woodseats, is here to bust a few myths about micropubs. While craft beer and a snug feel play a big role, there’s so much more going on. From cocktails and homemade pizza to live music and community events, here are five things you might not know about their smashing little venue.
IT’S NOT JUST BEER
When it comes to micropubs, people might assume beer is the only product and that it’s expensive and niche. Of course, beer – particularly craft beer brewed by independent breweries – is a key cornerstone of any micropub offering. However, most places, including the Boston Arms, serve a full range of products to suit different target markets. We keep our beer range fresh and accessible. Freshly ground coffee and hot drinks are available all evening. We also have a full range of wines. We are particularly passionate about our cocktails and have recently revamped our menu for the winter months.
The Boston Arms cocktail menu boasts 22 cocktails and mocktails
Although we’re no longer the only venue in Woodseats to serve cocktails, we were certainly the first to do so. It was a risky move to offer something completely new and different to an area used to traditional pubs. As part of being ‘more than a micropub’, our focus has shifted slightly from only craft beer to craft cocktails also sharing the limelight. We believe a USP of ours is being a micropub with a full cocktail menu of 22 cocktails and mocktails, including rotating seasonal specials such as our Spritz menu and Cocktails of the Week. Our current Cocktail of the Week is a Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini with Absolut Vanilla, Kahlua, Bailey’s, pumpkin spice syrup and freshly brewed Smith Street espresso.
Our new menu features an even bigger range of classic cocktails – made exceptionally well – with great quality spirits and ingredients. We’ve chosen these cocktails because they are classics for a reason: everybody knows and loves them. We like to think everybody’s favourite cocktail is featured somewhere on our menu.
Our cocktails are all priced at £7.95, but a great offer we run Monday to Thursday is any two of the same cocktails for £14. Our rotating specials are also two for £14 all day, every day!
“A great focus of ours is Margaritas, which often feature on our rotating specials. We think we do the best Spicy Marg in Sheffield!”
WE’RE MORE SPACIOUS THAN YOU MIGHT THINK
Space is often the curse of micropubs. The Boston has the blessing of several rooms tucked away, including a sizeable upstairs function and dining room. This means we are still micro in atmosphere, with lots of little corners and snugs, but our overall capacity opens us up to further opportunities such as private parties and a working kitchen.
That said, squeezing into a packed micropub on a Friday night is always great. You’re far more likely to start chatting to random customers. A friendly welcome is the unwritten rule of a micropub – no space on a table? Come and join ours! It’s something our customers, especially our regulars, are great at doing. We’ve watched friendships blossom from chance encounters in busy rooms.
THERE’S HOMEMADE FOOD ON OFFER
Speaking of the kitchen, we’ve been slinging hot, fresh pizza for some time now – all prepared in-house. We like to boast a relaxed dining experience, offering something that can be shared amongst friends. Table bookings are welcome, but most of our orders come from peckish customers who want something on the fly, which we love. A bit of spontaneous scran to keep the conversation going.
Our kitchen is the next part of our business we’re looking to grow. Many micros simply don’t have the space or capacity to make it viable, so we feel fortunate to be able to offer something. Keep your eyes peeled for some exciting new additions to our menu in the coming weeks.
WE’RE A PROUD MEMBER OF THE WOODSEATS COMMUNITY
Community and inclusivity are at the heart of what we do. Like plenty of micropubs in Sheffield, serving products is just a small part of our purpose. We like to think of ourselves as an asset to the community. After all, it’s the people that make a place what it is. We offer a safe space, free of charge, for all kinds of community-led activities, including book groups, art classes, choir singing, music practice sessions, support groups and PTA meetings.
Many Sheffield suburbs are thriving right now, but for us, we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but Woodseats. The place is buzzing, and our activities give us a great snapshot of the wonderful people who call this place home.
WE HOST LIVE MUSIC AND EVENTS
A few times a year we work with a local promoter and content producer (Original Voice Media) to host live music. We have a mixture of local artists as well as one or two from further afield to give our customers the opportunity to listen to something new. Again, space can be a challenge for micros, but we just about have enough space upstairs to host musicians. Let’s just say the gigs are intimate! A big passion for us is the themed events we host. Our criteria is to think outside the box and do something your average pub wouldn’t. Some highlights this year have been a Crisp Festival, which included a huge range plus beer and crisp pairings and bottomless crunch, as well as a Sour Beer Fest that was hugely popular. We’ve always got new ideas in the pipeline, so keep an eye on our socials for any fresh announcements!
