Willowbrook’s success story

ON Main Street in the heart of Gedling is the beautiful 1930s Art Deco building that is the Willowbrook.

Originally a club, the pub was opened by Castle Rock in 2013, and quickly became a firm favourite with locals.

In 2015 the Willowbrook suffered a devastating fire, but was rebuilt and has gone from strength to strength ever since, becoming a true community pub.

The Willowbrook is a large, spacious pub with a contemporary feel.

At the back of the pub, the decor pays homage to the Art Deco design of the building, with the wall art being distinctly 1930s.

This area is also the dining part of the pub, so this is the only area where your dogs aren’t allow to enjoy a drink with you.

There are two beer gardens, one at the front of the pub looking onto Main Street, and the other a courtyard-type area with plenty of marquees for those that would like some shade.

Cask is king at the Willowbrook with 12 cask lines.

Castle Rock Brewery’s core flagship beers Harvest Pale and Elsie Mo are always available, two lines of each, showing how popular these beers are with the locals, along with four rotating and new brews from Castle Rock.

The other four cask lines are guest beers, with the focus to be as local as possible.

I had Castle Rock’s On the Spritz, a 3.8% spiced pale ale with elderflower and ginger.

A beautifully delicate beer, with the floral notes of the elderflower really shining through the light hops.

A crisp finish with a lingering taste of ginger makes for a very refreshing and easily drinkable beer.

Next I chose something from the craft beer fridge. A small selection consisting of the likes of Brewdog, Beavertown and Tiny Rebel, brands which are approachable in being a stepping stone into craft beer, and some exciting beers from lesser-known breweries.

I had a 7% Sour IPA brewed by Hudson Valley in Beacon, New York. Made with coconut, passionfruit, banana and orange peel and hopped with citrus forward hops, this beer is incredibly complex. Whilst all flavours work together, the tart and creamy passionfruit shines through.

The Willowbrook has three traditional ciders on cask, and is also a part of Nottingham’s July Cider Saunter, so you can expect something different on the cider lines for July.

The Willowbrook continues to be a friendly, welcoming community pub, with its focus on great beer and showcasing the best of Castle Rock Brewery cask beers.