Ye Olde Salutation Inn, Nottingham

What looks like an interesting pub is let down by its rather run down interior. It certainly looks historic and it does have exposed beams and such but it just didn't do it for me. 10 handpumps on the bar with a pedestrian choice of beers. Happily there were a couple of Half Man Half Biscuit tracks being played on the jukie so extra points for that.

Ye Olde Salutation Inn is located at the side of the road on the very busy maid Marian way and is one of three Nottingham pub to claim to the England’s Oldest. Steeped in tradition this ancient pub is a Nottingham Institution and has kept thirsty visitors quenched for many a year. The pub is long and thin in shape and is accessed via the front entrance were customers must walk down a set of steps that gives the pub a bit of an underground feel as the main road pavement is six feet up the main wall. There is one main room with a long bar and two smaller rooms off the main room that are a bit like snugs and much quieter than the main room. Inside it is all original wood floors and panelling and some very old looking long benches and tables that give the pub a very historic feel and is no doubt one of the key visitor attractions and I can’t blame them if you are going to declare being the oldest inn in England you might as well try and make it as original and old fashioned as possible. Im not sure when but for a long time now this has been a rockers pub frequented by the rock and metal heads of Nottingham and because of this there is a jukebox playing a constant stream of rock songs and live music on different nights of the week. All this means you do get some less traditional characters in that I know some more traditional people may not appreciate as much, especially in a very old traditional pub like this and to be honest it does seem a strange combination but one that I find strangely works as it is a very unique idea. The pub is quite famed for its beer selection with many hand pulls on the main bar and judging by the below reviews this would appear to be the case. Unfortunately however since 2014 when the last review was posted I feel the selection has took a turn for the worst. I myself can remember a better line up on previous visits but on my latest venture the lion’s share of the pumps appeared to have permanently been taken over by large multinational brews that I thought was a great shame. The beer board and website listed the beers but on a plus note also said that all beers had been reduced by at least 10p per pint as there had been a change of landlord and a re-evaluation of the pricing so this sweetened the blow a little. The beer listed and on the bar were: Sharps Doomabr: £3.20, Sharps Atlantic: £3.20, Hobgoblin: £3.50 a local brew in the form of Harvest Pale: £3.10, and two from further afield Robinsons Trooper: £3.50 and Hop back Summer Lighting:£ £3.60. The other few hand pulls had guest beers on but sadly on my Thursday evening visit these were mostly turned around leaving me with only three options. I opted for one of the guest bitters that I cannot recall at £3 that surprisingly was dispensed straight from a barrel on a rack in the centre of the room even though the clip was attached to a pump that it thought was a little misleading. It was ok but near the end and a bit lifeless but drinkable and I didn’t want to be pinned to one of the multinationals. Overall it was a good experience more for the historic interior and history of the building even though sat down with heavy rock blasting is not the most pleasant way to enjoy a point. I would recommend if you visit to come on a weekend when the pub will be full and the beer lines will be fully stocked and at their freshest as I think this is when the lion’s share of the trade is done here. I would suggest you visit for the experience and history but don’t think it counts anymore as one of Nottingham’s top beer destinations.

Official site of Ye Olde Salutation Inn - salutationpub.com

Official site of Ye Olde Salutation Inn - salutationpub.com

My first ever time in here yes its different never been in a pub were they do guided tours round caves in the celler the young girl was so enthusastic about it all well wort a visit

A Nottingham institution for many, many years, this pub has always been a haven for the beer drinker and rock lover alike. My recent visit was on beer festival Saturday when the place was packed at about 7pm with a mini fest of it's own, serving half a dozen beers along with the more regular offerings on the bar. This was my 10th pint of the day so settled for a nice easy Betty Stoggs. I will always return to the Sal, I am never dissappointed.

A rock and ale pub, which made for a nice change from the other places I did in Nottingham on my crawl. A bit of character here (if somewhat shabby); two snug rooms and a main bar connected by a winding corridor, the names of which (Charles and Cromwell) evoke Nottingham’s role in the Civil War (the pub was apparently used as a recruiting station). Six ales available on my visit, with the bar touting a good selection of local micros. There’s also some ciders and interesting bottled garb. 20p off for CAMRA members too. An agreeably alternative music selection was being played and a few of the punters fitted right into the theme. The pub is apparently built on Saxon-era caves if the diagram on the wall is to be believed. I liked this one and will be returning next time I’m in Nottingham.