The Brown Cow, Mansfield

The Brown Cow is situated just to the east of the town centre across a busy dual carriageway. However, it's worth the effort to reach, as it is clearly one of Mansfield's better pubs. There are 2 rooms, with an entrance doorway offering a choice of left or right. I chose what I believe to be the larger room to the right, which is split-level. A screen showed the beer list via Untappd. Everard's Tiger is the regular beer. Symposium from the same brewery was also on. Guests were Ossett Yorkshire Blonde & Blue Bee Sabro Columbus IPA, a 6.5% beer that I was quite ready for after the disappointment of the Rufford Arms and then checking into my hotel. Ciders were Bottle Kicking Cider Company Scrambler, Seacider Passion Fruit Cider & Snail's Bank Fruit Bat. Craft beers were Siren Soundwave, Everard's Cast No Shadow & Neepsend Coyote. A decent pub, but I had a good reason to drink up and move on.

Situated just outside the town centre on the road to Newark, this is an excellent red brick Everards pub notable for its beer range and the adjoining Cow Shed music venue. There are two bars, one traditionally furnished and one with industrial-type fittings, and an outdoor drinking area behind. Nearly all of the 12 handpumps were in use, offering Everards regulars such as Tiger but also their special brews – on this occasion the SMASH Mittelfruh Single Hop golden ale – along with a good selection from smaller breweries such as Lincoln Green, Abbeydale and Welbeck Abbey. Screens are used to show the list of which ales are on and a few craft keg beers are also on hand but food is not being served at present. Note that cask ales are discounted by 20% on Mondays but beware, they don’t open until 15.00 earlier in the week. Well worth the short walk across the ring road.

Nice split level pub with I think a back bar/restaurant, just outside of the town centre on busy road. Six real ales & six craft with Raw Brewery influence. A kind of modern-trad mix, nicely laid out, tidy. some high benches & other more traditional seating. Map wallpaper. Nice building, good beer.