The Kensington, Nottingham

The Elwes Ams is a large former Shipstons pub just off Oakdale road. It looks like a post war build but has had numerous refurbs and paint licks over the years including one not so long ago. We entered through the back into a plain open plan room with a children’s play are in the corner and tables and chairs set out but no diners or menus so this is probably just an extension of the bar for drinkers. Through some double doors we get to the main bar are that runs across the left hand side and bends in an L shape to the left giving a lot of serving space. The decor is quite chain like with generic fixtures and fittings. Here looked to be a more dining orientated seating area at the back of the pub but these could just be comfier seats, I’m not sure if food is sold here. There are two hand pulls on the bar both from Castle Rock in the form of Harvest pale (Permanent) and Elsie Mo (Guest). The Harvest pale was in reasonable shape if a tad on the cold side but slipped down well enough for £3.30. We sat on the ling comfy bench seating that ran down the side of the bar. There were only about a dozen or so inn on our Thursday evening and I can imagine this sort of place gets busy on weekends when people off the local estate use. Overall it’s a pretty average estate local but not on the rough side like these usually seems to be. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit again as its nothing worth making a special journey but serves t purpose quite well and I know of very passing I can get a decent beer in here.