Category: Real Ale Group

Our November meeting on Thursday 16^th explored some of the micro pubs and beer rooms available locally. Four of the five were formerly shops.

The Baker and Bear was originally the site of No 1 Co op in Hucknall. Horse and cart deliveries were taken at the side passage. Before converting to a single room pub and providing exercise for the right arm it was also a gym.   Old Legover proved a very popular beer here brewed by Daleside. I cannot think why it was so popular with the group.

The Beer Shack opened in 2013 and claims to be Hucknall’s first micro pub. The fourteen U3A members in attendance completely filled this one room pub. I think some of the locals took flight. There is a pub sign displayed on one wall from the Flying Bedstead which closed shortly before the Beer Shack opened. Also an original sign from the Harrier also now closed.

When we reached The Hideout the party was down to ten. I wonder if the others went back for more Old Legover? This is another converted shop with a cosy cellar complete with wood burner stove.

Then on to The Byron’s Rest which was formerly a sewing shop. The original Byron’s Rest on High Street closed in 1938. This is currently CAMRA’s Nottingham’s cider pub of the year and was runner up for pub of the year. A well remembered name from the past Shipstone’s Gold Star went down well with many members.

The party had dwindled considerably by the time we entered The Pilgrim Oak to finish a very pleasant and memorable night around Hucknall.

Our September outing was on Thursday 21^st, meeting at the tram station to catch the 6.15pm tram to the Lace Market stop. We then had a half mile walk down Hockley to the Sneinton area.

Our first port of call was to The New Bath Inn, a recently renovated establishment, a good selection of beers, but perhaps a little noisy for our delicate ears.

Walking down Bath Street, we came to The New Castle, a small local public house run by an 88 year old landlady named Judith, serving only two real ales, they are always well presented. Unfortunately we could not inspect the recently discovered and dug out cellars as Judith had just had a hip replacement and couldn’t get down the stairs.

Around the corner to The King William IV, more commonly known as the King Billy, always a very good selection of Ales and Stouts, very well known with the real ale folk. Then just around the corner to a new mini bar named The Partizan Tavern, again 2 or 3 beers on selection, these two hostelries were very different but well worth the visit.

Our last port of call was the traditional pub The Fox and Grapes, just across the road and again serving several real ales for our selection, before heading back up the hill of Hockley to catch our tram home.

An excellent night, a good mix of establishments and of course excellent company as always.

Our October outing is on Thursday 12^th when we will be visiting CAMRA’s “The Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival” at the Trent Bridge cricket ground.

On Wednesday 16^th August, 15 members of our Real Ale Group met at Gary and Tina’s abode for our (hopefully) annual BEER B Q.

Tina provided excellent food, beef burgers, pork burgers, spicy burgers, hot dogs and a variety of salads and side dishes, ably cooked by Gary on his barbeque, very expertly cooked, not a burnt offering in sight.

Gary, being a bit of a real ale home brewer, had brewed for us a selection of four beers, an IPA, a Bitter, a Lager and a Stout, all excellent and very moreish.

Well done Tina and Gary, a brilliant evening, assisted by good weather and excellent company, thanks to all.

Our next outing will be on Thursday 21st September, it has been requested that we revisit the Sneinton area where we can find, The Bath Inn, The King William IV (King Billy), The New Castle (try and access the cellar) The Partizan Tavern (micropub) and possibly The Fox & Grape.

On Wednesday, 19^th July, 16 of us met at 6.30pm to catch the tram to Nottingham Midland Train Station, then a bus down to Trent Bridge. Long live the travel passes!

We visited three public houses around the Trent Bridge area, the Trent Navigation, then the Embankment, then the Brewhouse. All sold reasonable beer, but the Brewhouse was both expensive and not well attended.

John Saunders had prepared two quizzes, and we split into two teams for a very hotly contested outcome, each team won one quiz and so onto tie breakers. After four drawn tie breakers, John announced a draw

We then caught the bus back up to Midland Station, and visited our final pub, the Vat and Fiddle, always an excellent choice to finish up in. Back through the station to catch the tram home to Hucknall.

Many thanks to John Saunders for organising the night.

On 15th June we chose the Moody Squires micro pub at Annesley, catching the bus there and back and finishing off what was a really enjoyable night at Wetherspoons in Hucknall.

Melissa, who runs Moody Squires, was as hospitable as usual and had put on three different beers for us to sample, some from the Dancing Duck brewery, needless to say we duly obliged. She also kindly laid on a rather large Pork Pie, some home-made bread and home-made Beetroot Pickle, which were delicious.

It was a glorious evening and we were able to sit outside in the ‘beer garden’ area, putting the world to rights over a pint and Pork Pie. We came back on the 9.45 bus and finished the night off in Wetherspoons.

Many thanks to Mark Thornley for organising the night.

July’s outing to be organised by John Saunders.