On a sun-filled Friday afternoon, it is fair to say that nothing can beat the pub. With recent temperatures being in the high twenties and over – a refreshing pint is all that’s needed to unwind after a hard and sweaty week at work.
However, in these tropical conditions, you need a decent beer garden – and The Ball has exactly that.
Their garden features a good number of tables and a weatherproof big screen TV – as well as table football. There are also several big screens inside the pub, including a huge projector screen that is sure to keep sports fans happy.
Situated in Crookes, The Ball is an easy-to-reach watering hole for most Sheffield students but it’s still popular with the locals. With a wide range of draught lagers (including Carling, Amstel and San Miguel) and a good selection of bottled craft beer offer – The Ball has something for everyone.
Glasses of wine start from £2.49 and they offer cocktail pitchers for £8.99. There are also some great drinks included in their ‘two for £6/7’ deals including bottles of Budweiser, Corona, Peroni, Bulmer’s, WKD and a handful of more sophisticated IPA’s. They also offer 2 ‘bombs’ or 3 shots for a fiver…not too shabby at all.
So, we’ve established that The Ball is great for a swift drink, but what about the food?
Being a Greene King pub, The Ball has an extensive menu. Burgers, steaks, chicken, pub classics, light bites and roasts – as well as desserts – mean that The Ball exceeds in its food game. Especially considering most meals have the option to add a drink for an extra quid or two (excluding Sundays). All the main meals are priced at around £7/8 each with only a couple exceeding a tenner.
Due to the sweltering weather I opted for a portion of breaded calamari and a house sharing platter – weighing in at £4.49 and £7.79, respectively. It arrived at the table within 10 minutes and included a garlic ciabatta, onion rings, chicken wings and strips, and nachos – which were heavily topped with a fresh salsa, sour cream with chopped chives, and two different types of cheese.
The calamari came in the form of four huge rings coated in a light, golden batter which crumbled when picked up. Now, I’m no expert in the field of batter; but this was some of the best that my tongue has ever tasted.
For pub-grub, there is no faulting The Ball. The food tasted fresh, unlike other food on pub menus, and it’s not pricey either. The actual feel of the pub was also great; somewhere where you could sit and drink all day without feeling restless or getting bored of your surroundings. With outdoor seating in both the front and back, there is no doubt that The Ball is the perfect pub to visit for a summertime scran and a few drinks to accompany.
The Ball can be found at 171-173 Crookes, Sheffield, S10 1UD. Open 9am-12am daily. Phone – 0114 266 1211 or find them HERE