Uk Barblog

The Pitcher and Piano (Nottingham)

The Pitcher and Piano

Glorious Glorious Pitcher and Piano in Nottingham, the cathedral of modern drinking and I mean this literally. Pitcher and Piano sits inside a huge church that may as well be a cathedral. It has three floors of modern fitted tables and chairs and booths in an array of rounded sections, pews and corners that really makes you feel like you are in a maze of futuristic bars and then you look up and see the stained glass, the huge ceiling and it takes your breath away. The single bar is very long and well stocked with fast serving times and with a menu of Thai food available throughout the day. You would think that with such a magnificent venue more people would be flocking here but alas, this is not the truth, it remains as quiet as the gravestones outside and is the ultimate find, if only people weren't so distracted by the other bars in nottingham close to the river. £2.75 a pint, a large beer garden out front as well.

Its such a shame that it doesn't get more crowded but it is the ultimate spectacle, impressive and well worth at least one night out. Overall 8/10

Oceana (Nottingham)

Oceana (Nightclub)

This is easily the biggest club i have ever been into and I look forward to trying out the others around the country. Oceana is an Uber club in Nottingham town centre. If you are lucky enough to be a student the tickets can cost as little at £3 to get in but proces go up from there. Expect to queue for a short while even first thing in the evening and its always the best idea to get there early. On entering i am told that the place is basically split up into a network for about five small bars and that these rooms all open out on to a centralised club or "rave" arena. The explanation could not have been more bland and all the surrounding bars were large and not only that but they were themed as well with each bar serving only selective drinks. For instance cider was only available in the "Ski Lodge" bar.

I could go into massive detail about the place but its utterly huge. By the time you've had a drink in each bar you cant remember what the first one looks like. the only downside was the commercialness of the place. The main room splattered out a couple of RnB hits followed by Dance and then Punk rock and by the end of the night it was so packed that you were waiting at any bar in excess of half an hour and at £2.50 a pint it was a little expensive for nottingham.

Overall 8/10. These places are great for a massive night but expect not to be able to hear yourself talk in any room. Dont be tempted and spend all night in just one room, its the variety which drives the night, enjoy!

The Waterfront (Nottingham)

The Waterfront

This bar is accessible from the street and from the edge of the river. Its back garden overlooks the banks and in a flood of chrome lights up this whole area. One of the most wonderful of beer gardens for the summer. When entering from the front you come up some side stairs into a foyer with the bar directly ahead of you, and its about £2.50 a pint. The staff are friendly but the service is a little slow and when the sun comes out during University term time (Sept-June) this place gets pretty packed. On the first floor are couches and comfortable tables. The stairs then take you up to the next floor with a balcony, Tv's showing sport, a table football table and a pool table surrounded by leather couches. The stairs (and accessible lift) then continue upward to a large loft area equipped with further seating. There is food available too and the place has a comfortable feel to it even if it dauntingly feels like it will get utterly crowded any minute.

Overall 7/10. Great place to bring a crowd and apparently incredible place to watch the football.

The Wetherspoons (Nottingham)

The Wetherspoons

Okay, worst picture in the world right? Well in fact this isnt a half bad wetherspoons, for one this it is certainly big enough. Downstairs you find a smokey haven of a long passage way beside the bar down to an open space area of food-orientated tables at the far end. I am told its a safe bet that you'll never bump into any trouble in here, the renound Nottingham crime seems to have escaped this particular venue! Getting to the bar i find they serve the heaven of all drinks: Kopperberg Summer fruits! what joy and just in time for the sunshine. The bar staff are friendly and fast although it does seem to be alittle more expensive that you're regular wetherspoons. The upstairs is a little different- great views of the town centre, bright and with another bar, not serving as quickly as the one downstairs.

An amazing location for a pub with taxi rank and tram pulling up outside but the place lacks one thing- any character and for that it sits on an average 6/10.

Olde trip to Jerusalem (Nottingham)

Olde trip to Jerusalem

Hailed as the oldest Inn in England this pub serves a community of old men, tourists and students. Built into the caves underneath Nottingham castle- this little place dates from the crusades and has its own brand of clothing with the mark of the oldest inn in the world. Tacky to be sure but the place has an authentic feel about it with tiny corridors, nooks and crannies glalore all bathing in the half glow of candles as the light is rather dim. There are two beer gardens and dispite the size it is easy to get a little disorientated. Eventually i find the bar- a small hoel in a walla nd find spirit and mixer to be £2.50. Not the best on price btu then its all just novelty and once its warn off and you're no longer afraid for the four something ghosts that supposedly haunt the place you can head of down the road in search of newer pastures.

Overall a novel 5/10 but it would get old quickly.

The Old Peacock (Nottingham)

The Old Peacock

Okay the worst picture on the face of the earth right? Dont be fooled, this is a lovely bit of pub set on one of nottinghams busiest roads heading straight into the city. Entering you find youself looking at the corner of a bar with a chamber to your left with stumpy tables, rock music, woody acoustics and a hazy outback feel and to the right the blare of Tv and a pool table. Out the back one can find a school of picnic tables which serve as the weird little pub garden as theres not a spot of lawn. The drinks are dead chjeap at about £1 a shot, pints are more expesive at £2.60 and the place is constantly in movment with stufdents coming in and out buying tickets for the local events and nights out. Not the best pub in Nottingham by far but worth a beer or two.

Overall a pretty tame 6/10. Nothing to set it apart from the awesome lineup of nottingham!

BZR Bar (Nottingham)

BZR Bar

The rumour that it stands for Bizarre Bar but in fact no the three letters is all thanks I am told as we make our way up the steep hill towards nottingham castle only to turn off last minute into a rather snazzy little bar over the road. Up the stairs through the large white doors and round some pillars and you are presented with a completely circulr bar serving student types who are seated in hotspots around the bar and off into little corners. We take up stools at the bar and here I am told about the special deal where three shots and a mixer cost the same as one shot and mixer. Hence three shots of vodka and a leomnade later and I've only spent £2.50. There bar staff were very pleasent and the place is teeming with talent. Come ten pm however I lose my chair as the area around the bar is designated for dancing and the music turn to a sour disco beat and I'm off.

Overall a nice place to spot for a drink but wouldnt choose to hang in here- what a deal though- 6/10.

The Pit and Pendulum (Nottingham)

The Pit and Pendulum

Another seven deadly sins bar- okay I'm not sure exactly what the name of this chain it but they serve some great cocktails alongside a goth atmosphere and its the best themed chain. This venue in particular is lit up out front by an everlasting flaming torch, and on entering the pounding rock music hits you in a wave of splendour. The interior is large with German medieval decor and heavy middle-aged furniture. There are sculptures of gargoyles on the walls and tons of seating with the toilets behind a bookcase. At first look it seems popular until you realise its got a basement as well with nooks and crannies to get lost in. There are two entrances to this venue on separate streets and two bars both served by friendly staff. Despite the theme it is clean and well kept and the cocktails are £2.75 each. Apparently on Wednesday nights they serve shots at £1 each and even if the novelty wore off the music is totally uplifting.

Overall a 7/10. The only problems were the lack of drinks menus and the slight cold shoulder of some clientele.

Bag O Nails Bar (Nottingham)

Bag O Nails Bar

Standing outside it looks rather like a plastic conservatory stuck up to hold only against the slightest wind and to just serve as a shelter for those youth that would rather drown there sorrows and pocket change than save it up for a decent night out closer to the middle of town. A student pub which feels like it made entirely of fabric in summary. Lots of Random Shots but sod all on tap. It is very cheap and looks it too. Decoarted with plastic chairs and tables and very odd looking leather sofas. Everyone inside must be under the age of twenty, its pretty small and aside from the football on in the corner i would have said it had no atmosphere, not even the bar staff were friendly.

Overall an unimpressive 2/10, not worth the effort when theres so much better to choose from in the city of alcohol haven.

Langtrys (Nottingham)

Langtrys

A nice corner pub on the high street witha  perfect location for a couple of beers before popping to see a movie at the enormous cinema complex next door. Going in you find yourself standing at the bar with tables veering off the the right and a walkway ahead heading to the back of the pub where there is another back entrance. There ale on tap and drinks cost about £1.30 for a half. The bar staff are not very friendly and take to spilling your ale about the shop giving knowing glances to the housewives and 30 somethings that fill the place. The floors are wooden becoming a plateau towards the back which trail off down a corridor to the toilets. Theres a games machine but its nothign special and it gets too hot in the summer They have a unique - vote for your favourite ale, system which is cute and you can sit outside if need be.

Attitude aside this pub gets a moderate 5/10. Good location for ale lovers.

The Roebuck Inn (Nottingham)

The Roebuck Inn (wetherspoons)

yes indeed, another wetherspoons and not a stone's throw away from the slightly larger one in Nottingham town centre. The roebuck inn allows its punters to enter into a small porch-way and into a much larger bar area which winds round to the right and though some archways you find yourself in what feels like a a smokey bookies with football on the telly and old men and woman gagging on grammatical errors. Funnily enough its a non-smoking pub so I'm not sure how that works. There is nasty green carpets throughout and some games machines. there is a gallery above the bar which you can get to from some stairs in the far corner. The place gets quite popular in the day but never seems too busy cos its so big. Has a very laid back local appeal and is of course cheap- cheaper in fact than the wetherspoons down the road.

A spice of character which most other 'spoons lack- overall 6/10.

The Boat Inn (Lenton - Nottingham)

The Boat Inn

This small friendly local is set just outside the city centre, about a twenty minute walk to be precise. Just inside the front fdoor is a square room plastered with boat parafinalia. There is a bar to the left and a lot of seating dotted about making private alcoves and nicely lit corners. It is not actually as small as it may look from the outside as it trails off into a pretty large beer garden which is very nice on quiet days in the hot sun of summer. The music is 80's pop ballards and there is karioke at the weekends There is a dodgy old games machine and the bar offers a fast and friendly service at about two fifty a pint. it is actually more popular than you'd imagine and the crowd is of mixed ages. Expect lockins and a pretty long history and heritage in these parts.

Overall a 6/10 but what my boy Liam calls "a true classic"

The Grove (Nottingham)

The Grove

Diving into the grove for a couple is definitely a good idea especially during the football season. There are good views of several screens and a good support for the team of the moment. The place is laid out on two floors and as you come in you swing round to a bar on your right which follows round the bar to take you outdoors to a beer garden. I wouldnt recommned the garden as the place essentially sits on a busy roundabout but the rest of the pub is pretty sound. The food is good and there are games machines as well. Friendly female bar staff and although not a well stocked bar there are local ciders on tap which always gets the thumbs up form me! The tables are assorted high chairs, stools and booths and beer costs from £1.80 a pint. Although it has quite a traditional feel it still sports a good variety of entertainment with a pool table, darts board and a weekly quiz as well.

No complaints from me and the cider was great! Overall 7/10.

Cucamara Bar (Nottingham)

Cucamara Bar

Slipping down a side alley in the wonderful streets of nottingham brings one to a strange bar with zealous popularity among bar crawlign students. There is an id check on the door before you make your way up the stairs to a wide dancefloor with the bar to your right and small tables to the left. The bar is well stocked and at two fifty for a storng cocktail and I mean strong, its off to a good start! This place also stocks Psang Ambon (in a dodgy looking bottle behind the bar called Velvet Banana Shot) and many shots at only a pound each. There is dance music in the air and serving times are fast with prozes to give away if you can get through enough shots. The toilets are pretty good as well- even featured on the BBC website. Definitely worth the money, any bar that serves sambuca and a pound a shot rules and although it seems quiet young crowds are in and out all night long.

Overall 7/10