Sheffield licensees given Star Pubs & Bars long-service award

Tom and Barbara Boulding took over the pub on Broad Street in Sheffield City Centre in 1985, when it was called The Barrel and renamed it Fagan’s, in honour of the previous landlord, Joe Fagan, who had run the pub since 1947.

Star Pubs & Bars’ area manager Anthony Lowther-Knowles said: “It’s a great honour to present this award to Tom and Barbara.

“They put their hearts and souls into Fagan’s, and have retained all its wonderful quirkiness, friendliness and character.

Sheffield institution 

“It’s all credit to them that Fagan’s is still thriving and is such a well-loved Sheffield institution.”

The husband and wife team introduced food, hand-pulled beers, and weekly quizzes to Fagan’s, however, little else has changed inside the pub since its last major refurbishment in 1953 and good number of the pub’s regulars have remained the same also, with Tom and Barbara serving their third generation of some Sheffield families.

Tom Boulding said: “Walking into Fagan’s is like stepping back in time. It’s a proper old-fashioned pub. That’s why we wanted it.

“We loved it just as it was when we first saw it, and we still do. The area around has transformed out of all recognition since the mid-eighties, the factories and offices have gone, and we’re surrounded by new buildings, but Fagan’s remains the same.”

Paid for doing a job you love 

Known for its quizzes, live music nights and cask ale, Fagan’s dates to the 1700’s and has been host to some famous faces; musicians such as Jools Holland and Richard Hawley have played at the pub and in 2013, Sheffield artist Peter McKee painted his first-ever mural, The Snog​, on the pub’s exterior.

He added: “It’s fantastic to be paid for doing a job you love.

“Many of our customers have become great friends, running Fagan’s is like having a party in our house every night; the only difference is the guests buy their own beer.”