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Submitted on Monday, 12^th July 2021
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Idle Valley Tap, Retford

Carolgate
Retford
DN22 6EF

Correct details

Served areas

Retford Town

Reviews of Idle Valley Tap (Average Rating: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Strongers . left this review about Idle Valley Tap

Idle Valley is a basic flagstone floored boozer with a wooden counter that supports eight hand pumps. I noted Idle Valley Pale, Titanic’s Baltic Porter, Famers Belgian Blue and Loch Lomond on one bank of four and didn’t note the options on the other bank. In the opposite side of the pub to the counter is a dartboard and pool table, although it would be a struggle to play on both at the same time. The television was airing muted Channel 4 while some background music played and there was a weird smell which I assumed came from one of the dogs in situ. The Loch Lomond was decent and service friendly, so next time I’m in town I’ll try this place nearer to the start of the day when I’m fully functioning.

On 20^th February 2026 - rating: 7
[User has posted 6560 recommendations about 6522 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Graham Coombs left this review about Idle Valley Tap

A good and lively local with an eclectic range of furniture and a splendid range of beers. Just the one extended room and decorations seemed to be largely based on road signs. It was something of a relief to find a busy pub where you actually had to look to find a seat, so a good buzz going on and plenty of chatty locals. I felt obliged to try the Welbeck Abbey house ales, despite the call of the Titanic Grand Reserve Plum Porter on the end pump!

On 30^th November 2024 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3900 recommendations about 3832 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Blue Scrumpy left this review about Idle Valley Tap

We had 50 minutes to kill whilst changing trains in Retford. It's a 10-minute walk with a canal lock to traverse from the station down to this pub. We did contemplate what would have happened if the lock would have been in use when we were making our return rush to the station.

The Idle Valley Tap is a simple-looking building from the outside. Inside, it was quite lively on our Saturday lunchtime visit. There is a single open-plan, but slightly sub-divided room. We couldn't spot any TVs, but there was a pool table at the rear. There is also an outdoor area beyond that.

We were immediately with the real ale range. There is an impressive line-up of 8 cask ales including 2 house beers (Idle Valley Pale & Idle Valley Red), brewed by the Welbeck Abbey Brewery. Also on were Fyne Ales Zest & Off The Clock, Beartown/Northern Monk Cheeky, Wilde Child Gimme S'more, Rat Ratsuma & Aldwark Eight Million. We also tried the Beartown Inception, which was another keg offering. There was no real cider.

I sampled the Gimme S'more and the Zest. Both were good beers in excellent condition.

Service was friendly and they automatically offered us CAMRA discounts. We must obviously look like the type! I was surprised that the pub was so busy. We had propped up the bar, with only a short stay planned. But a few groups arrived whilst we were there, already adding to a sizeable crowd.

Despite being a bit of a bonus pub on our way to a crawl of Worksop pubs, this was the highlight of the day for me and makes me look forward to visiting a few more of Retford's hostelries sometime in the future.

On 6^th August 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3409 recommendations about 3407 pubs]

View more reviews of Idle Valley Tap (11)

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