Thanks. Sad to know The Sheffield is going. I had my first pint in there. The Arc was also a regular of mine in my teen years. My first , and only, visit to The Hope was about 9 years. Really nice.
I have a vague memory of the sand pit. I seem to remember it was steep, or cliff-like, if this makes sense.
I sometimes walked from the valley up the path from the A259 to the union you describe on my way to Tideway.
I know the area very well. It's sad to see it go. I know the union well and I used to sledge on the bit which runs down to the bus stop on A259. Is the sandpit in amongst the trees?