Ye Olde Salutation Inn, Nottingham

This pub has been well described by others, so I don’t need to add much. I did spot a notice inside that tells us that the name comes from the clasping of hands, originally that of the meeting between the Angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary. You live and learn. The ale selection remains superb, and I had a rather nice drop of something called White Squall. We went in there mid-evening on Friday when it was fairly relaxed and quiet and with no difficulty in getting somewhere to sit, but as the evening wore on it got much more crowded with a mainly young crowd but with a smattering of chaps that looked a bit like bikers. Anyway, this is an excellent pub which is truly ancient and dripping with character. It’s a must on any Nottingham crawl.

Another fine old building where internally rock pub meets real ale venue and it is done very well. The building is meant to date from around 1240 when it was a leather tannery and it then after becoming a private dwelling, changed use to a pub some time in the 1500’s. Our early Friday evening visit corresponded with the rock music being wound up for the evening proceedings, but not to a level where it became overly obtrusive to conversation. I didn’t make either of the side snug rooms, preferring to lean by a pillar in full view of the 8 hand pumps on the bar. One of these permanently has Westerns Old Rosie Cider and the other 7 rotate through a series of guest ales , mainly from local micro breweries. These included Caythorpe Dover Beck, Kelham Island Easy Rider and Acorn Brewery Golden Embers, the latter being an excellent tipple. I could imagine myself becoming very much at home here if I lived locally, but as I don’t sadly had too short a stay before leaving for the station to suffer British Midlands crap attempts to get me back to The Smoke.

Another terrific looking pub that claims to be the oldest in Nottingham. Also sporting the 'Ye Olde',this one claims foundation as 1240, though it is perched on caves too. It is an L-shaped building in white render, with part brick front facade - with its dormer windows, slight over-hang at one end and chimney stacks, Gothic fascia boards it looks like a mix from medieval through to modern. The interior, when entered from the back, has two small snug rooms either side of the entrance corridor. These are called the Cromwell and King Charles rooms. They are quieter than the main room and are in yellow and red, wood floor and have a fireplace. I was treated to a bunch of thespians discussing the student play in the Cromwell room whilst munching their dinner. The main room is in Yellow and wood panel, with yellow and beamed ceiling and wood floor. It is supported by beams and central pillars. There are basic wood chairs and tables, with the occasional settle thrown in. The walls are adorned with ld photos and prints, with the ocassional mirror. They do food here but i haven't eaten so can't comment on it. There is no TV that i saw and the music is rock/alternative based and at a decent level. The service was great and there was a real mixed clientele at my visit. Beer; usual tap stuff with Leffe and Burton Bridge Stairway to Heaven, Thornbridge Wild Swan, Castle Rock Harvest Pale Ale, Rudgate Ruby MILD, Notts Brewery EPA and Thieving Magpie's Rascal. The MILD was decent. A great pub and another must really. Different music and feel to the place and a good rotation of beer (review was back in May) - have had Oakwells MILD since.

Another of Nottingham's historic old pubs, the Salutation is located alongside the busy Maid Marian Way, which distracts a bit from the place's feel, but that aside, this is an excellent pub. There is one large, main room which is quite open and has bare floorboards, half panelled walls and dark wood beams to create a nice traditional setting. Two snugs, one named after King Charles, the other after Cromwell, are decorated with various pictures relating to those individuals and look like they would be good for anyone wanting a bite to eat away from the rowdy main room. The pub has some serious rock/biker credentials and I was treated to some rather excellent selections from the juke box which wasn't on too loud to upset those wanting a chat or a quiet pint. A rock karaoke night was also being promoted. The beer selection, detailed on blackboards to the left hand end of the bar counter, was excellent and offered Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Oakham JHB, White Rose Spring Hoppiness, Wentworth Short and Stout, Nottingham EPA, Milestone Black Pearl and Cathorpe Doverbeck. Additionally there were several ciders on tap and a very strong bottled beer selection. I had the White Rose and found it to be in top condition and very thirst quenching. A basic food menu with a few pub standards was evident on my table, although nobody seemed to be eating whilst I was there. I really liked this place and would suggest that it was one of the highlights of a very good crawl around town. There was a good crowd in when I visited and it's clear that the owners are onto a winner with their historic building, rock theme and excellent beer. A revisit is certainly on the cards.