NOTTINGHAM.

An old fashioned fronted building in the heart of the shopping district near the Victoria Centre and the theatre. The frontage reminds one of the 18th century, painted as it is in yellow. It is split by an alley way and is built on a labyrinth of caves. This split affair makes the two rooms at the front quite small and limited for seating. It also makes them smokey, even if there are only a few people in there. However, the guest beers are good and come from independents - Clarkes this time and Rebellion. For the non beer drinker there is a draught wheat beer. Inside there are exposed brick walls and dark wood partitions and furniture. Tables and chairs are small, though there is a pew in one room. Prices reflect its position close to Debenhams. On the walls are old pictures, though they are sparse and not over done. The more public bar room has bare floor and pool. In summer they set out tables on the pavement and there is table service. Food is served here both lunchtimes and evenings until 8pm. If you don't fancy the atmosphere you can eat at lunchtimes in the upstairs Belfry restaurant. The back bar has jazz three nights a week, with a different flavour on Wednesday. They also stage beer festivals on a regular basis. The tram stop closest is the Old Market square. Access for the disabled is not good.

The Blacks Head is located at Carlton Square in north east Nottingham. Located on Burton Road, they provide regular and guest real ales and a selection of fine wines and spirits, in an informal traditional English pub surrounding and atmosphere. There are  three areas - the bar, the lounge and the cabin. They also have a suntrap furnished courtyard and a spacious beer garden in which to enjoy a refreshing drink, where supervised children are more than welcome. The Lounge bar in The Blacks Head is comfortable with lots of seating yet personal and tranquil enough to promote a close and friendly atmosphere. Furnished with a library of literature, and a collection of trinkets, there is much to busy the wandering mind and eye. The bar, with regular busy nights being Monday (Quiz), Tue (Ladies darts), Thu (Mens darts), and SkySports action whenever it occurs - has a good atmosphere.  Food is served here, heck for times.

After a major refurbishment Bunkers Hill now resembles a Hog's Head or places of that ilk. That said, it still has its merits, not least the six real ales on offer seven days a week. These are from both regionals and micros and are all well kept, though served through a sparkler. You enter at the front past a roped off section where a cafe-style experience can be ad in the summer. It also reduces easy access fro trouble makers. Once inside, the bar is opposite you and is dark wood on a dark wood floor split by a column. In addition to the ales, they have a cask cider, a selection of wines and draught continental beer. The seating is a mixture of benches, sofas and high tables and stools. The walls are dark and dotted with pictures and bits and bobs, but all tastefully done. There is a second function room available for hire. Food is served here both lunchtimes and evening with a Sunday roast from 12-4pm. The choice is a mixture but resembles other pubs of this type. Prices are fair but there is little main course choice for vegetarians - though the starter selection caters well. Access for the disabled is possible and their is a designated toilet. Live music is played here.

This pub/bar is attached to the theatre and is a long thin shape. At the far end of the picture is the restaurant with plenty of seats and tables for 4. The food (served lunch and evenings till 8pm Mon-Sat & 2.30 Sun) is imaginative, though portions have got smaller of late, especially for vegetarians (Mediterranean/Mexican style food) and is reasonably priced, though costs more than a Wetherspoon would. The bar is two rooms, though act as one with the second slightly offset. Entrance to the Playhouse Cafe Bar is on the left of the picture, though you can usually enter from the Playhouse theatre itself. The opening room has a light wooden floor and a step up, so not too good for the disabled, though there is another entrance and disabled toilets  attached to the theatre. The bar is in this section slightly to the right and has at least four guest ales on plus a few regulars, so about seven beers in all. On at the time were ales from Oakham, Fullers and Mallard (Adnams Bitter, Marston's Pedigree). All well kept and topped up without sparkler. Prices are not as keen as they used to be, but are better than most city centre establishments. On Sunday's there are free papers to read with your pint. It can get smokey in here at times due to low ceilings. For the summer there are tables and chairs outside on the plaza away from the traffic. Car parking can be difficult and we recommend finding a car park and walking here. Too far to walk from the station unless you are crawling Nottingham as the Playhouse Cafe Bar is at the top of town. Children are allowed in the restaurant and there is a no smoking area to eat.

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A small frontage building that looks like it should not be there. The buildings around it tower over it, but it has remained resolute. It used to be called the County Tavern from 1841 onwards, but has reverted to its original name. You enter the pub up a slight step and alight in a room straight out of the 1950 and into canned music. The low lighting, wood panelled walls and high backed arm chairs, along with fake effect gas fire, all move to relax you and make you think you are at home. This works because the pub is really for the suited brigade of lawyers and administrators who work in this part of town. Despite that, the pub is directly opposite the Galleries of Justice and so could gain some tourist trade too. The small bar area means that unless people move to the downstairs room, it can get overcrowded at lunchtimes. This other room is up some steps, down a corridor and down a flight of steps. Down here there is the same cosy front room appeal with sofas and comfy chairs. This has the effect of making sure it's not on the weekend bottled drinking route. However, it does mean that the prices are rather more expensive than most pubs listed for Nottingham in this guide. It has recently gone 100% no smoking and we hope it remains so. The beers on at the time were from the usual larger regionals with the only micro brewer being Nottingham Brewery who brew the house beer. For those who don't like beer, there is a good wine selection and foreign beer. Food is served here and this is a 'gastro' pub. Food is served 12.30-6pm and comes from an interesting menu to compliment the hotel next door. In fact you can put it all on your hotel bill if you produce your key/card. An unusual feature of this pub is the solid pewter bar top and the more interesting design of the bar itself. Your closest tram stop is 'Lace Market'.

A brewpub that has been around for quite a while in Nottingham in an old canal building. The canal area has recently been refurbished to be more like the Manchester one. So there is plenty of nightlife around here. Very much a young persons pub there is sport on TV at the weekends and a busy atmosphere. There are three distinct levels to this pub - the front entrance leading towards the corner bar is flat and wooden floored, to your left is a raised area by the front windows which requires you to negotiate steps. Here the seating is tables and chairs on carpeted floor - a TV sits above your heads. The area to the rear of the building past the bar (round tables and chairs here, some stools) is lower again and has much the same as the raised area, including TV. The decor is all about the narrowboats as this building was the offices of the pub namesake. The beers are brewed on the premises upstairs by the gents toilets (no jokes please). You can view the tuns through the glass. The beers on at the time were Fellows Bitter and Post Haste, though they also had a couple of guest ales on. The ales were served with sparkler, though tasted better without. Food is served here until 10pm most nights, though check first. There is a restaurant out back that serves both continental and British food at not too expensive prices. Access for the disabled is possible via a ramp at the side of the building. Parking is possible at the rear. The pub also has a web site being constructed at: Fellowsmortonandclayton. Also try the Vat and Fiddle.

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The Fox & Crown has a fascinating history! Research has shown that in the early 18th century there was an Inn, a Gaol and a bowling Green at this location. The Fox & Crown is seemingly synonymous with The Bowling Green, as both names occur at different times on old documents referring to the same site. A revealing document discovered at the Nottinghamshire Records Office is the Will/Inventory, dated 1707, of Innkeeper James Pearson, also butcher and gaoler. The gaoler is said to have kept a ‘bowling green’ and it is known that close by the gaol was a bowling green at which the company were waited upon by the prisoners, so that their confinement was not very rigorous. The Inventory gives enough factual evidence to support the theory that this must have been Peverel Gaol. Peverel Gaol was instituted by William Peverel, son of William the Conqueror. It was a Court of Pleas for the recovery of small debts and for damages in case of trespass. And its jurisdiction at one time extended over the whole of the honour of Peverel which included 170 towns  and villages in Nottinghamshire. In 1791, the Basford gaoler was John Sands, who in  that year opened the doors and allowed the prisoners to escape because there was no food allowed for their support and because if any of them died of want he would be liable to take trial as a murderer. The Court of Peverel was subsequently removed to Lenton and, in 1849, was abolished by Act of Parliament. A record at the nearby Old Basford Church states that The Fox & Crown was reputedly haunted. There have been no sightings in recent years. Apart from the history, this pub has lots to recommend it. It has its own microbrewery creating and serving Alcazar and Fox and Crown beers: New Dawn 5.0% and Best Bitter being just two. It also has guest ales like Cheriton on the bar. The brewery can be viewed from outside on a viewing gallery above the enclosed beer garden. Inside it is all bright pine everywhere with nooks and crannies and large kitchen tables and chairs. The atmosphere is friendly and pleasant and the staff are useful. The bar is a large horseshoe shape and the bar back stocks the foreign and bottled beers in displays. There is a large drop-down screen for the sports channels, however, they do have a children's certificate so you can bring the kids. Food is served most of the day and is a broad selection from salads and potato wedges to pizzas to soup to salmon and steaks. All are reasonably priced at £7.95 or less. Check out the wine list if you prefer. Disabled access is possible, though the toilets could be difficult for wheelchair users. Well worth a visit. Also try the White Swan on the corner of Church Street (Mansfield, though for how much longer?). Regular beer festivals held. Busses direct from the railway station are: 23, 70, 73.

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A friendly two-roomed pub in the Carrington area or Nottingham. It serves 5 real ales in tip top condition, but is only open in the evenings during the week. The one draw back is the sports TV. However, the lounge features books rather than sport, so I guess both can be accommodated. Wednesday nights are folk nights with music upstairs (function room can also be booked for private parties), Thursday is quiz night from 9pm. Alas no food is served here, but there are other places on the Mansfield Road that do. Near the tram stop.

Another of the Tynemill pubs in Nottingham.  This follows all the right cues from the others and serves some pretty good beer. The Horse also serves food from the good range Tynemill does at both lunchtimes and in the evenings. Friday nights are special food nights form 6-10pm. There is occasional live music here and children are welcome 12-9pm if they are well behaved. A large function room is available for hire but there is no accommodation here unfortunately.

A friendly one-roomed pub not far from the Lincolnshire Poacher and one street over to the left. Built in the 1860s the Hole used to be the smallest pub in Nottingham, but it has since been enlarged and is now more spacious. Beers on at the time were: Mansfield, but these could be removed at any time now that the brewery has gone. They also serve a guest or two. Food is served both lunch (12-2.30) and evening (5-8, not Sun), though it is stopped being served by 8pm. The fayre suits the student clientele as it is at the back of Nottingham Trent University and near student accommodation. Naturally therefore it has a TV and pool, but don't let that put you off as during the day it has another atmosphere altogether. There is a 'jukebox' which can grate after a while, but access for the disabled is good. For the summer there is a beer 'garden' available. A short walk from the Victoria bus station/shopping centre.

The pub is easy to find as it's in the middle of Nottingham right opposite the Royal Concert Hall. It's a smart Hogshead Ale House run by the Whitbread brewery, though for how much longer we do not know. Hogshead's are up for sale in 2001. This means that the unique real ale policy (for a large brewer) may go by the board. Inside the single bar serves a 'large' drinking area. Like much of the Hogshead chain, the floor is wooden and the decor is modern and bright, but minimalist. Seating is at bright wooden tables and chairs. Beers on at the time were Taylor Landlord, Bateman XXXB, Exmoor Gold and Castle Rock Hemlock. There are usually up to four other ales on at any time, though some of these are from larger brewers. Food comes from the same menu as you'd find in any other Hogshead. It is interesting and there is choice for vegetarians, but the portions can sometimes be a little small. They sometimes do a deal similar to Wetherspoon pubs where you get two meals for £5-odd. No accommodation here. There is possible access for the disabled here, but care has to be taken.

Part of the Tynemill group (don't look for their web site as it no longer exists), this pub serves beers from the Castle Rock brewery, which is associated with the group. It also stocks a good selection of other ales (up to five more) as do all the Tynemill pubs. If you don't like beer then there is a fine selection of whisky. You cant miss this pub, it is further up the road from the Victoria shopping centre and almost opposite Richer Sounds. Take the road to the park and you are there. As it is such an attraction it can get busy at times, though Saturday lunchtime was not busy when we visited. Beer tickers travel from far and wide to visit, so be prepared for a squeeze at the busy times. This is in part due  to the small nature of the pub with two separate rooms. The front bar has a wooden floor with posters on the walls, as befitting its old-fashioned aura. Seating is a mixture of benches and stools, with a standing area in front of the bar. This bar can also get smokey when busy. If you want to be free of smoke, you will have to go through to the snug at the rear. There is a no smoking policy here. When it is quiet you can also indulge in a few traditional pub games. Seating here is chairs and stools. Further on there is a conservatory and outdoor terrace, which while small, does catch the sun  - when it shines. Food is served both lunchtime and evenings (Tue-Thu until 8pm & 12-5.30 weekends) - menu's change daily with plenty of choice for vegetarians. Food is not served on Saturday and Sunday evenings. No accommodation here. Access for the disabled is not good, due in part to the narrow and small nature of the pub layout. Also try: Hole in the Wall & Golden Fleece. Also try The Glebe 100 yard down the hill from the Poacher.

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The Lion Inn is one of the best known pubs in Nottingham with an outstanding reputation for cask ales and live entertainment. There are always 10 different casks on sale with an emphasis on family and micro brewed beers. There are live bands four nights per week including the very popular Sunday lunchtime jazz session. There is a secure car park, beer terrace and boule pitch. The pub is also on the new tram route. Excellent lunchtime and evening food is served. On the tram line to the Fox and Crown.

A very narrow building on the Carlton Road that used to be a chapel. It's at the Ice Stadium end of the road and sits almost invisibly in the row of buildings. You enter at the front and the bar is directly at the far end of the hall. It is literally a hall with a high-ish ceiling. To get to the bar you need to go past all the seating. This is at round tables with proper backed chairs. Some of the tables and chairs are red? I'm not sure why, but they do break up the monotony of black. Also note the checkerboard effect tiles next to the fireplace - sadly not a real fire. The ceiling is also red which somewhat lowers its giving the hall a more friendly feel. Along with the decor - plants, pictures and mirrors on the walls, it has the feel of a front parlour rather than a pub. This is not a bad thing as it also makes it a comfortable place to be. The dark wood bar is quite large and is 'L' shaped. On it you will find Oakham JHB as the regular and up to 8 guest ales, all served without the sparkler and at a reasonable price. For those who don't like ale, there is Warsteiner on draught. Food is served here only at lunchtimes and is traditional, but the prices are very competitive @ £3 for most dishes other than steak of course. No music in the pub, though they do have live bands. Access for the disabled is possible and there is a proper disabled toilet. Open from early during the week, it is usually well frequented at lunch times by the market stall holders from the nearby market.  The upstairs is more traditional and has not been changed much from the original use as a chapel. Well worth seeking out if in Nottingham.

The Olde Trip is a classic pub not only in Nottinghamshire, but in the UK. This is an old pub with plenty of history. Partly carved out of the rock on which the castle stands above, it has a cellar that needs little cooling. Recently refurbished by Hardys and Hansons (the owners), there was outcry that the removal of a wall had damaged a listed building. However, English Heritage gave it an award, so the debate will go on. However, those who come to it for the first time still marvel at the quaintness of it. Its history dates back to 1189 and you can see the history on display and even take a cave visit by prior arrangement. There are a number of rooms, reduced since the refurbishment on two levels. Seating is stools and wooden chairs and the refurbishment has given everyone more room to move. The ales on sale are all from Hardys and Hansons and include Best, Mild and Classic, plus seasonal guests (they now do more seasonal beers than they used to, so well worth a trip in summer or winter). Food is served only in the afternoons from 11-6pm (12-6pm Sun) and is traditional wholesome grub. Prices can be a little on the steep side, but this is a tourist trap. Traditional pub games are played and you can sit outside should you need the sun in summer. There is also a real fire for those cold winter nights. The refurbishment has also meant that the disabled now have good access and facilities. Not far from the station either, only a five minute walk round the corner, click on the link for a map. No accommodation here.

The Rose of England is full of history for the city of Nottingham, but has not really been a pub of distinction. The good news is that it has recently been refurbished and is now even better to visit. The Rose serves a couple of guest ales at city prices. Situated next to the Victoria Centre and part of the Nottingham Trent University, this is also a pub with a function room (for hire) that used to be used for live music but as yet has an undisclosed policy of what it will be used for now. Food is served here Monday to Saturday from 11-4pm and is traditional fayre rather than unusual. However, it was well cooked and tasted fine on this visit. No accommodation here. Access for the disabled is possible, though not ideal.

Also try:

The Vat and Fiddle, 12-14 Queensbridge Rd, Nottingham, NG2 1NB. (0115) 985 0611. Open: Mon-Sat 11-11pm, Sun 12-10.30pm. Food: during open hours. Beer: 5 regular plus 5 guests. Range of whiskies, traditional cider. outdoor drinking area of picnic tables next to road:

  

Horse and Groom, Radford Road. Beer: up to 7 ales. Food during week. Open All day.

The Forest Tavern, 257 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG1 3FT. (0115) 947 5650 Open: Mon-Tue 4-11pm, Wed-Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-10.30pm. Food: when open. Beer: 4 regulars plus 1 guest. Traditional cider.

Hotel Deu2S, Sherwood Rise, nr Clarendon college, Nottingham.

Malt Cross Music Hall, 16 St James Street, Nottingham NG1 6FG. (0115) 941 1048. Open: Mon-Fri 10-11pm, Sat 10-5pm, 7-11pm, Sun closed. Admission charge Wed-Sat after 7pm. Food: Mon-Sat 11-4pm Food also served till 8p.30pm on show nights. Beer: 3 regular, 3 guests. Disabled access, balcony.

The Maze, 270 North Sherwood St, Nottingham, NG1 4EN. (0115) 947 5650. Open: Mon-Sat 10-2am. Sun open sometimes. Food: available throughout opening hours. Beer: 4 regular plus 1 guest. Live music.

The Victoria Hotel, Dovecote Lane, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 1JG. (0115) 922 3537. Open: Mon-Sat 11-11pm, Sun 12-10.30pm. Food: 12-9pm No smoking area. Beer: 4 regular, up to 8 guests, always a mild. Traditional cider, range of whiskies. Large beer garden

The Red Lion, Alfreton Rd, Canning Circus, Nottingham. (0115) 952 0309. Open: 11-11pm. Food: 12-2.30pm, Sun 11-2pm. Beer: 8 real ales.

The Globe, 152 London Road, Nottingham. (0015) 9866881. Open: 11-11pm. Food: available. Beer: real ales.

The News House, 123 Canal Street. (0115) 950 2419. Tynemill Pub. On Canal St near the railway station and the Indoor Arena. Big screen sports TV, bar billiards, darts and lunchtime food. Available for private hire.

Other Accommodation:

Hillcrest Guest House, 24 Gill St, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 4FY. Tel: 0115 941 8135

Adams Castle View Guest House, 85 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG7 1FE. Tel: 0115 950 0022

Cilla Guest House, 19 Arthur St, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG7 4DW. Tel: 0115 978 1891