Haven’s a home from home
IN West Bridgford, only a short walk from Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, is the Stratford Haven.
Walking inside this Stratford Road pub, you would never guess that it was renovated from its old use as a pet shop in the 90s.
A large red-brick building with the Castle Rock emblem on the frosted windows, to the left is the long wooden bar, synonymous with a Castle
Rock pub, with an array of pump clips, cask and keg.
The wood is complemented by the bottle-green tiling on the walls and the green carpet. A conservatory skylight lets in a wonderful amount of natural light, opening the pub up. And this area leads on to a courtyard beer garden. On the right at the front is a smaller snug area with a fireplace, and throughout the Stratford beer memorabilia decorates the walls, with vintage pump clips, Nottingham pubs and pictures of the building throughout the renovations. The Stratford Haven has an impressive cask line-up with 15 lines, up to six of them permanent Castle Rock beers and the other nine guest ales.
Of the guests, I had a collaboration brew from Nottingham breweries Lenton Lane and Navigation. Laterbase is a 5.5% New Zealand-style IPA, made with hops originating from New Zealand, and in Laterbase’s case, the Nectaron variety. This hop creates a tropical aroma with sweet pineapple notes, and the addition of oats gives a wonderfully thick mouthfeel.
The Stratford Haven has 10 craft keg lines with the two permanent being Castle Rock’s Session IPA and DDH Citra. Of the guest I opted for another collaboration brew, this time between Leeds brewery North Brew Co. and Manchester brewery Pomona Island. Pineapple Flambé Sour is a 6% Fruited sour styled on the classic dessert. Brewed with plenty of pineapple purée, the pineapple is quite prominent, and sweetness and cinnamon warmth round the beer off with a hint of rum on the finish.
Castle Rock continue to set the bar on keeping their pubs’ beer to an excellent quality, and the Stratford Haven is no exception.
And even the amount on offer shows that the “quality over quantity” rule doesn’t fit here – everything was served and kept to perfection. Friendly staff, and locals alike, with always a great atmosphere on matchdays made me feel as if I had been visiting the Stafford haven for years, despite it being my first visit.