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Detail Pages
The Organ Grinder, Newark
Newark
NG24 4XF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Steve C left this review about The Organ Grinder
The Organ Grinder was my first port of call during a recent midweek crawl of Newark, and I think it was probably my pub of the day. This is the Blue Monkey Brewery tap so five of the seven hand pumps were drawing their brews with the addition of Hollow Stone Brewing’s IPA and Bateman’s Valiant. I went for a well-kept pint of BG Sips that was served by a very friendly young lady that was working the jump. I noted the presence of a piano, but the only musical distraction was some low background music. This isn’t the biggest place, so I imagine it can get a bit cosy at busy times. A great local that is on my revisit list.
On 14th July 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Organ Grinder
A Blue Monkey pub situated in a not-quite-so-lovely bit of Newark town centre. A small and straightforward L shaped interior, the left side is a pseudo lounge with the main bar area more basic with some bench seating. Blue and mushroom shades as is their usual colour scheme. Board games spotted. Six Blue Monkey beers on, my Infinity was probably towards the end as it was a bit flat, as was the atmosphere, which seemed pretty sombre compared to a number of the other places I did in Newark (it was towards the fag-end of Sunday afternoon I suppose). Like the Blue Monkey pub in Beeston I felt that whilst it ticks the boxes for beer, there’s something that seems to missing…some sort of inner joy…it's fine and you'll want to include it on the crawl itinerary but it's not an intrinsic draw in the same way that the Fox & Crown or Just Beer are.
On 18th December 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Organ Grinder
The Organ Grinder is tucked away on a back street separated from the town centre by a new and large Asda.
Blue Monkey bring a certain style to their pubs which is now tried and tested and this one fits the style and has been done in a clever way to make the most of the space and create a comfortable and easy place to drink.
The bar canopy and middle beam is held up by an impressive stanchion stamped Newark Ironworks.
As with all the other Blue Monkey pubs I've been in, the welcome from the youthful bar staff was friendly and they were very happy to chat about Blue Monkey beers both available and not.
Beers on were all Blue Monkey: Battle Cry, Marmoset, Guerilla, Monkey Puzzle, BG Sips, Funky Gibbon and Infinity. We stuck to the Infinity this time which was, as always, excellent.
Newark is now well served for decent pubs and good ale but the Organ Grinder would be my first port of call.
On 17th May 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Organ Grinder
Another winner from Blue Monkey ,the small interior has been well designed and fitted out ,maximising the seating and creating a traditional feel and community vibe.Fitted benches run around most walls,there is an alcove with a small library and a real fireplace ,while at the rear more seating exists,some in unplaned wood surrounds.The bar sports 7 handpumps serving just Blue Monkey ales and my Infinity was spot on and great value at £3.10.
Great to see a closed pub revived by fabulous ale,this will always demand a visit from me when in Newark,which then normally extends into a lengthy session.Rightly in the GBG ,a must visit.
On 12th May 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Organ Grinder
When i first went in this pub it was called The Horse and Gears,it was a John Smiths tied house with a couple of small room and horrible keg John Smiths bitter on the bar.
The pub is now a Blue Monkey tied house so is called the Organ Grinder,i find this getting a bit of a bore with them calling all of their pubs the same name.
Once inside there is now a single bare boarded room with the bar on the right side,the seating is wood bench seats and small stools,there is also a small area to the rear left and a small room to the rear right which looked quite depressing.
There was a very good choice of real ales on the bar and all from Blue Monkey,i had a drink of BG Sips which was on top form as usual,the other beers were Infinity,99 Red Baboons,Funky Gibbon,Geurille,Ape Ale and Blue Castle.
I was quite happy having a drink here,but as with other Blue Monkey pubs i have been in the staff seem a bit off hand.
Pub first visited 20/3/1983
Recent visit 2/6/2016
On 26th June 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Organ Grinder
Blue Monkey's third pub is another excellent upgrade of a closed pub called the Horse and Gears. The front room is fairly small with the bar on the right and a laminate floor. There is a piano on one side. Further back there is a snug called the Monkey House. One corner holds a selection of old board games.
The bar has seven hand pumps which all had Blue Monkey beers on. I didn't try the Sanctuary or the Marmoset but went for the 99 Red Baboons, BG Sips, Infinity, Guerilla and Ape Ale. The first four were in outstanding condition but sadly the Ape Ale was not so good and was clearly nearing the end of the cask. Maybe there's not much demand here for a beer over 5% abv. The Ape Ale was £3.20 and the others £3.00.
I really liked this place and would have given it 10 if it weren't for the Ape Ale problem. I need to return to see if it was just a one off.
On 17th September 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Organ Grinder
A multi room Blue Monkey tied house, there's a small bar at the front with the counter and fixed seating, some tables and chairs and casks to rest pints on. There's a bit of a separate snug with leather chairs to one side and two more rooms at the back, then a small covered yard and a bigger room with unplaned timber walls and booth seating right at the back. The seven hand pumps were serving excellent Blue Monkey beers on six with a guest from Batemans on the other.
On 28th July 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Horse & Gears
Formerly owned by Marstons, it is a three storey Grade 2 listed building with lots of character now owned by Blue Monkey Brewery. The pub closed for re-furbishment on 27th January and reopens in early spring.
On 18th February 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]