We all have our favourite pubs when it comes to planning a weekend pint. For Nottingham couple Dale Harvey and Holly Booth, finding their best watering hole has become a bit of a challenge.
The couple, from Sneinton, has completed the first part of their mission to sample a pint in every Nottinghamshire pub from Bestwood to Beeston and back. Last weekend, the couple completed the first 1,000 pubs with another 800 on the list.
It's been quite the tour - which started with a pint in The Ladybay in West Bridgford before raising a glass to lucky number 1,000 in The Mist Rolling Inn on Derby Road. Below they recall a few of their favourites.
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The Ned Ludd pub, Friar Lane, Nottingham
"The Ned Ludd is our favourite pub as it's just brilliantly run by the couple who own it. They are very business savvy and the beer is always good there. You never get a bad pint in the place," Dale said.
"It's dog-friendly too which is nice for a town centre pub as a lot of places aren't. They put an awful lot of effort into the function rooms upstairs as well as their Peaky Blinders bar. There is so much that has gone into it since they took it over."
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham
"You can't beat the history and culture of sitting in a place that has been open since 1189. It's so steeped in history that it just has to be haunted," Dale said.
"We spoke with one of the waitresses when we were in there and asked about ghost stories. She said 'trust me, you hear noises and lights go on and off at night'. They also have the old ship which is encased in glass so no one can clean it because people kept dying every time they did."
The John Borlase Warren, Canning Circus, Nottingham
"It's one of those great pubs that has something for everyone as it is classy, stylish and while it has a gin bar, it's also great for real ale. It has everyone covered," Dale said.
The William Gunn, Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford
Dale said: "This is run by good pub people who also own The Southbank. Every time they open a new place, it's successful. The William Gunn is a micropub with a town pub vibe that caters for all. It's usually busy on football days but it also has a great menu for steaks."
The Victoria Hotel, Dovecote Lane, Beeston
Dale said: "It's a breathtaking pub where you walk around and take in the history behind it. It's retained a lot of its original features. In the summer, they have that massive outdoor area and it's a hive of activity hidden down a side road in a peaceful area."
The Dog and Parrot, Nottingham Road, Eastwood
"It's a slightly larger micro pub in Eastwood that from the second we walked in, we felt like we had known the people who run it forever. They are just so friendly in there and it's really quirky," Dale said.
"They are what I would call a proper community-spirited pub as not only do they do a lot to keep the business going but they organise events and charity things aimed at raising money to help people. It's commendable."
The Final Whistle, Station Road, Southwell
"The Final Whistle is incredibly grand and it still has a lot of its original features including the corridors and architecture of the building. It was originally the train station which is where the name comes from and it still has the platform in the back garden," Dale said.
The Beehive Inn, Main Street, Maplebeck
Dale said: "This is the smallest pub in Nottingham and it's tiny but split into two bars. It was freezing outside but they had a roaring fire on and nearly every table was taken. You can fit about 25 people in there but we got in and it's so friendly.
"It's a cash-only pub because of how remote it is because they cannot get enough signal for a card machine. It's so remote it's beautiful."
The Dog's Paws, Portland Road, Selston
Dale said: "This is another micro-pub which is in Selson. It was once a post office which closed down as they weren't making any money despite a petition to keep it open. They have made such a wonderful conversion of it from post office to micropub."
The Bees Knees, Main Street, Laneham
"The Bees Knees is a micro pub which is north of the county which is excellent. It does incredible food and has a function room in a completely different building out there. It's a beautifully clean, nice establishment with really friendly people running it," he added.
Tell us your favourite Nottinghamshire pubs in the comments section below.
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