The Plough Inn, Nottingham

The plough is situated in the posh secluded village of Normanton on the Wolds not far from Papplewick. As you exit the main road you drive down Old Melton road and past some very large expensive country houses and cottages with large drives. The village is very small and a pub seems very unlikely in the surroundings as there are no shops or anything similar around. As you wind round the pub is on the corner but has very limited parking so like many others on my afternoon visit I had to park on the main road. The pub is one solid oblong shaped building from the front in a worn brick style that is covered in vines and flowers in the summer and looks like a delightful village cottage. Once inside you enter into the bar area that is very traditional with a nice mahogany carved bar ion a traditional style and a roaring open fire with a few tables and chairs but not much room as space in here is limited. There is a doo at the back right that leads to more bar area but I did not go in here as I came for lunch so sat in the dining room. The dining room is a bit plainer with stone floors and lots of tables and chairs. Seeing as this is the only place in the village to get any kind of food or drink it does a roaring food trade and was very full for lunch on Tuesday early afternoon. The clientele were all from the well-heeled end of society but the food menu was and all homemade and extremely generous portions that was all thoroughly enjoyed. Although much less traditionally pub that the bar it was still a pleasant experience and I can imagine it gets more drinks orientated in the evenings. I do not usually like pubs that are a lot more for food than beer but it really works here and they have a lovely beer garden that I can imagine would be great on a summer’s day. The bar stocked four real ales but check the chalk board for what’s on as not every pump is visible once you enter. Beers on offer were Castle Rock’s harvest pale, Bombardier, Landlord and Black sheep bitter on as their permanent offerings alongside the changing gest that was Lincoln Greens Sherwood on my visit. The Landlord and Sherwood were both very nice but very expensive at £3.75 but very nicely kept but I suppose the people round these parts wont wince too much as their not short of a few quid. Overall a very pleasant time was had, I only wish I could have spent more time in the bar but a return visit is on the cards and if ever after a spot of lunch a well-kept beer this is worth the 20 minute drive from the centre of Nottingham.

The Plough is in a nice leafy setting in the village of Normanton on the Wolds. When i first went in this pub it was a Shipstones tied house and there were two real ales on the bar with both Shipstones bitter and mild being very nice drinks. On a more recent visit the pub has altered with there being more of a emphasis on food but as a drinker i was made just as welcome. I had a drink in the room close to the entrance this room had a cosy feel to it and there were different types of seating,there were three real ales on the bar i had a drink of Taylor Landlord which was a very nice drink the other beers were London pride and Bombadier. I thought this was a nice pub and i was quite content having a drink in here. Pub first visited 13/8/1984 Second visit and photo taken 31/8/2008

Official site of the Plough Inn, contains menus and forthcoming event details - www.theploughatnormanton.co.uk

Official site of the Plough Inn, contains menus and forthcoming event details - www.theploughatnormanton.co.uk