Shock as ‘to let’ sign goes up at ‘cracking’ pub
LORD NELSON REMAINS SHUT AS NEW LANDLORD IS SOUGHT
REGULARS at a Sneinton pub said they were “astounded” to find out it wasn’t due to reopen following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
National pub chain Greene King is looking for a new tenant for the Lord Nelson and a “to let” sign has been put up outside.
With pub beer gardens being able to from April 12, punters at the Lord Nelson say it is an important part of the community and hope a new tenant can be found quickly.
Ian Mcarthur, 40, who used to visit once a week, said: “I am astounded they have not opened the beer garden. It is big – they could do a decent trade.
“The locals would definitely be in there. It’s a really lovely pub, there’s a lot of people that go there every day, for the social side – it’s a popular social hub. People look out for each other, it has a family feel.
“They care about the area, they care about what is going on.”
The web designer, who lives in Bakersfield, added: “It’s paramount that the pub gets reopened as soon as possible.”
For people who have lived in the area, he said the pub, in Lord Nelson Street, has been a part of their lives in some way.
“Everybody I have spoken to has really fond memories of it,” he said.
“When I was commuting to work, I could have easily stopped in the city to have a pint on the way home. I always chose to go to the Nelson.
“It was more relaxed and friendly. It’s almost like going into someone’s house.
“You go to a city pub, or a city bar, it’s a bit more clinical – not quite the same feel.”
The dad-of-three added that the pub reopening in any capacity “would be more beneficial than to be sat there doing nothing”.
“It just feels like a wasted opportunity at the moment,” he added.
Other pubs in the area have shut down, Mr Mcarthur said.
“There was The Dale, The Jester and
The Fox. There were a substantial amount of pubs in the area. They all seem to have shut down and changed purpose.”
Real ale campaigners also said it was “absolutely crucial” the Nelson opens again.
Steve Westby, chairman of the Nottingham branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), added: “I have been to it many, many times over a long period. It must be 50-odd years since I first went there.
“It has always been a cracking little pub. You do not expect to find such a gem of a place where it’s hidden.
“It’s just an old farmhouse, you get that old feel from it – it was built in the 1700s. It was a very much a community pub, well-used by the locals but people used to travel to it as well.
“It was so unique, when I first went there I lived in Arnold. I would often make the journey out there because it was so special.”
He explained that a group of residents were in the process of collecting signatures in a bid for the pub to once again become recognised an asset of community value – “to give the pub further protection” – after its previous protected status expired.
He added: “It’s important it stays as a pub. There is always a fear that it can be bought for another purpose – it would need to get change of use with the city council.”
Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, said: “I was sad to hear of the Lord Nelson’s closure. The pub has been at the centre of the local community, hosting a wide range of events and meet-ups over the years.
“It would be a huge waste for it to sit empty and unused. I hope it can be reopened as soon as possible.”
A spokeswoman for Greene King said: “We are working hard to get the Lord Nelson back open again for the community once more. We have had interest from a few parties in running the pub and are currently holding interviews.
“While it wouldn’t be viable for the pub to reopen at the moment, we do hope it can reopen once restrictions are lifted further.”