The Old Volunteer, Carlton

Now reopened as the brewery tap for Flipside Brewery The Old Volunteer is a really smart real ale pub. Great staff and really well decorated.

Crafty Crow

The new brewery tap for the Magpie Brewery is open. The former BZR is now a smart corner pub facing Nottingham Castle and has a smart contemporary and airy feeling. The service was OK - maybe more staff needed. But the beer was very good.

Starting Gate, Colwick

Something of a surprise. I'd never been but always assumed it was a bit of a neglected estate pub hidden away in Colwick. But we were pleasantly surprised by how smart this Barras pub was, how busy and how welcome we were made. Never judge a book by its cover. The beer was good too. Football on all screens as it was the last day of the Premier League 2014 but there was a good atmosphere.

It's Inn The Bank, Netherfield

Obviously a former bank, this corner pub in Netherfield was lively on a Sunday afternoon in May. Football and lager sums it up. Good to see it doing well. Not for real ale drinkers though.

Willowbrook

Castle Rock's latest pub. Been open just a few weeks and still smells of fresh paint. A former members only club in Gedling. Great to see a quality local brewery opening a new pub. Beer is great, of course. Typical Castle Rock pub with wide open spaces inside but in this case a screen showing football. Not my type of pub ambience but good beer in a busy new pub that has certainly cornered the market in Gedling. Long may it thrive.

The Ropewalk

Smart, modern "Scream" pub with awesome ale. And decent food. A chain pub but at the better end of the spectrum.

UPDATE MARCH 2019 : CLOSED

Mechanics Arms

So pleased to find this place has finally reopened. I was convinced that this place would be sold as flats. Welcoming, good fun staff and regulars. And decent real ale. I had Bishop's Farewell. And the food appears to be awesome too. A great, old fashioned, unspoilt traditional city pub. Will be back very soon!

UPDATE MARCH 2019 : CLOSED

UPDATE DECEMBER 2020 : FLATTENED