Hand & Heart, Nottingham

Looks like Soup and I were in Nottingham at around the same time. I can't improve on his pub description except to say the the pianist is "Pete The Feet" and you'll see why if you ever watch him whilst he's playing. My pint was well kept although the service was a bit haphazard. We were in on a Sunday afternoon and the dining room was heaving with people having Sunday lunch. We didn't eat but the portions were huge. It's a nice pub and the other half loved it so we'll be back again.

A terraced rather modern looking exterior, as a conservatory upper dining area has been added. The pub is in a chocolate colour with black beams. The interior has three rooms. The main lounge that you enter is an L-shaped room, with the serving bar facing you on entry. This room is in a green/white wallpaper, white and wood panel, with a red tile floor. There are long bench tables with candles on them and cushions on the seats - a mix of benches, sofas and comfy chairs. There is an eclectic mix of prints and pictures on the walls and there is a piano, which was played by a proper pianist while we were there. CLASS. Twee curtains, carved wood support columns, it is all fun. Down a few steps there is a long dining room in the cave system. I didn't see much of this and didn't eat here, so can't comment on the food. I didn't see a TV and the music prior to the pianist was general and a decent level. The service was fine and the clientele consisted of mature couples mainly - yes, i felt at home. Beer; usual tap stuff with Deuchars IPA, Full Mash Hummingbird, Coppice Side Notts Blonde, Buxton Moor Top, Hand and Heart Ale and a decent Wharfbank Maypole MILD. The inside is twee,candley, cushiony and fantastic - i should hate it, but drinking class beer while listening to a pianist playing proper music (sadly no Beyonce) is just too good. A must for me.

Official site of the Hand & Heart, contains menu, wine list and live music listing - www.thehandandheart.co.uk

Split-level pub with several unusual features as you get beyond the slightly retro front bar. Firstly, down a few steps towards one of the dining areas and gents toilet you start to get inside the old cave system. There is also a further conservatory-style dining area perched rather oddly at first-floor level facing the street. Nothing odd about the beer though, with six handpumps in the front bar and another two at the back along with three other ales in firkins - mostly goodf stuff from local micros (such as Nottingham Legend at £2.50). Overall, definitely worth the 10 minute walk out from the city centre.

Official site of the Hand & Heart, contains menu, wine list and live music listing - www.thehandandheart.co.uk

Another visit to this friendly pub, and this time sampled the food as well as the beer, and the steak and ale pie was ever so tasty. A bit more pricey than some of the pubs, but still a good pub to visit for good ales and interesting surroundings. Full Mash My Olde Ale, and Ossett Winters Tale were enjoyed with the food.

This is a delightful pub and deserves its place in the 2011 Good Beer Guide. Plenty of ales to chose from in 2 bars. The front bar had Otley 04 Colombe and Otley 0 Dark, Full Mash Hand & Heart, Abbeydale Aledritch, and another, and the back bar had Full Mash Roundhouse Gold and another pump. There were also about 5 ciders to choose from with unusual names. The back goes into sandstone caves giving it a cellar feel. Upstairs is a lovely conservatory style dining area. There was a piano in one of the back areas, and notices showed that there is jazz on a couple of nights a week. One not to miss while in Nottingham. The food menu looked very appetising, and the couple running it are very friendly.