Gladstonian, Ilkeston

Long, thin, friendly micro type place, three pulls but just a couple of Lilleys ciders on them and a horseshoe of six Molson Coors stuff with double Carling. The back has a darker intimate interior, decorated with grey panelling and lots of interesting pictures and signs etc, PSM's description is fulsome and accurate. It has a funny and engaging landlady.

Facebook page of Gladstonian - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Gladstonian - www.facebook.com

This is a narrow, shop-converted micropub occupying a former bridalwear store at the bottom end of town. It’s a classic narrow but deep shop conversion space, with the servery positioned immediately to the left on entry. The bar has a simple panelled counter and modern bar back with limited high stool seating opposite and under the front window, complete with a high shelf for you to rest your pint on. The walls have full-height panelling with the drinking ledge acing as a dado of sorts down the right-hand side, whilst to the left there is some crazy jungle-themed wallpaper full of random animals, which is quite a striking sight. A staple-shaped banquette sits beneath, serving a couple of rustic tables with a few function room style chairs in support and an elaborately framed mirror above. A TV screen could be found back here, although it remained off throughout my time here, in favour of a pop soundtrack. There was just one other group of customers in attendance, making it the quietest pub of the nine I visited around the town, which didn’t strike me as a ringing endorsement. Of the three handpulls on the bar, just one was clipped with RDM Night Owl, which I thought was a bit past its best. I also noticed a couple of bag in the box ciders, but what I didn’t notice upon arrival was the barmaid, who I stood patiently waiting for, only to discover that she was lying on the floor behind the bar, touching up some paintwork behind the counter! Once acquainted, she turned out to be very friendly and introduced me to the other customers, one of whom turned out to have brewed the beer I was drinking. This place didn’t feel like it was working as intended and definitely lacked the lively atmosphere of most other pubs I visited around the town. The poor beer quality didn’t help either and is of particular concern when you realise this was the only ale they had on at the time. This could be a decent micropub, but it needs to go back to the basics to start pulling people through the door.

I was misled into thinking this microbar was open (see photos), and the sign in the window saying OPEN only added to my confusion. Fortunately there's a padlock on the door, and a schedule of opening times which does not include the first three days of the week, of which this was one, so that put me straight. It seems there are real ales (two hand pumps) and real (boxed) ciders, which I wouldn't have known if the lights had not been on.