Cricketers Rest, Nottingham

The Cricketers Is once again a Former Hardy and Hanson’s pub that went under the Ownership Of Greene king before rough patch under Hawthorne Leisure were I hear things got quite bad. Thankfully Castle rock have bought the pub and are injecting their expertise into it. The Bar is to the room to the left with lots of seating scattered around in various nooks and crannies with some original oak beams and low ceilings in palaces. The bar top is very appealing as it is covered in ceramic blue tiles that give it a bit of character as there is obviously lots of cricket memorabilia scattered over the pub with old cricket bats used as a divider between two areas that I thought was a nice touch. Compared to other Castle Rock pubs I thought this vary slightly more on the worse side of things in terms of overall presentation and decor as their pubs are usually classic old world real ale Gems whereas this one had a more basic locals feel to it which is fine, it’s just that their usual formula I think makes form a much more attractive pub and I think they should try and some of that to thins place. Beer wise there was a good selection on the bar but noticeably less than any other castle rock pub I know with 6 pulls. On my visit these were dispensing Doombar, Black Gold, Elsie Mo, Harvest Pale and a guest beer from the Castle rock portfolio as well as a Lincoln green beer I failed to note. The Black Gold was fine but noticeably more than even Town prices here at £3 a pint and not in spectacular condition like you would usually find in CR pubs. Although a good solid pub with a decent ale selection I feel this place is Work in progress and is still to find its feet in the Kimberly drinking scene. I think if it veered more towards the classic Castle Rock recipe would have much more success as now it feels like a bog standard village local that happens to stock a decent few castle Rock beers. Good worth a pint if in Kimberly but could be better.

has been bought by Castle Rock Brewery