The Old Nags Head, Monmouth

A delightful, historic, old world, town pub a few minutes walk from the town centre. The building was part of the now demolished old town gates and although it is erroneously omitted from the 1838 map in the pub, there are records of it dating back to at least 1765. The interior is a labyrinth of rooms, corridors and niches which just beg to be explored. The front bar is quite small and carpeted with a brick fireplace whereas the main bar area is more basic with a flag stoned floor, half paneled walls, built in window seats and rough and ready furnishings. A piano is perched in front of the fireplace and the beams display a vast collection of sporting and music ticket stubs. Old photos of the pub skittle teams through the years adorn the walls. Branching off beside the bar is a corridor which leads to both the toilets and a small intimate arched recess. Another door leads to a pool room with a collection of movie posters and at the far end of the pub a seemingly anonymous short corridor leads to a small triangular room with pew seats and horse racing prints. 2 well kept Ales on offer – London Pride & a special beer brewed for the winter Ashes series (it was a few months since I was there). Live acoustic music nights and plenty of friendly dogs are part of the entertainment schedule. Monmouth is a lovely town to visit and the Old Nags Head a superb pub to savour.