Bold Forester, Mansfield

The Bold Forester is yet another roadside chain pub on the busy A38 into Mansfield. It is also yet another Hungry Horse establishment. They seem to love these around here. It was the third one I'd visited on my two trips to this area of Nottinghamshire. Surprisingly, this one is listed in the current 2022 Good Beer Guide, with the promise of up to 12 real ales. In the event, there were only half of that number. But it was still a vast improvement on the other Hungry Horse establishments I'd visited, in terms of ales. The regulars are Greene King IPA & Abbot & Morland Old Speckled Hen. Guests were Kelham Island Pale Rider, Titanic Plum Porter & Bradfield Farmer's Steel Cow. The bar is quite large. After scouring the length to check out the various handpulls, I waited and waited and waited to be served. People who had arrived just after me were served. Others arriving at that end of the bar were also served. I was getting particularly frustrated and had to ask one of the passing barmaids if anybody was likely to be serving at my end of the bar anytime soon. In fairness to her, she served me immediately and I even received a CAMRA discount on my order. The interior feels like a typical chain eatery, with nearly all tables taken with diners. Although there were a fair number of people just there for a drink, from what I could see. An outdoor area contains some heated huts, presumably installed during the various pandemic restrictions when it wasn't safe to eat or drink indoors. This was not really a place I could feel comfortable in and with the inefficient service, I wouldn't be too tempted to return just for a drink. Although the prospect of a cheap meal with a decent ale to wash it down with would be a good enough reason to pay a visit. So, maybe I will return to sample the mass produced food the next time I'm in Mansfield.

Thank goodness for Greene King! Never thought I would say that (though actually its twice following Williams Ale House in London), but after the very poor experience of the chain pubs in the town centre this Hungary Horse is much more like it. Modern building from the exterior inside there are split levels, separated areas, differing from dark to light areas, high/low seating. All very well presented and laid out considering its a chain pub. Good choice of beer, including local & a rushed member of staff apologising for the slight wait whilst serving someone else. Beer kept very well.

The Bold Forester is a large modern pub that is set well back from the main road in its own grounds. Once inside there a very large single L shaped room that is divided into different areas,there is a pool table and TV to the rear right,this is more like a bar area,the middle area had some bench seating and comfy chairs,the family dining area is to the far left on a raised area,the room is carpeted throughout and is quite smart. There were three banks of handpumps,the ones on the front bar area were from the Greene King Stable,IPA, Abbot,Old Speckled Hen,the pumps at eaech side of the bar had guest beers on,i had a drink of Nottingham EPA which the landlord said was fresh on it tasted very nice,the other beers i noted were Navigation Pale,Cottage Pit Stop,i saw beers from Mauldons and Double Top,too many to write down. There were lots of diners but has a drinker i was made very welcome,i carn'nt comment on any smells of food,because i lost me sense of smell a few years ago. I was happy enough drinking in this pub,it seems large enough to cater for both drinkers and diners alike. Pub visited 28/6/2014

The Good Beer Guide describes this as Mansfield's "flagship real ale pub", so I thought I'd better check it out, though going by appearances it is not a pub I would have put on my "must visit" list. It's a modern building, now part of the Hungry Horse chain, but the landlord is apparently a real ale enthusiast, which has got to be a good thing. I counted 13 hand pumps, but I may have missed one or two. Several were carrying Green King pump clips, but there were others advertising beers from Batemans and Titanic, plus Theakstons Old Peculier and local Nottingham Legend. Service was cheerful and prompt, despite it being a very busy early evening when I was there. There must have been 40 cars in the large car park (it was about half full), but there was still plenty of room inside this large open plan building. The main drawback for me is that most people were here for their evening meal, and the smell of cooked food, mostly fried, mostly fish, was not conducive to enjoyment of a pint, or even a half, of good real ale. I took my half to the benches outside, which was not much of an improvement as the ash trays had not been emptied for some time. The beer was OK, but if this is the flagship, I dread to think what the rest are like.