Nottingham Pubs visited over the last three weeks 18th Nov ,25th Nov & 2nd Dec

Times have not been very good since mid October and have got worse over the weeks with lots of things being done to me at hospitals.

But i can still drink,so as the people at hospital say "go out and cheer yourselves up".
So on the last three Saturday's we have gone down Nottingham to have a good drink and try and cheer ourselves up,not always working but it did mostly.
The pubs visited will not be in proper order as we have done some three times others twice and some once but all done over the last three Saturdays.

Our bus from Stapleford used to go to the Broadmarsh bus station,but this has closed down due to redevelopment and now stops on Maid Marrion Way as it used to and Friar Lane where it stops and now starts from. 

Broadmarsh Bus Station 17th June 2017 6am

 

Outside Broadmarsh Bus Station 17th June 2017 just after 6am

Broadmarsh Bus Station 5th December 2017

A short walk from the Maid Marrion Way bus stop and down St James's Street and into a Wetherspoons.

The Roebuck

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

Our favourite Wetherspoons in the middle of Nottingham and the largest,it always has a good choice of real ales on the bar,we have been in here three times and had drinks of Oldershaws Yuletide,which was bland,Nottingham Rock Mild which was very good and Nottingham Centurian MD Mild which was really nice.
We got a seat on our first visit but the last two it was packed but we did bag a seat near the entrance after a while.

Joseph Else

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

Another Wetherspoons pub that was originally called Wetherspoons.
It has two floors and is always busy due to its location,the beer choice is never that good in here,we had drinks of Nethergate Old Growler,which was very nice and one more on another visit i can not remember,but was a decent drink.
It faces Nottinghams main square which most used to call Slab Square,now consigned to history,the Council House faces it and looks quite grand,unlike the thousands of council houses that are on estates around Nottingham.

Cross Keys

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

My wife quite likes this pub.
It was originally a Bass tied house that we avoided,it then became a free house which we did go in and now it is run by Navigation Brewery which is based in Nottingham.
There is a single L shaped room with the rear left side down one step,there is always a good choice of Navigation Beers on the bar,we always have Navigation New Dawn,which is a very nice drink.
A good pub to people watch and watch the trams go by.
We have been in this pub on our last three times in Nottingham.

Six Barrel Draft House

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

When i first did this pub and then took my wife in it was called The Lord Nelson a keg only John Smiths tied house,it then went to be Image Bar and never seemed to be open.
It is nice to see it reopen and looks smart inside with its original layout,there is a good choice of real ales but we always have the Castle Rock Harvest Pale here.

Curious Tavern
 

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A new bar that is housed in the old George Hotel,so not a new pub for me.
It is as the name says a bit different inside and has a small glass floor which looks deep down to the cellars and Nottingham's many caves.
There is a decent choice of real ales on the bar,we had a drink of Castle Rock Harvest Pale.

Lord Roberts

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A former Shipstones tied house that was a bit rough and ready,it then became a gay friendly pub.
Flipside brewery of Nottingham took over the pub and installed quite a few handpumps,with usually four or five of their beers on the bar.
On two visits we have had Caythorpe One Swallow and Flipside Stirling Pale,which was a very nice drink.
This pub is now very comfortable place to have a drink in.
We both like this pub

Langtrys

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

When i first did this pub it was called The Peach Tree and had one of the roughest reputations of any Nottingham City Centre pubs.
It closed in the early 80s and was altered and renamed Langtrys.
It looks the same to this day as it did over 30 years ago,a single room which is bare boarded and has normal tables and chairs,the rear left side is up one step.
There is always about 7 or 8 real ales on the bar,on our last two visits we have had a few drinks of Adnams Lighthouse,which was a very nice drink and cheap £3.90 for a pint and a half.
We both really like this pub and have been coming in it for years.

Bell Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A Nottingham institution and a regular for us,we have been in here when it was a Free House,then Kimberley took over and then GK.
Most will be surprised that the bar in the large main room to the rear has switched sides as it was always on the left side.
In recent times GK to their credit have upgraded the pub but still kept it pretty much as it was.
There is always a good choice of non GK beers on the bar and Nottingham EPA is always on and always a top notch drink.
A must visit if in Nottingham.

Fellows,Morton & Clayton

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This pub opened in the early 80s and was converted from an old canal wharehouse.
The pub was run by Whitbread and was originally half the size of what it is today,it is a single room which runs to the rear which is the newer area and down one step,there is a small raised area to the front.
After a short period being closed it has reopened and been done up a bit,lots of TVs which showed football have gone,with just a couple left.
The real ale choice in not as good as it used to be,the Nottingham EPA which was always on the bar as now gone,we had a drink of Butcombe Bitter which was expensive.

Canal House

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

The Canal House is a decent sized pub that was converted from an old canal warehouse. 
Once inside there are usually two narrow boats moored inside the pub and there is a bridge which takes you over them and to the main bar area,which is oblong shaped.
The pub is now run by Castle Rock and has a good choice of real ales on the bar,we always have Castle Rock Harvest Pale,which is a very nice drink.
We both quite like this pub. 

Hop Merchant

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

We used to go in this pub quite a lot when it was called The Turf Tavern when it was a Shipstones tied house.
This has always been one of the smallest pubs in the middle of Nottingham with a single square shaped room.
After a period of closure it reopened as the Hop Merchant,the only seating is tall ones which does not suit my wife and i dont really like it.
There are a few real ales on the bar,on our recent visit we had a drink of St Austell Tribute,which was a decent drink.
Not one of our favourite Nottingham pubs.

Daskino

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

When this pub first opened in 1984 it was called The Old Vic Tavern and was an home ales tied house.
It then changed its name to Escucha,and its latest name is Daskino.
Once inside this is a really large pub that extends miles to the rear,there is a table tennis table in the middle area,the front area is raised and the most popular area for drinkers and diners.
There are no real ales on the bar,on our recent visit we had a two half of Kozel which cost £4.60,but we did get a seat during the Christmas rush.
I do have a photo of it in its current guise but can not find it,so you will have to see a photo of Escucha.
Pub first visited 6th October 1984.

Ye Olde Salutation Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

I had forgot about this pub but we did go in it twice over the last three weeks.
This is one of our favourite Nottingham pubs,that we have been going in for years,it was the first Nottingham pub i took my wife to be in and we also took our young children in.
The pub has three rooms and everybody uses the rear entrance,there is a corridor and two small rooms off it,the room to the right is comfy and the one to the left is uncomfortable.
The bar is on the left side in the main larger room.
This has been for years an out and out Rock pub,but it does have a decent choice of real ales on the bar,we always have Castle Rock Harvest Pale,which is a very nice drink,Hobgoblin and Robinsons Trooper also seem to be on all the time.
We are not really rock music fans,but we do like it here and will continue to come in here.

Sorry about the lack of detail of when the photos were taken,i do have them but can not be bothered to look for them.

Also i would like to correct, Martin.

I do not like The Hop Merchant and it is not called a Town Hall but is called The Council House.

Hopefully one more blog about pubs done in 2017 if i have time.
 

 



 

A few Stats on my Blog

I noticed today that the Life After Football blog had done his 100th pub,and more posts than i have have done in a shorter time.
Retired Martin does blogs daily so no idea how many he has done now.
I noticed that Pubcurmudgeon  has had over 500,000 hits.

These are the three blogs i read most days.

I have done 47 posts which is far less than most bloggers i know have done,but and there is a big but,i have added loads of photos of pubs i have been in on my blog.
So with time on my hands i did a count of pubs i have done a crap write up on and took a photo of.
I was quite surprised as to how many photos i had added to my blog.

Here goes the stats.

756 crap write ups about pubs i have done
744 half decent photos of the pubs i have been in.
21 crap write ups of pubs that i have either not got a photo of or not yet got the photo of it converted to disc to put on my blog.

I will never be able to blog as much as other good pub related bloggers i read,but i am well pleased as to how many photos of different pubs appear on my blog.

Here are two photos of pubs i have done but have long gone,one is on a pub site the second pub is not on a pub site i know.

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

I passed the site of this pub today while in a car going to the Nottingham City Hospital.
They have built on its site and it is not in the City of Nottingham.
This is an easy one to find as it is on a pub site.

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This pub is long gone and is in the Nottingham Conurbation.
A clue for this pub is it was near a Speedway track.

It would be nice if some of you tried to find out where these two pubs were.
If not i will let you know on Sunday.

Many thanks for all of the kind words that have been posted in the last couple of weeks and to those who have read my blog,i will try and do a few simple posts like this that are not too time consuming.

We are down,but not out,and i will be back properly at some point.

Cheers Alan
 

Palmers tied houses done.

As i said at the end of my last post on this blog,things will become more simple than they were.
This is a new idea of mine and will highlight my love for the tied houses that used to be prolific in England,sadly lots have now gone and are run by Pub Cos that are not that bothered whether the pub does well or not.
I am starting off with one of my favourite breweries and it is still open, Palmers in Bridport Dorset.
I made a good effort to get a good proportion of their tied estate done while on holiday in Weymouth with the family,i would go out for a dinner session each year and always head for some Palmers tied houses i had not done,all were done on public transport as i have never drove or wanted to drive a car.

Bridport Tuesday 24th August 1999

I caught a bus from Weymouth and got into Bridport before 11am.

Palmers Brewery

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

1: George Hotel

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
Situated in the middle of Bridport and my first ever Palmers tied house done.
The Palmers Best Bitter went down well.

2: Crown Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
To the South of the middle of Bridport and on the road to West Bay where i was heading.
A nice pub and the closest Palmers tied house to the brewery.
Another drink of Palmers Best Bitter and i was well pleased.

West Bay

This is a small resort which is by the coast and all three pubs in it are Palmers tied houses and all were quite close to each other.

3: George Hotel

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A fairly large and smart pub inside,which was very comfortable,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter.

4: Bridport Arms

photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A nice looking pub with a thatched roof,my photo does not give it justice.
I had a nice drink of Palmers Best Bitter.
The pub had Bridehaven signage outside as it was being used in a TV series.

5: West Bay

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
This was quite a nice pub inside with a nautical theme,as usual three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter.

I now had to walk back to Bridport and pick up some more Palmers tied houses.

Bridport

6: Toll House

photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A decent looking stand alone pub that was on the Eastern side of Bridport.
Once inside the pub was not so good with it being very dowdy and in need of some attention.
I had a drink of Palmers Bridport Bitter,which was a pretty poor drink.
When i revisited Bridport two years later the Toll House had closed down.

7: Lord Nelson

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A typical looking town pub that was fairly basic inside with a single room,the Palmers Best Bitter went down well.

8: Boot Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
One of three Palmers tied houses on North Allington.
This was quite a cosy pub inside,two Palmers beers on the bar, i had a drink of Palmers Bridport Bitter,which was so so,i should have had the Palmers 200.

9: Oddfellows Arms

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A small and basic Palmers tied house on the Northern edge of Bridport,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which went down well.

10: Kings Arms

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A decent looking stone built Palmers tied house,it was fairly basic inside but still a nice pub,there was also a large garden to the rear.
I had a drink of Palmers Dorset Gold,which was a very nice drink.

11: The Tanners

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A decent enough looking Palmers tied house that was situated at the end of Bridport's main shopping street.
Once inside the pub was not as good and seemed more like a sports bar,there were two Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Bridport Bitter,which yet again was not that good.

12: The Ropemakers

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
Situated in the middle of Bridport.
A decent town pub,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a very nice drink.

13: Royal Oak

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

Situated on Bridports main shopping street.
Once inside this was a smart enough pub,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a very nice drink. 

Lyme Regis Wednesday 23rd August 2000

Another bus ride from Weymouth to Lyme Regis,the return journey was even better as i had a great view of the Chessil Beach from  the top floor of a double decker bus.

14: Royal Standard

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A nice looking pub that is close to the seafront.
Once inside the pub was very nice with comfy seating and it being carpeted,there were four Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which went down very well.
There were good views of Lyme Bay from the rear windows of the pub.

15: Cobb Arms

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A nice looking pub that is in a great location at the start of The Cobb by the harbour.
There was a single room inside and most tables were laid for diners,which i do not like to see.
There were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers best Bitter,which was a very nice drink.

I did a short walk away from the seafront and into Lyme's back streets to get to my next Palmers tied house.

16: Angel Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
An unusual looking pub from the outside and a must visit once inside.
There was a large bar room that looked very basic and a throw back to the 50s or 60s with basic formica topped tables,there were no pumps on the bar as the two Palmers beers were drawn straight from barrels behind the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which went down very well.
There was also a separate games room with pool table and darts board.

I did a short walk back to the middle of Lyme Regis and closer to the sea front.

17: Pilot Boat

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A decent looking pub from the outside,but once inside it was not so good.
There was a single room which looked too modern for Lyme Regis and most of it was taken over for diners,it was full on my Wednesday dinnertime visit,so i had to prop the bar up.
There were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a nice drink.

18: Ship Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A nice looking pub set in Lyme's back streets.
Once inside the pub was fairly basic and more of a locals pub,i quite liked it.
There were four Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers 200,which was a very nice drink.

I got the bus back towards Weymouth but stopped off at Charmouth which had three pubs and one Palmers tied house.

Charmouth

19: Royal Oak

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A very nice looking pub and the best of the three pubs in Charmouth that i went in.
Once inside the pub had two small separate rooms,i had a drink in the lounge as this was more busy than the bar room,it was very comfortable and carpeted.
There were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a very nice drink.
I really liked this pub.

I had to get the bus back to Weymouth and meet the wife and kids.
This was a different service and went along the coast road,i can still remember the views of Chessil Beach.

Taunton Saturday 11th August 2001

I managed to get a dirt cheap day return train ticket from Derby to Taunton,i did my best to do all pubs in the town,but there was a Palmers tied house well away from the middle of Taunton which i walked to.

20: Master Thatcher

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A very large and modern pub that was built on a new looking estate.
It looked quite good with its massive thatched roof.
Once inside it was quite smart with comfortable seating.
There were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a very nice drink.
It was well worth the walk to get this Palmers tied house done.

Beaminster Wednesday 22nd August 2001

I caught a bus from Weymouth where we were staying on holiday to Beaminster,a small town that is North of Bridport.
This was to be one of my more ambitious crawls to pick up Palmers tied houses.

21: The Hine Bar

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
I presume that this pub was called The White Hart before i visited it.
Once inside the pub was quite smart and a Palmers tied house,there were two Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter. 

I decided to walk to Stoke Abbot as it did not look that far on my OS Landranger 193 map.
I did stop off at the Knapp Inn but this was on the edge of Beaminster.
I soon found out that country miles are longer that town miles,it was a good walk along very narrow roads and uphill and downhill,i was well pleased when i finally got there.

Stoke Abbot

22: New Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A really nice looking pub with a thatched roof.
It was just as nice inside with low ceilings and feeling very comfortable,there were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a very nice drink.

I do not know why but the walk back always seems to be quicker,i walked back to Beaminster where there were three more pubs to do with two being Palmers tied houses.

Beaminster

23: Greyhound Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
Situated in the middle of Beaminster.
The pub was decent enough inside,with a bar area to the front and the rear area set aside for diners.
There were four Palmer beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a very nice drink.

24: Red Lion

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A large and sturdy looking red brick built pub that was almost next door to the Greyhound.
Once inside the pub was fairly smart and more of a drinkers pub,there were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a very nice drink.

My travel plans were getting more complicated as i wanted to head for Bridport but stop off at Melplash on the way.
I decided to get a taxi to Melplash which i do not like using but it would give me a good twenty minutes before the bus to Bridport got into the village,it was £4 well spent as it got me another Palmers tied house done.

Melplash

25: Half Moon

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A really nice looking pub with a thatched roof.
Once inside it was just as nice,there was a separate pool room and dining room,i had a drink in the main bar room which was very nice and  busy on my Wednesday afternoon visit.
There were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers best Bitter,which was a very nice drink.
I quite liked this pub and did not want to leave,but the bus was due soon so i left a bit early.

My bus turned up on time,i had to keep my eye out as the Palmers pub i wanted to do in Bridport was on its Northern edge.

Bridport

26: Kings Head

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
Situated on the main road in what some people would call Bradpole,it looked like the Northern edge of Bridport to me.
It is a nice looking white painted pub with a long frontage.
Once inside the pub had been done up in a more modern way but was still nice enough,i had probably been spoilt with some of the previous Palmers tied houses i had done.
There were two Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a nice drink.

It was a steady downhill walk into the middle of Bridport where i picked up two more pubs Bull Hotel and The Greyhound which was a Wetherspoons pub, before my bus turned up to take me back to Weymouth.
I was well pleased in pulling this crawl off and getting six more Palmers tied houses done.

Kilmington Tuesday 20th August 2002

I got a bus from Weymouth to Axminster which was at the end of the route and a long journey,it went through Bridport and down into Lyme Regis and back up to Axminster.
I decided to walk to Kilmington before doing any pubs in Axminster,it was along a pretty straight and boring road.
But Kilmington is off the main road and is a very nice looking village.

27: New Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A really nice looking pub with a thatched roof a proper chocolate box looking pub.
Once inside it was just as nice and seemed unaltered,there were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a very well kept beer.

Luckily there was one more pub in Kilmington The Old Inn to do before walking back to Axminster.

Axminster

28: Axminster Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A decent looking white painted pub that is in the middle of Axminster.
Once inside it was fairly small with two separate rooms,i had a drink in a smart and comfortable lounge.
There were two Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which went down a treat.

I did three more pubs in Axminster that were not Palmers tied houses.
 
I had to get a bus from Axminster and get off at Morecombelake
to pick up  another Palmers tied house.

Morecombelake

29: Ship Inn

A decent roadside pub that was busy on my Tuesday afternoon visit.
Another Palmers tied house so i was well pleased,there were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a decent drink.
I was in a bit of a rush to get a bus and forgot to take a photo of this pub,the only Palmers tied house that i have done and not took a photo of,i was well fed up when i found out i had forgot to take a photo.

I had to get another bus to the next village which had a palmers tied house in it.

Chideock

30: George Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A decent looking pub with a thatched roof.
Once inside the pub was fairly smart with a bar room and a separate dining room.
There were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers best Bitter,which was a very nice drink.

I also went in the Clock House pub for a drink of Otter Ale. 


Shipton Gorge Wednesday 25th August 2004

I had to get a bus from Weymouth and be a bit cheeky by asking for it to stop on the main A36 road close to a road that i would walk down to get the Shipton Gorge.
Luckily it was in the days before the health and safety lot had took over the country and a bus is now not allowed to let you off if it is two inches from a bus stop.
It was a downhill walk along a very narrow road and i was soon in the small village of Shipton Gorge.

32: New Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A really nice village pub and a Palmers tied house to boot.
Once inside it was quite a nice pub with a bar area and a dining area.
There were three Palmers beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which was a very nice drink.

It was a bit of a longer but pleasant walk down to my next village Burton Bradstock,which was a bit larger and even had a short pavement.

Burton Bradstock
 
There were two pubs in this village so i did both,The Anchor Inn was an Ushers house with their beers on the bar.

33: Three Horseshoes

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A really nice looking thatched pub that is in the middle of Burton Bradstock.
It was a really nice and comfortable pub inside,i sat near the bay window on the left side,the right side was set aside for diners.
There was the full range of Palmers beers on the bar,i had a pint of Palmers Best Bitter and a half of Tally Ho,the first time i had seen this beer in doing 34 Palmers tied houses.
I thought this was a top notch village pub.

I had to wait for the bus which would take me through Bridport,i had to get off it to the West of Bridport for a short walk up to the small village of Symondsbury.

34: Ilchester Arms

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A really nice looking thatched pub and just as nice once inside.
A stone floor and normal tables and chairs,food was served but did not take over the pub.
Another Palmers tied house and three of their beers on the bar,i had a drink of Palmers Best Bitter,which went down very well.

It was a short walk back to the main road and a short wait for my bus back to Weymouth.

I managed to do 34 Palmers tied houses all but one by public transport and one a short taxi ride from Beaminster to Melplash.
I did do all pubs in Bridport and Lyme Regis that were not Palmers tied houses and did a large crawl round Taunton when i did one Palmers tied house. 

Maps used to do my Palmers Pub Crawls

 Palmers Guides 

Times will get harder health wise in the near future,so not sure when the next post will be.