Celebrating art and beer: two things to do this weekend

Looking for a piece of original artwork to hang in your home? The Great Sheffield art show, now in its is twentieth year, is reportedly the largest art show in the north of England featuring over 1,400 exhibits and attracting thousands of visitors. It takes place 11-13 July at the Octagon building, University of Sheffield, although if you are quick you may get tickets for the preview night on Thursday.

It is good that semi-professional and amateur artists have got a platform to display and perhaps sell their work, while for visitors it is a chance to pick up an original piece from an artist you may not have otherwise come across.

And after you’ve been to the art show, why not pop in to the Rising Sun pub in Nether Green for the second annual Sunfest beer festival, which runs from 10-13 July?

In April I had the pleasure of attending the first (and last) annual beer festival at the Moon pub in Netherthorpe before it closed. Abbeydale brewery, the company behind both both pubs, has since been forced to close the Moon due to ongoing losses.

Luckily, the Rising Sun – and the brewery for that matter – are both still profitable businesses but I am sure they would appreciate the support all the same. And besides, it is good fun, even if like me, you know very little about real ale.