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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Crafty Crow, Nottingham
Nottingham
NG1 6EB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Crafty Crow
Opened in Spring 2014, this converted bar is the first pub from the local Magpie Brewery. The pub has a split level layout, with entry to the lower front level where you can find a few Chesterfield sofas and button backed armchairs. Stairs take you up to a very unusual hexagonal shaped island servery which dominates the centre of the room. To the left there is a simple seating area with armchairs to the front, standard seating opposite the bar and a slightly raised space beyond with quirky wooden slat backed banquettes, some crow/bird themed art and a large 'local brewers' map which was quite informative and worth having a quick look at. Behind the bar, a long shelf runs along the back wall with a large plain mirror above, offering somewhere to rest your pints during busier times. The room swings back past the servery over to the right hand side where some more wooden backed banquettes can be found underneath some particularly impressive large metal artworks. Someone involved in the pub's design must have aced their metalwork exams, as in addition to the artwork there are some attractive decorative railings and balustrades throughout and the toilets have sinks fashioned from converted beer kegs with keg fonts for taps. The servery has a huge former conditioning tank as a focal point and from this, several taps dispense interesting craft keg beers, with additional kegs stacked up behind to form the remainder of the notional bar back. Music played quietly throughout my stay and was in fact inaudible most of the time thanks to a decent atmosphere generated by a reasonable post-work crowd.
A large board next to the bar helpfully listed the extensive ale range which comprised Magpie Raven Stout, Best and Hoppily Ever After, Austendyke Hog's Gate, Spitting Feathers Farmhouse IPA, Eden First Emperor, Maxim Double Maxim, Maypole Hop Fusion, Bumphill Ebony and Ivory and Dukeries Lady Matilda, with a strong list of real ciders also detailed. I tried a pint of the Lady Matilda which was in tip-top condition and had I not needed to dash off to the City Ground, I would happily have stayed to sample a few more.
This place has a bit of a craft beer bar feel to it, but manages to achieve a sense of intimacy that doesn't always go with such venues. This is clearly an excellent addition to the Nottingham pub scene and one of the best places in the city to find interesting beers from obscure micros. Well worth a visit.
On 24th March 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Crafty Crow
An excellent addition to Nottingham's comprehensive real ale pub list. We called in Sunday afternoon, which gave good opportunity to chat to the bar staff and a local chap at the bar. I asked for a taster selection, consisting of three Magpie ales in third pint glasses, all of which were excellent. I then settled on a pint of the Boilers Brew at 4.5%. Their Magpie Best at 4.2% was also a very good session beer. Mrs A also had the Keswick Thirst Session which was also in great shape.
The pub is bright and airy with a contemporary finish to it. I especially liked the washbasins in the toilets, which are made from a sliced section of an aluminium cask. Their wines, spirits are all sourced from independent supplies.
On 18th July 2014
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about
Recently opened as the Magpie Brewery tap, this former late bar and disco called BZR has been suberbly decorated and fitted out and on my recent visit seemed to be frequented by young after work office types.
There is a full range of Magpie brews on the bar, 2 of the 10 pulls will always be guests. I tried a pint of Magpie boiler which was excellent. Beers start at £2.80 and are priced by ABV. The pub also has a range of wine by the glass, including English reds and whites which are all excellent. There are also 10 keg pulls and a huge range of bottled beers from around the world.
Although I didn't try it, the pub offers a huge range of pub food from nibbles to full plates, all of which looked and smelled great.
despite there being no discount for CAMRA members, I will certainly give the place a go on my next visit to Nottingham, might even have a go at the food.
On 30th May 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Crafty Crow
The Crafty Crow is a new venture opened by Magpie brewery,the pub is in a nice location opposite the entrance to Nottingham Castle.
Once inside there is a small oblong shaped area near the entrance,there are a few normal tables and chairs and a couple of settees here.
The main room is up a few steps,this is a large square shaped room with an island bar,there is a raised area to the left which had a long wood backed bench seat and normal tables and chairs,there are normal tables and chairs near the bar,the right side also has one long wood backed bench seat and chairs.
There are 10 pumps on the bar,five either side,but there is list next to the bar with all beers and gravity on it.
I had a drink of Funfair Egg Wheel which was a very well kept beer,the other beers i noted were Magpie Raven Stout / JPA,Star Quasar,Ashover Sundial,Raw Majic Mild,Copthorne Damson Porter,Notttingham Foundary Mild,Cheshire 4Ts plus a beer from Nobbys,all pumps were in use,the beers are quite cheap with beers priced in gravity bands,3.6 to 4.4 £2.70 a pint,4.5 to 4.9 £3.00 a pint and 5.00 and above £3.50 a pint.
The room has quite a modern look to it and a nice laid back atmosphere.
This pub fits in nicly with crawl around this area of Nottingham.
Pub visited 3/5/2014
On 3rd May 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]