Everyone knows pizza and beer are a match made in heaven. But chips, cheese curds and gravy with a pint? FUHGEDDABOUDIT!
Woodseats favourite The Boston Arms have been knocking out authentic Canadian poutine through a collaboration with Gravy Train, the team behind Neepsend Social. If you’ve sampled their gravy-soaked creations at festivals or food halls over the years, you’ll already know why this one is worth shouting about.
The partnership has been simmering away since February, giving S8 residents an easy way to get hold of one of the city’s best-known street food brands without trekking across town. The Boston Arms still serves its popular American-style pizzas, with Gravy Train’s poutine sitting comfortably alongside them as the ultimate pub-based comfort scran.
“For the uninitiated, ‘poutine’ is a French-Canadian cult classic dish consisting of fries, squeaky cheddar cheese curds and we’ve been pushing the good stuff since 2016,” Tom from Gravy Train tells Exposed.
“What started as a tiny street food stall has grown into a proper obsession. The early years were spent venturing around the North of England selling our wares before being part of the opening lineup at Cutlery Works back in 2018, developing our recipes along the way.
“These days you’ll catch us trading at Glastonbury and Tramlines, plus dishing it up at The Boston Arms – a proper pub that felt like the right home for a dish that’s always gone best with a pint in hand.
“And we’ve got plans brewing for a takeaway too – so consider this stop one. Watch this space.”
To keep things authentic, the pub prepares Gravy Train’s recipes under licence, using the brand’s signature meat and vegan gravies, authentic Canadian-style cheese curds sourced especially for the dish and the same recipe cards used by the Gravy Train team.
Owner Robbie Macdonald says the collaboration made sense for both sides. Gravy Train wanted to bring its food to another part of Sheffield, while The Boston was looking for something new that fitted naturally alongside its existing kitchen.
And it works. Their poutine is hearty, filling, quick to serve and tailor-made for eating with a pint in hand. Better still, there are vegan and gluten-free options available, making it one of the most inclusive dishes on the menu.
If you need another excuse to give it a go, Wednesdays are hard to ignore. Between 5pm and 9pm, the classic Montreal poutine – fries, cheese curds and rich gravy – drops to just £5, with 20 per cent off everything else on the food menu.
The snap is only one reason this small but perfectly formed boozer has become such a popular neighbourhood hangout. As well as rotating craft beers and a lovingly curated cocktail menu, it continues to pack its calendar with events throughout the year, starting with its annual Sour Beer Festival this August.
After that, there’s an Italian beer takeover paired with pizza, followed by the pub’s own “low-key” take on Oktoberfest: no lederhosen or oompah – just a showcase of great German beer in a relaxed setting. Throw in regular brewery tap takeovers alongside community events ranging from clay workshops to art exhibitions and there’s always something to keep you occupied.
So, whether you’re already a poutine convert or you’re about to discover why Canadians swear by chips, cheese and gravy, The Boston might just become your new go-to for beer and a bite.
