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Cambridge PuG Crawl, Friday 5th April 2024 with Gann on the Pub Forum

The Flying Circus, Newark

53 Castle Gate
Newark
NG24 1BE
Phone: 01636302444

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Steve C left this review about The Flying Circus

The front entrance of the Flying Circus opens onto a seating area and steps that lead up to the bar counter that runs up the left facing high tables that run up the right. At the rear is a stage that is overlooked by a balcony above. A proper live music venue with music merch on the walls, although the décor isn’t as grim as most. In amongst the premium and craft keg I counted four hand pumps, one was being pulled through so the cask offerings were Exmoor’s Gold, Oakham’s Bishop’s Farewell and Thornbridge’s Quiet Storm Cashmere. The Gold was on good form and the service was welcoming so this pub is worth a punt if passing to visit Just Beer over the way.

On 21st July 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Flying Circus

Interesting alehouse and music venue, with a suitably grungy interior that matched the background tunes well enough. Five real ales on handpump: Adnams Southwold, Rev James, Theakston Old Peculiar, Northern Blonde from Brass Castle and Bad Seed's Holding Path (£3.90; with a handmade clap adaption, but in great shape, and seemingly the beer of choice that evening).

On 3rd June 2021 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8061 recommendations about 8061 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Gill Smith left this review about The Flying Circus

Enjoyed our visit to this pub with a decent selection of ales from interesting breweries. They also have a range of keg beers, canned and bottled beers and also ciders. We chose Beermats Matador ale which was fine.

On 8th August 2018 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Flying Circus

Traditional looking place from the outside but inside is a very modern bar aimed at the younger market, live music enthusiasts and people who like Monty Python. The long single room is done in primary colours - blue, red and yellow. Live music stage at the rear with what looked like an upstairs seating mezzanine. Noted that there were phone charging points available at a number of the tables – excellent idea. Also a good back catalogue selection of Private Eyes Five cask at the bar; Dancing Duck Dark Drake (very good nick), Dark Star Partridge, Newark NPA (unimpressive quality), Cheeky Rascal V7 and Brewsters Marquis. Also some boxed cider, a good selection of craft keg and prominently displayed fridge items. Enthusiastic, if overly-familiar barman. Very quiet on my Sunday afternoon visit compared with a number of other places (guess this is more of an evening venue?). Pretty decent but I get the feeling I caught it at the wrong time to truly experience the experience.

On 18th December 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5043 recommendations about 5026 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Thuck Phat left this review about The Flying Circus

As the name suggests The Flying Circus is Monty Python themed.
The interior is unexceptional and feels more like a bar than a traditional boozer although the array of beers available and listed behind the bar on neon boards is impressive.
Ten keg ales were listed with some stronger offers alongside various common and more unusual lagers.
The cask offer consisted of Dark Star Hophead, Purple Moose Glaswyn Ale which was fine if unexceptional, Falstaff Well to Hell - a mild this being May and Flying Circus Best Bitter.
Worth a visit especially if you're after a wide range of keg beers but less to go for on the cask front.

On 19th May 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Flying Circus

A good frontage with the pub extending back quite a long way on different levels.By the front door is the main seating area with a mix of furniture,while the bar runs along part of the left hand side,opposite which is a vertical drinking area in front of a small stage,it's very much a music pub.Around the back there is access to a first floor gallery overlooking one side of the stage.
There are 4 handpumped ales ,with 10 craft keg beer taps dotted about,but with a very helpful screen above the bar listing the choice.Some of the keg beers were very pokey,and this is probably the pubs USP.Their ale choice was rather unexciting although my Purple Moose Glaslyn Ale was fine.
I was in on a quiet lunchtime,I suspect the atmosphere could be more lively if a band was playing,and given the red hot ale competition in town,I'm not sure this pub would make the cut on an ale tour list,despite it's GBG listing.

On 12th May 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


custodian 42 left this review about The Flying Circus

Good pub. Fine choice of ales on both draft and keg. Worth a return if I'm in the area again.

On 26th November 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Alan Winfield left this review about The Flying Circus

When i first went in this pub it was called The Exchange,a free house that had Whitbread Trophey on the bar.

The Flying Circus is situated next to a chip shop on the busy castle gate.
Once inside there is a long oblong shaped room which runs to the rear,there are normal tables and chairs to the front and settees and small stools,the bar is on the mid left side which is up two steps,there are tall tables and chairs opposite the bar,there is a stage to the rear.
There was a decent choice of real ales on the bar,we had a drink of Newark Norweigen Blue which was a decent drink,the other beers noted were Flying Circus Bitter,Totally Brewed papa Jangles Voodoo Stout and Acorn Flyer IPA.
The background music was very good with Pink Floyd's Time playing.
Live music of the rock type seems to be a big draw here.
This is a proper pub and not a modern bar.

Pub first visited 20/3/1983

Photo of Exchange taken 21/4/1987

Flying Circus visited 6/8/2016

On 15th October 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Old Boots left this review about The Flying Circus

A two storey pub with as the name suggests Monty Python decor. There are photos of the comedy team, Terry Gilliam cartoons and some of their favourite sketches. Otherwise it's a modern bar with a choice of four averagely kept beers and three ciders on the pulls plus a decent offering in the fridge.

On 28th July 2014 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3209 recommendations about 2920 pubs]