Newlyweds become landlords at their wedding venue

James and Tamsin Kaminski are the new landlords of The Sportsman in Lodgemoor

A couple from Sheffield have become the new landlords of the venue that hosted their wedding party six months ago.

The Sportsman in Lodgemoor had been shut since landlady Jill Hoffman died last year after running the pub for over 20 years.

James and Tamsin Kaminski’s wedding in September 2023 was the last event at the venue before Jill’s death.

The local couple said they wanted to "honour Jill’s legacy”.

The Sportsman is one of the highest pubs in Sheffield sitting at the top of Redmires Road with views over the Rivellin Valley.

Mr Kaminski said the venue had always been important to them: “It was our local pub, it was where we told Tamsin’s family that she was pregnant with our daughter.”

The pub which is owned by the Stonegate Group became even more special to the couple when landlady Jill Hoffman suggested they use the venue and the field at the back for their wedding.

Tamsin said: "It was a "fabulous day. We had a teepee, garden games, hay bales, it was an amazing family festival atmosphere.”

James and Tamsin Kaminski married at The Sportsman in September 2023

Both James and Tamsin Kaminski had previously worked in the healthcare industry for over two decades.

Despite having no experience running a pub, Mrs Kaminski believed it was “fate”.

“The day after I was made redundant, we were walking the dogs and a man was putting the sale sign up on the side of the pub so we just thought, 'Why not?'.

"Regret what you do, not what you don’t."

'Jill's legacy'

The new landlords said they would never forget the debt they owed the previous landlady.

Mr Kaminski said: “Everybody loved her. She was always so kind to us.”

Looking ahead the couple now hope to put use the space for all local people with quizzes and coffee mornings to make it a "welcoming community hub".

Mrs Kaminski said: "Part of this journey for us is to recognise Jill’s legacy and to get the place up and running was for her as much as anyone else.

"We just hope she would be pleased and proud.”