IT was no use asking Barrow’s newest bar manager to recommend his favourite glass of beer in 1999 - as he never touched a drop of alcohol.

Terry Carlos was behind the bar at the Sheffield - a pub, on the corner of Greengate Street and Church Street - which was named after the Barrow-built destroyer HMS Sheffield.

It was launched by Queen Elizabeth at Barrow in 1972 and was lost in a missile attack during the Falklands War in 1982.

However, the pub had started life in 1858 as the Welcome Inn.

Mr Carlos told The Mail, on January 28 in 1999: “I don’t drink or smoke. If people insist on buying me a drink then I have a Tango orange.”

Mr Carlos had been assistant manager at the Vic Tavern, in Oxford Street, Barrow and was a former brewery dray man.

The Mail, on Wednesday, July 17, in 1991, described a £100,000 refurbishment by brewers Whitbreads.

It noted: “Managers Karen and Dave Lloyd chose the Sheffield for their first Whitbread pub after taking part in a new professional training scheme run by the company.They both sat pub management exams with Whitbread before taking on the town centre pub.

"Their aim is to make the Sheffield a local community pub putting aside a whole room for pool and darts, with properly arranged seating and equipment.”

Not everyone wanted the pub to get a revamp.

Terrence Evison, of Bay View, Millom, wrote to The Mail saying: “It would be a tragedy should the atmosphere and character of this traditional water hole be sacrificed on the altar of profitability.

“Please don’t let them force another yuppie fun pub upon us.”

The Mail, on September 10 in 1993, said that bar staff were to take part in a sponsored eight-mile row across Windermere for St Mary’s Hospice at Ulverston. The event raised a total of £515.

In May 1993 the pub was to introduce what was claimed to be the town’s first real ale only bar.

Manager Steve Bentley wanted to have ales such as Castle Eden and Flowers IPA available in time for National Pub Week at the end of June.