Canalhouse, Nottingham

Through the entrance of the Canalhouse is a bridge that crosses the canal, and a canalboat, certainly a new one on me. The bar area is open plan with a bar counter along the rear wall that faces lots of standing room. In amongst the keg are six hand pumps that were drawing four from Castle Rock alongside Vocation’s Tonka Frappe and Abbeydale’s Menelaus. It was reasonably quiet during my recent Wednesday evening visit, I imagine it fills up with the younger inhabitants of the city during the weekend.

Another Castle Rock pub close to Nottingham railway station, this one is much bigger than Barley Twist, where I'd just come from. Once inside, it is immediately obvious that the pub is arranged around the canal. This must surely be the only pub in the country with a canal barge floating in it? A bridge takes you over to the bar where there is a spacious area with seating. More seating can be found by crossing back over the canal over a second bridge. Castle Rock Harvest Pale is the regular beer here. In addition, there was Castle Rock Screech Owl, Our House & Oatmeal Stout, RedWillow Effortless & Siren Memento. The real cider range seems to have been reduced somewhat since my last visit in 2018. Although, they still had Sandford Orchards Devon Scrumpy & 3 from Lilley's - Mango Cider, Rhubarb Cider & Pina Colada Cider. Toilets are a bit of a trek up two flights of stairs. Still a good pub, but I scored it a 9/10 in summer 2018. This time it's probably a 7.5. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt with an 8/10.

Official site of Canalhouse - www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk

Official site of Canalhouse - www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk

My first visit here for a number of years. This and the other canal-themed pub next door used to be staples of a trip to Nottingham, whether with my football mates from Luton or with the Pubs Galore crowd. Perhaps the novelty of a pub with a section of canal dock actually inside it has worn off a little. Though in fact the pub was quite busy when I turned up a little before 6 on a midweek evening. As I said, quite busy, so I plunged through the crowd at the bar and came up with a half of Castle Rock Black Gold, which was pretty good. Date of visit: 22nd June 2022