Yarn, Nottingham

Official site of Yarn - www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk

Official site of Yarn - www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk

Modern bar for the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall, run by Castle Rock and offering an unexpectedly good selection of craft keg beers from taps on the bar-back plus various cask ales and/or ciders on the counter handpumps. The inside is quite elongated but narrow, but there are also a number of outdoor tables (some of which are under cover). A lot of inactive dispensing devices on my midweek visit, but thankfully Elsie Mo (£4.30) was in great shape.

An ultra modern bar located in the rear of the Theatre Royal and run by Castle Rock. It serves a range of their beers very well, plus two ciders and a guest from North Riding. A long thin curving room joining the foyer of the theatre and it has an outside seating area. Low sensible seating although with low level piped music. There are two banks of five pulls, topped and tailed by three T-Bars of the nation’s favourite kegs. Although a modern place it has a collection of old photos.

The Yarn is the newest venture from Castle rock and is a stylish new bar/pub in the former Theatre bar at the Theatre Royal/Royal Concert Hall. Bing Castle rock I obviously had very high expectations and on Opening night things seemed pretty good with Five Castle Rock beers and five Guests as well as a long back wall of Crat keg. This visit we had Pints of Castle Rocks Preservation (£3.60) and Black Sheep’s Special Bitter (£3.80) which i a lot more than any other castle rock charges for their beers but I suppose the added premium of being part of the Theatre has added to this. The bar itself is one long room with the bar running down most of the right hand side with small tables in the middle of the room for both diners and drinkers. The decor is all pretty modern and much more bar like than any of their traditional pubs. On a return visit the other night things not so great. Full of old theatre goers eating dinner not helped by the hard furnishings making a harsh atmosphere and my punt of harvest Pale (by far the biggest selling beer in ay castle rock pub) was old and tired and definitely not up to usual castle rock high standards. To make things worse I was hideously overcharged but to the managers credit he did refund the difference as soon as I showed my receipt. Passing a few weeks ago i did peer in on a Tuesday evening and also noted only two of ten hand pulls in operation which is a bad sign. I think castle rock need to whip this place into shape pretty son before it get a bad rap. Judging by last visit there is a fair room for improvement. Charging those prices should be followed up by good beer. The guest beer is a good selection so I would give this another chance. Could be good if you caught it right.