Want a pub crawl in Sneinton? Start by jumping in the Bath
WHERE TO GO FOR A PINT IN AREA LOVED BY BEER FANS
NOTTINGHAM has no shortage of excellent pubs and restaurants dotted throughout the city. When it comes to a decent pub crawl, Sneinton has gained a following of beer fans thanks to a series of new pubs and breweries that now call the area home.
There are plenty of places to choose from including Neon Raptor, Liquid Light, King Billy and the Fox and Grapes. However, where to start and what to watch out for? We’ve rounded up our pick of the places, hidden treats to watch out for and also, the best route to take to make sure you get a chance to take it all in.
Grab your most comfortable walking shoes and let’s begin.
THE BATH INN
Handel Street
The best place to start any pub crawl is to get as central to the action as possible. The Bath Inn, just off Sneinton Market, offers a great starting point based on its beer selection alone. The pub has had a makeover in recent months into the beautiful bar it is today.
Owner, Piers Wheatcroft Baker, decided to reopen the pub after realising its potential to be a great community hub. He said: “We want to offer them [customers] a creative, community pub offering the locals real ales, craft beers, and an excellent selection of wines.”
It’s not just craft beers and wine that customers keep returning for as the bar has a welcoming and warm atmosphere. Customers pop in to play the real piano situated just inside one of the doors and if you are lucky, you may hear a tune or two from talented locals.
Our pick of the pub: Start out with some real local brews as the Sneinton Cider Company is stocked here, and sitting outside in the sun is a great way to people watch as it looks out onto the busy market.
LIQUID LIGHT Unit 9, Alfred Street
Liquid Light just celebrated its one-year anniversary of being located at the retail unit on Alfred Street. It might feel a bit strange heading to a retail unit for a pint, but bear with us, as it’s an absolute find when you get there.
The brewery has gained a cult following in recent months thanks to good quality beer, sun trap smoking area and its psychedelic light show evenings. The pub is also very dog-friendly so expect to see an array of cute pets at any time.
The staff are really knowledgeable about the beers and spirits they sell, so if you are feeling like trying something new, they can recommend something truly special. They have been known to do quirky collaborations too, so there is a chance to find something a little bit limited edition while you visit.
Our pick of the pub: Liquid Light has recently been joined by vegan burger experts Mocky D, so this is a great excuse to pick up a bit of soakage ahead of your tour.
NEON RAPTOR Sneinton Market
After the brewery, the next stop has got to be Neon Raptor for an excellent pint or two in the depths of Sneinton Market’s units. The popular taproom is a great spot to head to when the sun is out thanks to its outside seating. It’s a little bit of a sun trap and an oasis of calm amidst the busy Snienton streets.
There are some really unique beers on offer at Neon Raptor including their newest collaboration with some of the city’s other amazing breweries such as Black Iris. Liquid Light, Black Iris and Neon Raptor combined forces to create ‘totally black neon light’ pale ale, which is on sale now through the taproom.
Our pick of the pub: If you fancy calling it a night at this point, it’s worth noting that the taproom offers a ‘discovery box’ which has 12 different beers in it. A selection box of the best in show at the taproom including Retro Racer pale ale and the classic Tuckbot 2000 stout.
FOX AND GRAPES
Southwell Street, Sneinton Market
The Fox and Grapes is wonderfully close to Neon Raptor so there is no need to stumble too far for your next tipple. The popular pub has an overwhelmingly large array of beers, ciders and ales for you to choose from. Although, if it proves to be too much, staff are great at helping you narrow down your options.
The pub also has an outdoor seating area which is a great space for an afternoon pint in the sun and a spot of people watching. Despite being road adjacent, it feels quite laid back and quiet for such a busy space. The pub was awarded the Nottingham CAMRA Pub Of Excellence for 2020 despite it being a quiet year. Our pick of the pub: The Fox and Grapes is one of the places featured in the Nottingham Craft Beer Festival so if you buy a pint, be sure to ask for a postcard while you are there. The beautifully designed postcards have become collectors’ items and they are free to anyone who buys a pint – but be warned – there are only 300 in each venue.
PARTIZAN TAVERN Manvers Street
The Partizan Tavern is a bit of a newcomer to the Sneinton scene, but gaining a reputation quickly for excellent beer selection and a cosy atmosphere. The micropub is named after Serbian top-flight football club Partizan Belgrade and offers really unique pints, including Sneinton Nouveau.
The pub has an ever-changing selection of beers which can be viewed on the wooden boards dotted throughout the venue.
Our pick of the pub: At this stage, you may need a little of soakage, luckily the pub offers a range of cheap and cheerful cobs.
Sneinton has gained a following of beer fans thanks to a series of new pubs and breweries that now call the area home.
KING BILLY Manvers Street
King Billy is a bit of an institution in Sneinton known for its excellent beer selection, laid-back atmosphere and friendly staff. It also hides a few hidden gems within its walls too including a pool room, a roof garden and a secret pizza kitchen.
If pizza and excellent beer aren’t your thing, then the bar also has a great non-alcoholic selection and sausage rolls available.
Our pick of the pub: It has to be the very tasty pizzas that use a surprisingly detailed list of mainly local ingredients to create tasty slices of post-pint heaven.