The Mill, Old Basford, Nottingham

I had just time for a half here before going to the football just along the road. As I went in I was greeted by a wall of sound from a very solid sound system - no doubting the quality, but what have they got against conversation? No surprise then to be served a half of Guinness instead of the John Smiths Smooth Crap I had asked for; a little more surprising to have it served in a pint glass, and probably not to the halfway point; somewhat distressed to find I had been charged £2.80 on the card terminal instead of the £1.80 I was asked for; very pleased to get my £1 back with not much delay. After the above experience, I retreated to a bench in front of the pub to "enjoy" my beer, briefly returning to use the toilet and to sneak a photo of the now deserted front room, a museum piece of late 60s chic. Nice.

What an experience. Not necessarily in a good or a bad way but I have never been in a pub quite like this before. Walking in here was like walking into a time warp back to 1962. Apparently CAMRA have rated it as being of “regional importance” upon entering it is just one square shaped room with the small bar running along the right hand side. The pub was a grey/beige colour throughout and this extended to the carpets and bench seating under the windows. There were plenty of tables and chairs that looked like they had been lifted straight from your great aunts bedside. The decor in here is so old and dated I’ve never actually seen anywhere this preserved and although extremely old and out of date it is quite a sight to witness somewhere that has not been changed in the slightest for over 50 years. It really was an experience sitting in here and is something that I can only imagine is possible on a hand full of places in the country, almost like a museum retaining the interior form its opening day. the pub was stone dead empty on my Thursday evening visit with only the landlord in watching a film a a plasma screen, not a soul walked past or came in the entire time we were In here an it made me wonder how anywhere can stay open with zero customers! My friend did mention though that he has been passed on weekends and seen a good few in so maybe that’s when the big pay day is, and the fact I am presuming the landlord only has himself to pay means he can just tick over. The beer choice was unsurprisingly terrible with Guinness (Surger) John Smiths, Fosters, Strongbow and Manns Chestnut mild available. We had the mild at £2.80 and sat on some comfy benches at the bar and admired the interior while the landlord happily got back to his film. I can imagine when full this room could get quite a good little atmosphere. I’m sure it serves the community well and I always like to see inoffensive places like this continue and long may it do so well into the future. I won’t be calling back again any time soon but it’s worth going to purely to witness the incredibly preserved inside. I wish it well.