Address : 2 Stratford Road, West Bridgford, NG2 6BA. A welcome relief from the strip of middle class nonsense of Central Avenue, the Stratford is yet another example of what Castle Rock does best : pubs for drinkers. The long bar snakes around to a large seating area offering plenty of room for a pint…
Tag: real ale
The Running Horse
Address : 16 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3NG. In the days when employers like Players and Raleigh ruled this district, the Running Horse was the place for live music. Long before Rock City was dreamt of, this place would be rammed to the rafters with some of the biggest stars of the era. Sadly, it’s impossible…
The Boat Inn, Lenton
Address : Priory Street, Lenton, NG7 2NX A few years ago, The Boat was designated an asset of Community Value, protecting it from demolition or development. Not that there’s much chance of that happening anyway, since this is a true neighbourhood pub with a loyal local following. On the bar you’ll find up to six…
The Cadland, Chilwell
Address : 342 High Road, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, NG9 5EG. The front of the Cadland has the appearance of a Grimm Brothers fairytale – and you might baulk at the prospect of a chain pub (run, in this case, by Ember Inns). But bear with, because inside reveals a sprawling bar and a good choice of real ales. At…
Fothergill’s
Address : 5-7 Castle Road, Nottingham, NG1 6AA A sunkissed terrace directly opposite the Robin Hood Statue. You could hardly get more “Nottingham” if you dressed in green tights and changed your name to Marian. Fothergill’s (or Watson Fothergill’s to be proper and polite) is the rich cousin of The Castle next door. And herein lies the only…
Langtry’s
Address : 4 South Sherwood Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BY. Lillie Langtry was a renowned actress with a colourful lifestyle, but there’s nothing to suggest she had anything to do with Nottingham, so perhaps this pub is simply named upon her reputation and fame. That said, colourful lifestyles were abundant in here during the 1970s and…
The Barrel Drop
Address : 7 Hurt’s Yard, Nottingham NG1 6JD. When it first opened, the term “cask ale” didn’t come much truer than in this place, where the beers were dispensed straight from the barrel. These days, many of the barrels have been dropped and replaced with handpulls, which means a slightly more lively pint. This micro pub…
The Golden Fleece
Address : 105 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG1 3FN. “Scrubs up nicely” could sum up the Fleece after a much needed refurbishment . Gone are the dark walls and sticky floors that used to characterise this grungy venue. But change begat change. And in 2018, the Golden Fleece was taken over yet again – this time…
The Lincolnshire Poacher
Address : 161-163 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG1 3FR When you walk into the Poacher you get the impression it’s been there for ever. But it actually only opened in its present guide in the late 1980s. At times, there’s a whiff of a wild west saloon in here – but don’t let that put you off….
The Organ Grinder
Address : 21 Alfreton Road, NG7 3JE. What a difference a Pandemic makes! Back in the depths of history, sticky carpets and mild were en vogue at the old Red Lion, before the Blue Monkey Brewery saved it from closure, and transformed it into its original tap bar, the Organ Grinder. Post-Covid reopening came and went,…
The Falcon Inn
Address : 1 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JE Pubs come and go, and a few years ago it was far from certain whether The Falcon would survive, with a succession of short term managers. Thankfully, things have changed for the better and this lovely little place is enjoying a well earned revival. On the bar,…
The Kean’s Head
Address: 46 St Mary’s Gate, Nottingham, NG1 1QA “Bleddy hell – were you born in a barn?!”… might well be a catchphrase for the Kean’s. Not because it’s a bad pub – but it’s somewhat sticky front door can create an icy blast, even in the summer. Thankfully, you’ll usually get a very warm welcome…
The Hop Merchant
Address : 64 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham. Things have come a long way since the bad old days of the Turf Tavern, where some of the customers might well have been more at home on a racecourse. Actually jumping the fences. The Hop Merchant, which replaced the infamous city boozer, has a cleaner, friendlier feel to…
The Cross Keys
Address : 15 Byard Lane, Nottingham, NG1 2GJ On the cusp of the Lace Market with its trendy attractions, the Cross Keys keeps things simple and traditional. This has been a meeting place for decades, and has a lively atmosphere, though at times it’s also a great place for a quiet pint. In recent years,…