I started from the north-east corner of the Old Market Square, headed east along Smithy Row and turned north up Clumber Street and Milton Street, past the Victoria Centre (this area is undergoing major redevelopment as of 2005) and on up Mansfield Road.

About 5-10 minutes along on the left is the Lincolnshire Poacher, a Castle Rock Brewery pub, although it was still sporting a Bateman's sign. Bateman's then-new golden beer Valiant was on, as well as Westons vintage cider and Castle Rock Gold, as part of its ever-changing range of up to ten. There's a no-smoking room and conservatory to the rear but the front bar wasn't noticeably smoky. The decor is classic, with the likes of old pub mirrors and glass screens above the bar. There was no music.

This area has a certain vibe, making me think afterwards it could be Nottingham's equivalent of Mill Road in Cambridge.

Almost opposite the Poacher, down the hill a bit, is the Nagshead, which had Charles Wells Bombardier and several others beers on. (Not visited).

Back southwards down the hill on the east side, at the junction with Union Road, is the Rose of England, a very distinctive building with a brick and wood exterior. Beers included Bombardier, Adnams, Greene King and guests. Each table had a wine menu with a good range on offer. There's a no-smoking corner to the left of the main bar. The music playing was a bit too loud for conversation and then had to compete with Sky soccer.

Carrying on southwards, past the Victoria Centre again, and crossing to the southern side of Trinity Square led to Forman Street. At the junction with South Sherwood Street is Langtrys, opposite the Theatre Royal and the Royal Centre tram stop. Caledonian Deuchars IPA is a regular, with an ever-changing range of guests - Harvey's Sussex Bitter, Sheps Masterbrew, Flowers IPA, Batemans XXXB and London Pride on this occasion. There was a mixed crowd but generally it seemed youth-oriented, with loudish music; busy yet with free tables, partly as there were many sitting outside. The lowish ceilings contrasted with modern wood panelling and lots of garish chalkboards.

Next I crossed Upper Parliament Street and headed south down Market Street, veering right to Angel Row and the Bell Inn, one of the classic ancient pubs of Nottingham. It's operated by Hardy & Hanson, with a wide selection of guest beers too (e.g. Cavendish Gold and W. Smith's Declaration in this case). There are two bars at the front, a music bar at the back and the Belfry restaurant upstairs.

This was a very pleasant trip but only as it was mid-week: Friday and Saturday nights have a very different reputation! Apparently the 40,000+ student population prefer the Lace Market area to avoid the troubles common to all British town centres.

Ian Kitching

The Cast bar in Nottingham Playhouse (just off the roundbout at the north-west end of Maid Marian Way) features Nottingham brewery beers. Nearby at the Tollhouse Hill/Upper Parliament Street junction is the Gatehouse, with four beers including Nottingham Rock Bitter.

A little to the south and east from Langtrys, along Upper Parliament Street, is the Coach & Horses, a busy traditional pub with several handpumps. The adjacent King Street has various chain restaurants: Pizza Express, Loch Fyne & Zizzi.

The south side of the Old Market Square has a JD Wetherspoon bar ("Wetherspoons") and there's a more pubby one nearby in St James St ("the Roebuck").

In the Lace Market area, opposite the Galleries of Justice on High Pavement, is the Cock & Hoop, a no-smoking pub with a good range of beers and wines.

South-east of the castle rock at Brewhouse Yard is the world-famous and ancient Olde Trip to Jerusalem, with Handy & Hanson beers and guests.

South & east of the castle, on the south side of Canal Street, near Carrington Street, is Fellows, Morton & Clayton, an impressive warehouse conversion. It has its own beers plus guests.

Footnotes

Watch out in pubs for the excellent Nottingham Drinker, the local CAMRA newsletter, and its supplement ND Top Up. ND includes a list of late-night drinking pubs, an established feature of the City (long before the new Licensing Act). There's also a Real Ale Music Diary. The Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram system opened in 2004 and has triggered changes in central Nottingham, most noticeably for me in the Old Market Square. It's fast, frequent and cheap. If arriving by train, I recommend using the footbridge from the station to the NET station and catching a tram to the Old Market Square (any tram; journey approx 6 mins; pay on board £1.00).