Inn For a Penny

This pub in Carlton has character. They were serving chip butties and sausages for the football team when we arrived. It's smart, apparently buzzing on a Saturday night with a DJ and karaoke. And the Hardy and Hanson Best Bitter was great.

Westdale Tavern

A traditional estate pub, now owned by Greene King. Serves a decent pint of IPA, had a friendly welcome and was smart. But it's a chain. So you know what you're getting. TV is on, plenty of diners. Pleased it's going strong though.

UPDATE MARCH 2019 :  CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED 2017

Coffee Grinder

Here we have a classic Home Ales pub, reopened. Only, when it closed as a pub it became a coffee house. And now it's a pub again. And its identity sits somewhere between the two. Blue Monkey is a top end local real ale brewery so rest assured that the ale is of a high standard - the BG Sips was great - but the focus is just as much on coffee as beer. And the ambience feels more like a Costa than a pub. So mixed emotions about this one. Still, good to see a classic pub trading in 2016. 

Running Horse

Finally I made it to this classic corner pub. Still retaining the exterior green tiles, this is one of the last remaining pubs on Alfreton Road. It's a gig venue and looks like it; music memorabilia on the wall, a small stage in the corner and it's dark. The bar is at the rear down some stairs. 2 real ales on when we went. Both fresh on. The Black Sheep was very nice.