They range from eye-catching historical features to more obscure additions
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06:00, 3 APR 2026
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Nottinghamshire has a wealth of brilliant pubs and a number of them have rather unusual features that draw attention.
Some are historical, others are a more recent quirky addition with a fun twist. This list includes a pub boasting 2p pushers and a donkey derby, while another is themed on the beauty of the railways – and is made to look like a railway station too.
Here’s a round-up of pubs in the city centre and across the county with something extra to catch your eye, from canal boats to a well and a pregnancy chair to an unexplained road sign.
Bread & Bitter The pub at Mapperley Top has plenty of nooks and crannies and one of the most unusual features is worth seeking out. Diners can sit right next to a wall of old original bakery ovens as shown in the main image. They were retained in a conversion in 2007 when Nottingham’s Castle Rock Brewery and pub company took over what was for many years Judge’s Bakery, until its closure in 1991. The photo taken below by John Dean shows how the bakery looked back in the day.1 of 17ShareComments
Bread & Bitter
The pub at Mapperley Top has plenty of nooks and crannies and one of the most unusual features is worth seeking out. Diners can sit right next to a wall of old original bakery ovens as shown in the main image.
They were retained in a conversion in 2007 when Nottingham’s Castle Rock Brewery and pub company took over what was for many years Judge’s Bakery, until its closure in 1991.
The photo taken below by John Dean shows how the bakery looked back in the day.
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Pit & Pendulum The stylised gothic interior of the pub in Victoria Street, Nottingham, transports you to the world of dungeons and alchemy. If you’re not in the know, you could spend a while searching for the loos which are hidden behind a bookcase wall.2 of 17ShareComments
Pit & Pendulum
The stylised gothic interior of the pub in Victoria Street, Nottingham, transports you to the world of dungeons and alchemy.
If you’re not in the know, you could spend a while searching for the loos which are hidden behind a bookcase wall.
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The Lion at Basford The dog-friendly pub, in Mosley Street, has a well right in the middle of the bar room. Going down two storeys, it’s believed to be one of the deepest in Nottingham. The limestone well is used as the pub’s cask cellar and visitors can view the drop through one of the portholes at the top of the well. Fresh casks are dropped in by a steel girder and winch above.3 of 17ShareComments
The Lion at Basford
The dog-friendly pub, in Mosley Street, has a well right in the middle of the bar room. Going down two storeys, it’s believed to be one of the deepest in Nottingham.
The limestone well is used as the pub’s cask cellar and visitors can view the drop through one of the portholes at the top of the well.
Fresh casks are dropped in by a steel girder and winch above.
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The Bell InnThe 15th century pub also has wells going down to the cellar which were used by monks for brewing. Another quirky feature is the leprosy window in the narrow entrance to the pub in Angel Row. Legend has it that the small window was used during medieval times to check the fingers of patrons for any sign of deformity. If there was, they wouldn’t be allowed entry in a bid to halt the spread of the contagious disease.4 of 17ShareComments
The Bell Inn
The 15th century pub also has wells going down to the cellar which were used by monks for brewing. Another quirky feature is the leprosy window in the narrow entrance to the pub in Angel Row.
Legend has it that the small window was used during medieval times to check the fingers of patrons for any sign of deformity. If there was, they wouldn’t be allowed entry in a bid to halt the spread of the contagious disease.
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The Peacock The pub, where novelist DH Lawrence is rumoured to have used the former upstairs hotel as a refuge when writing, still boasts a 1930s-style lounge with carved bench seating. The Grade II listed pub, in Mansfield Road, Nottingham, is one of the few to have a table bell-push service. (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)5 of 17ShareComments
The Peacock
The pub, where novelist DH Lawrence is rumoured to have used the former upstairs hotel as a refuge when writing, still boasts a 1930s-style lounge with carved bench seating.
The Grade II listed pub, in Mansfield Road, Nottingham, is one of the few to have a table bell-push service.
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The CanalhouseFirst timers to the Nottingham pub are taken aback to find part of the canal within the Grade II listed building. Once a canal museum, the pub Canal Street, is also home to two narrowboats and a footbridge leading to the bar.6 of 17ShareComments
The Canalhouse
First timers to the Nottingham pub are taken aback to find part of the canal within the Grade II listed building.
Once a canal museum, the pub Canal Street, is also home to two narrowboats and a footbridge leading to the bar.
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Hand & Heart One of Nottingham’s most unique pubs, the Hand & Heart, is built into the sandstone caves along Derby Road. It’s not the only atmospheric spot to sup a pint along that stretch. Next door neighbour, Raglan Road Irish pub, is also built into the caves. (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)7 of 17ShareComments
Hand & Heart
One of Nottingham’s most unique pubs, the Hand & Heart, is built into the sandstone caves along Derby Road.
It’s not the only atmospheric spot to sup a pint along that stretch. Next door neighbour, Raglan Road Irish pub, is also built into the caves.
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The Malt Cross There’s nowhere nicer to sit on a sunny day, when light streams in through the striking glass roof spanning the length of the building, a former Victorian music hall in St James’s Street, Nottingham. The roof is hailed a masterpiece of Victorian engineering, comprising a series of intricate wrought iron trusses and glazed panels. (Image: Ian Hodgkinson / Picture It)8 of 17ShareComments
The Malt Cross
There’s nowhere nicer to sit on a sunny day, when light streams in through the striking glass roof spanning the length of the building, a former Victorian music hall in St James’s Street, Nottingham.
The roof is hailed a masterpiece of Victorian engineering, comprising a series of intricate wrought iron trusses and glazed panels.
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The Bath InnIt doesn’t get quirkier than the wonderfully eccentric pub in Sneinton, both inside and out. The revival Egyptian-style facade is awash with colourful hanging baskets during the summer and come winter, it’s illuminated by Christmas trees with thousands of fairy lights. An eclectic mix of objets d’art liven up the interior — a diver over the bar, a working 1930’s telephone, a gramophone and a display of spangling Elton John caps, not forgetting a replica Tutankhamun sarcophagus in the corner. (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)9 of 17ShareComments
The Bath Inn
It doesn’t get quirkier than the wonderfully eccentric pub in Sneinton, both inside and out.
The revival Egyptian-style facade is awash with colourful hanging baskets during the summer and come winter, it’s illuminated by Christmas trees with thousands of fairy lights.
An eclectic mix of objets d’art liven up the interior — a diver over the bar, a working 1930’s telephone, a gramophone and a display of spangling Elton John caps, not forgetting a replica Tutankhamun sarcophagus in the corner.
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Penny Lane The only pub in Nottingham to double up as a fairground arcade, Penny Lane has a 2p pushers, a donkey derby, skee ball and claw machines where you can win a cuddly toy. The nostalgic games in Fletcher Gate are a throwback to seaside holidays coupled with fun cocktails. (Image: Nottingham Post)10 of 17ShareComments
Penny Lane
The only pub in Nottingham to double up as a fairground arcade, Penny Lane has a 2p pushers, a donkey derby, skee ball and claw machines where you can win a cuddly toy.
The nostalgic games in Fletcher Gate are a throwback to seaside holidays coupled with fun cocktails.
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Ye Olde Trip to JerusalemSaid to be the oldest surviving pub in England, the Trip first opened its doors in 1189 and over the centuries has become home to many quirky artefacts. As well as the cursed galleon, where death befell anyone who touched it, there is an antique chair which is said to boost a woman’s chances of getting pregnant after sitting in it. (Image: Notts TV)11 of 17ShareComments
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
Said to be the oldest surviving pub in England, the Trip first opened its doors in 1189 and over the centuries has become home to many quirky artefacts.
As well as the cursed galleon, where death befell anyone who touched it, there is an antique chair which is said to boost a woman’s chances of getting pregnant after sitting in it.
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The Pitcher & Piano A stunning stained glass window makes the bar in High Pavement, Nottingham, a stand out feature. Once worshippers knelt at the altar, now punters queue at the bar. The former Unitarian Chapel closed in the 1980s and in-between becoming a bar in 1998, it was home to Nottingham Lace Hall.12 of 17ShareComments
The Pitcher & Piano
A stunning stained glass window makes the bar in High Pavement, Nottingham, a stand out feature.
Once worshippers knelt at the altar, now punters queue at the bar.
The former Unitarian Chapel closed in the 1980s and in-between becoming a bar in 1998, it was home to Nottingham Lace Hall.
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The Flying Circus As well as being known for its live music, the pub, in Castle Gate, Newark, is home to themed memorabilia. Monty Python quotes from some of the famous sketches and brewery logos decorate the walls, and vintage model aircraft hang from the ceiling.13 of 17ShareComments
The Flying Circus
As well as being known for its live music, the pub, in Castle Gate, Newark, is home to themed memorabilia.
Monty Python quotes from some of the famous sketches and brewery logos decorate the walls, and vintage model aircraft hang from the ceiling.
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The Final Whistle The railway-themed pub, in Station Road, Southwell, has an enclave inside dedicated to first class. Outside has been designed to look like a train station, complete with a track and platform, where drinkers can enjoy an alfresco tipple. It brings a new dimension to what was previously a run-of-the-mill car park. (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)14 of 17ShareComments
The Final Whistle
The railway-themed pub, in Station Road, Southwell, has an enclave inside dedicated to first class.
Outside has been designed to look like a train station, complete with a track and platform, where drinkers can enjoy an alfresco tipple. It brings a new dimension to what was previously a run-of-the-mill car park.
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Crown Inn The popular pub in Church Street, Beeston, has a street sign on the wall for ‘Stoke Wood Road’ that’s a bit of a mystery. The only Stoke Wood Road in the UK is in Bournemouth. One of the Beeston locals reckons that a former landlord fell in love with a woman from Bournemouth whilst on holiday. The story goes that he couldn’t move there and she couldn’t move to Beeston, so he stole the sign from the end of her road as a reminder of her and put it up on the pub wall.15 of 17ShareComments
Crown Inn
The popular pub in Church Street, Beeston, has a street sign on the wall for ‘Stoke Wood Road’ that’s a bit of a mystery.
The only Stoke Wood Road in the UK is in Bournemouth. One of the Beeston locals reckons that a former landlord fell in love with a woman from Bournemouth whilst on holiday.
The story goes that he couldn’t move there and she couldn’t move to Beeston, so he stole the sign from the end of her road as a reminder of her and put it up on the pub wall.
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Raglan Road The Irish bar, in Derby Road, Nottingham, has a rather unusual latrine in the gents toilet emblazoned with the face of US President Donald Trump. The owner tells us it’s photographed every day. Before that it was a picture of Russians President Vladimir Putin. (Image: Ged Dowling)16 of 17ShareComments
Raglan Road
The Irish bar, in Derby Road, Nottingham, has a rather unusual latrine in the gents toilet emblazoned with the face of US President Donald Trump. The owner tells us it’s photographed every day.
Before that it was a picture of Russians President Vladimir Putin.
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Castle Barge A floating bar in Newark is an unconventional spot for a drink. Once a Spillers grain barge plying its trade between Hull and Gainsborough, it was converted intoa public house in 1980. Moored at Town Wharf, sit at the stern or on the deck. A nautical theme runs throughout with red and white lifebuoys and steering wheels on the walls, ships’ lanterns, framed pictures of boating knots, and a brass ship’s telegraph in the gangway — a piece of equipment that told the engine room what speed to go.17 of 17ShareComments
Castle Barge
A floating bar in Newark is an unconventional spot for a drink. Once a Spillers grain barge plying its trade between Hull and Gainsborough, it was converted intoa public house in 1980.
Moored at Town Wharf, sit at the stern or on the deck. A nautical theme runs throughout with red and white lifebuoys and steering wheels on the walls, ships’ lanterns, framed pictures of boating knots, and a brass ship’s telegraph in the gangway — a piece of equipment that told the engine room what speed to go.
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Pubs and bars in Nottingham
food&drink
Nottingham City Centre
Sneinton