Idle Valley Tap, Retford

When is a tap no a tap? The brewery is no longer brewing! Traditional pub with some benches outside. Nice staff - who in a first, actually ask you to check the machine to make sure the value is correct before doing contactless.

Traditional pub on the way into town from the station (unless you know one of the non-obvious shortcuts over the canal). Unremarkable interior, doing reasonable early evening business shortly after indoor reopening as the coronavirus restrictions ease. Not longer a genuine tap, but six different real ales were available from the two banks of four handpumps, including two from Welbeck Abbey: Idle Valley Pale (£2.85) and Cavendish.

The former brewer at Idle Valley is, I have been informed, now involved with the Brew Shed across the way. Idle Valley beers are now brewed by Shiny Brewery and at the time of my recent visit there was only one of their beers among the eight hand pumps. I expect they'll get around to changing the name of the pub before long... All beers are priced at £3, and there's a sameness about the beer styles as well, with three described as American Pale Ales, four others being in the pale and golden end of the spectrum and just one dark beer, the Idle Valley Indolent Philosopher. I'm glad to say that the back door which was left open on my previous visit was tightly shut this time, and there's a solid fuel stove as well. Date of visit: 24th November 2017