The Newcastle Arms, Newark

Basic two-bar boozer with a 1950s look to an interior that appears little altered in recent decades. The furniture and decor can be politely described as 'plain', but this now becoming rare so it has its own interest. Slightly surprisingly, it does still do a real ale - Theakston Beat (£3.40).

Called in as it was en route to the train station. A CAMRA heritage listed pub and I thought I might get a bit of interesting interior but no, just bits of a fairly unremarkable late 1950’s refit, the remains of which can still be seen in a number of other backstreet locals. There are two bars, the right is carpeted, the left is a more traditional public bar with pool and darts (and two local ladies were practicing their arrows on the oche). One ale on, a rather workaday Theakston Bitter. Currently it’s one for completists only but there’s potential here.