Nottingham is one of my favourite cities in the UK, and it’s home to some amazing pubs. Whether you’re looking for a cosy corner to read a book or a lively bar with live music, you’ll find it here! I’ve visited these pubs over the years and think they are the best places to grab a drink in Nottingham.
The city has a rich history, and some amazing buildings have survived the years. It’s worth checking out the old pubs in Nottingham! If you’re looking for a fun night out, I highly recommend these pubs. They all have their unique atmosphere and are frequented by locals, so you’ll feel right at home.
Be At One Cocktail Bar
Ratings: ★★★★⯨ (4.5) | Food: ★★★★★ (5.0) | Value: ★★★★★ (5.0)
The best bar in Nottingham is Be At One Cocktail Bar.
This lively and popular bar is located on Friar Lane, within easy walking distance of the city centre. With a great atmosphere, excellent service, and an extensive cocktail menu that changes regularly, it’s no surprise that Be At One has become one of the most popular pubs in Nottingham. If you’re looking for somewhere fun to go out with friends or want somewhere to spend your night out, this is the place to go!
Be At One has a great atmosphere, with plenty of seating and standing space. The staff is friendly and attentive, which adds to the overall experience. The cocktail menu is extensive and changes regularly, so there’s always something new to try.
The bar is also home to several themed nights every week. These range from comedy nights to live music and DJ sets, so there’s something for everyone.
The Malt Cross
Ratings: ★★★★⯨ (4.5) | Food: ★★★★★ (5.0) | Value: ★★★★⯨ (4.5)
The best pubs in Nottingham are not necessarily the most popular ones. The Malt Cross is a good example of this—it’s a small pub located on the edge of town, so it can get overlooked by tourists and pub crawlers alike. And yet it has everything you could want in a traditional English pub: cosy nooks, long benches, wooden floors, and great food (they do some amazing pies).
They have an excellent selection of beer on tap as well as bottled beers from all over the world. If cider is more your thing—and let’s be honest: cider is everyone’s thing—you’re covered there too!
Prices are reasonable and service is fast; there aren’t any uncomfortable waits for drinks here. What else could you ask for? Well… there are lots of things you could ask for (or at least I could). The only problem with this place? It’s open only during daylight hours! But at least they serve breakfast until 11 AM every day except Sundays and Mondays when they close at midday instead so if you’re up early then stop in before work or class (or whatever) starts again later that morning!
The Pit & Pendulum
Ratings: ★★★★ (4.0) | Food: ★★★★ (4.0) | Value: ★★★★ (4.0)
The Pit & Pendulum is located in the heart of Nottingham’s city centre, with a prime location on Lister Gate. It’s not surprising that it has been voted one of the best pubs in Nottingham year after year. The pub is known for serving up good beer and proper grub, which makes it a popular choice for both tourists and locals alike. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming—there are even some cosy booths if you want to relax by yourself or with friends. Service can be friendly but slow when the place gets busy (which it often does). Prices are reasonable; most dishes cost between £8-15, while drinks are priced at £3-6.
The Pit & Pendulum serves traditional English fare like shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, bangers & mash—you know, pub food! But they also have some more interesting items like stuffed burger sliders and homemade potato wedges with garlic mayo sauce (both delicious!). If you’re looking for something lighter than bangers & mash or fish n’ chips (and who isn’t?), try their salad selection: spinach salad comes with feta cheese croutons and parmesan shavings over baby spinach leave tossed in an apple cider vinaigrette dressing; Caesar salad has crispy bacon strips added on top; there’s also kale salad which has grilled halloumi cheese cubes tossed into fresh kale leaves served with a roasted red pepper dressing…the list goes on!
The Embankment Pub & Kitchen
Ratings: ★★★★ (4.0) | Food: ★★★★⯨ (4.5) | Value: ★★★★ (4.0)
The Embankment Pub & Kitchen is a popular spot in Nottingham. Located on the River Trent, it’s not hard to find this pub. This place has been open since 2011 and with its prime location on the river, it’s no surprise that it’s become one of the most popular pubs in the area.
The pub offers a classic British menu with dishes including shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, bangers, and mash. There are also some more modern dishes such as chicken curry or beef burgers if you’re looking for something slightly different. They also have daily specials!
There are plenty of drinks available too including wine by the glass or bottle; beer from around £3 per pint; cocktails at £8 – £10; spirits such as gin or vodka starting at around £4-£5 per double measure depending on your preference (or choose one of their many cocktails instead). If you’re feeling thirsty but don’t want alcohol then they have plenty of soft drinks including fizzy drinks like Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper which cost around £2 each when bought individually but may be cheaper when purchased together with food items such as burgers…
The Cross Keys
Ratings: ★★★★ (4.0) | Food: ★★★★(4.0) | Value: ★★★★ (4.0)
The Cross Keys is located on Stoney Street in Hockley, just off Sneinton Dale Road.
The best drinks at The Cross Keys are the ten-cask ales. They have up to 20 beers on tap and their selection changes regularly. You can also find a decent mix of wines and spirits, though you might want to stick with a Cider or Lager if you’re not sure what’s good for you.
The food is pretty standard pub grub: burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, and salads are available alongside healthier options like fish & chips or cottage pie. If you’re looking for something more adventurous there’s also an all-day breakfast menu available from 8 am until 11 pm every day of the week (the perfect hangover cure).
As far as the atmosphere goes it’s pretty relaxed at The Cross Keys—you could easily spend an entire afternoon hanging out here without feeling rushed off your seat! The music playing in the background adds a nice bit of ambience without being too loud; it fits right into the pub vibe without being intrusive either way which makes this place feel like a home away from home regardless of where your actual house happens to be located right now 😉 They don’t play live music but there’s often some kind of event happening during weekends including quiz nights which are always fun!”
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found this article helpful! There is so much to see and do in Nottingham, so it can be hard to know where to start. But we think that if you want a lively night out with friends or family members, then one of these pubs might just be the place for you.
Looking for a place to place to stay for the night? Check out the Best Hotels in Nottingham here.
