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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 15th March 2026) with trainman
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Turks Head, Retford
Retford
DN22 6LA
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about The Turks Head
The Turks Head has a small L-shaped lounge to the left, which was empty, so I made my way into the main tartan carpeted bar area to the right where banquettes sit under the front window adjacent to a log fire on the right-hand wall. In the rear is a laminate floored area with a red banquette across the rear wall, a pool table and a ring, string and hook snag game that a young family were playing while a few locals sat chatting with the landlady at the counter to the left. The televisions were off, but there was some very low background music, so low in fact that I wondered why they bothered with it. Standard and premium keg was available alongside five hand pumps, four of which were in use drawing Hogsback TEA, Albion, TT Landlord and Adnams Ghost Ship. The barmaid was very confused when I asked for half a pint of TEA, I assume that it had only just gone on. This is a tidy and friendly local boozer, so I enjoyed my visit and will return if I find myself in this neck of the woods again.
On 20th February 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6560 recommendations about 6522 pubs]
Old Boots left this review about The Turks Head
An attractive pub with a stone lower floor and Brewers Tudor mock half timber above. The inside is equally pleasing with a lot of wooden panelling, decorative ceiling beams and a nice Arts & Crafts fireplace with a copper hood. There’s a screen above it which was thankfully off on my visit. A double front room split by an entrance vestibule and residual wall, the counter is within the space formed between the two rooms. A further area is found to the right of the servery and contains a little seating, a machine and a pool table. Banquette seating is found in the room corners and the other seating is largish leather arm chairs in a deco style. On the counter are five beer engines with a mixed bag of Landlord, 6X, Hobgoblin and Exmoor Gold which was a decent drink. The T-bar is tucked round the corner of the L shaped counter. Decor is a bit of brassware, a small collection of small Toby Jugs and signs. Definitely a nice pub, only gripe is the piped music.
On 12th February 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3929 recommendations about 3593 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Turks Head
A proper old-school town pub, with lots of wood panelling and an open fire, and featuring a lot of leather tub chairs. A rather old-school selection of cask ales also, including Wadworth's 6X, Old Speckled Hen, TT Landlord and Ghost Ship, with the only 'newcomer' Bradfield Belgian Blue, which was however waiting a line clean for a new barrel. No surprise then that the rest seemed well-kept. Lovely pub.
On 30th November 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3900 recommendations about 3832 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Turks Head
After having to suffer the ladies-who-lunch atmosphere of Spencers, it was a pleasure to next find myself in a proper pub. The Turks Head, with its brewers Tudor facade and largely traditional interior, has been closed on the previous visits I have made to Retford, so I was glad to see that it has been opened again. I hope the present incumbent is able to make a go of it, as this is the sort of pub I would want to return to again and again. Admittedly the beer selection was nothing to write home about: Timothy Taylor Landlord, Sharps Doom Bar, Adnams Ghost Ship and Courage Directors being the choice across the five hand pumps. The last named was in very good condition, however, and just because a beer didn't originate from a craft or micro doesn't mean it's not worth drinking. The atmosphere was friendly and convivial, the furnishings traditional and comfortable: what's not to like?
Date of visit: 22nd March 23016
On 17th June 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4659 recommendations about 4268 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Turks Head
The Turks Head is a nice looking stand alone pub that has got a brewers tudor upper half.
There are two doors into this pub but both take you into the same room as at some point it has been knocked into one room,the room is L shaped and has got lots of wood pannelling,the front area is carpeted and has got nice looking copper topped tables with bench seats and small stools,the rear area has got a pool table and this area had bare boards.
There were lots af brasses and knic-knacks giving the pub an olde worlde feel.
There were five real ales on the bar i had a drink of Holdens Golden Glow which was drinkable but not at its best,the other beers were Tetley bitter,Adnams bitter,Black Sheep bitter and Youngs Special.
This is a really nice pub that i would been happy staying in longer if not on a pub crawl.
Pub visited 2/6/2012
On 2nd June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]