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The Navigation, Nottingham

Wilford Street
Nottingham
NG2 1AA

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Pub Type

Local Pub (Marstons)

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


Steve C left this review about The Navigation

The Navigation is an L-shaped pub with a bar counter to the right and seating to the left that is faced by a stage that was hosting a live band. The fifty-something crowd were lapping up the Wednesday evening hound dog music, which was actually good fun, although it wasn’t very busy. Premium and craft keg were available from the bar and the four hand pumps were drawing TT Golden Best, Pheasantry’s BB Best Bitter, Barry Brewery’s Vale of Glamorgan and Grainstore’s Rutland Panther. The service was polite and the atmosphere good so I’d return if passing.

On 4th August 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Navigation

Situated right by Castle Lock ,there are picnic benches running along the lockside if you want a close up of boating action.The main entrance is off the main road,you enter into a largely open plan interior with the bar to the right,while further back on the left side there are french windows ,with a metal stairway leading down to the lockside.There is a music theme ,and well chosen sounds were being gently played on my lunchtime visit.
It's a free house and the three handpumps will serve a rotating selection of mainly Locales,with a mix of beer styles.On my trip that meant Mr Grundy's Sniper,Chantry New York Pale and Acorn Gorlovka Imperial Stout (a very reasonable £3.90,NBSS 4). The chalk board outside mentions the beers coming soon ,many from breweries close by.
There is also a partially covered rear courtyard,away from the traffic noise and with it's own music speaker.This is a dog friendly spot.A calm and friendly atmosphere from the couple who run it,well done to them for a vast improvement since the dark days of Marston's ownership.Worth including on any real ale tour of the city.

On 3rd June 2021 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


ROB Camra left this review about The Navigation

This is no longer a Marston's pub, it's been bought by Admiral. Consequently the number of handpumps is down to three and the range is very pedestrian to say the least, although both my pints were well kept. One large single room, with the left hand side obviously being the live music part. It's nicely decorated with mainly music related pictures etc along with a pool table. There's a small patio area next to the lock on the canal with a few tables. We called in on a Sunday night and had a couple of drinks before we made our way back to the hotel. I asked the landlord if they were open until 11 on the Monday, but when we turned up at 10:20 it was closed. Maybe it was something we said. It's an unremarkable pub at the moment as there's no chance of live music. I've been in a lot worse though.

On 10th September 2020 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Al Bundy left this review about Navigation Inn

A fairly down to earth pub on the canalside. Its an open plan place which seems to like its music as there's a small stage to your right on entering. You are also greeted by a shadowy looking mannequin on entering too. The bar is to your right and has 12 handpumps. A rather pedestrian selection ruins it a bit as it seems to be a Marston's house. That said it isn't too bad a place.

On 27th April 2017 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Alex Conway left this review about Navigation Inn

A canal side pub next to the main road a quick walk from the British waterways building and the close huddle of other pubs and bars. This is a Marstons tied house but is by far the best i have ever visited and they really try to make the bet of things with every possible seasonal and out of the norm Marstons and other associated brewerys beer showcased. On my visit there was a large stream of 12 hand pulls with most of them being on and aside from a few ciders I noted Wainwright, jennings Cocker hoop and Sneck Lifter, brakspear Oxford gold, banks dark mild and sunchaser, Pedigree, Hobgoblin plus a few others. No Camra discount is given but the prices are very competative with Sunbeam and pedigree both being £2.80. Beer wise both were in good nick, not amazing but I could have no complaints and there is a nice sun trap beer garden next to the canal outside as well which s lovely on a sunny day like my visit was. I would absolutely return if around this neck of the woods as it is a great beer pub, if only a few outside guests could find their way in there.

On 6th July 2016 - rating: 8
[User has posted 457 recommendations about 457 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Will Larter left this review about Navigation Inn

An impressive line-up of 12 hand pumps - the bar manager said they are planning on taking out a bank of keg lines and putting in four more - had eight real ales and a cider at the time of my visit. By the time I left, three more real ales had been pulled through. All but two were from the Marstons stable, but the honours were spread among a fair size group of their acquisitions, including two from Thwaites, with just two guests. (See pictures for details - the additional ones were Hobgoblin, Sunbeam and EPA. The house beer is Banks's Bitter.) My Lancaster Bomber was in excellent condition, and I would happily make this my regular first stop when arriving in Nottingham.

On 14th September 2015 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Alan Winfield left this review about Navigation Inn

The Navigation used to be a Whitbread tied house.
This pub was bought by Banks's brewery in the late 80s and it is now a Marstons house.
The pub has been knocked into one large room with different drinking areas as you enter the bar is to the right and there is a pool table to the left.
Most of the pub has bare boards and the seating is wooden chairs and large chunky wood tables which i think looks quite nice.
There are about 10 pumps on the bar but usually only two are working with Banks's bitter and Pedigree these are ok but nothing special.
There is an outside area which in next to the canal lock and it is nice in summer watching the boats going through here.
I quite like this pub and enjoy having a few drinks here.

On 1st November 2010 - rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]