Sunday 12 February 2017

Nottingham's closed pubs part two, Radford Ilkeston Road

This is a sad walk down Ilkeston Road from Canning Circus,a road that had a good amount of pubs evenly spaced out along the road and also quite a few just off it.
Sadly all of these pubs which i have been in lots of times and took the wife in are now gone for good.
The starting point is Canning Circus where there was a pub located at the top of Ilkeston Road.

Royal George

Photo taken by Alan Winfield


A modern looking Home Ales tied house that had a single room inside,which was comfortable with it being carpeted and having comfy bench seating.
The Home Bitter and Mild were never as good here as in the majority of Home Ales tied houses i went in.
This pub closed down many years ago and ended its days being called Seven,the pub lay derelict for well over 10 years and was finally pulled down in 2016.
The Royal George was first visited in 1981.

A short walk down Ilkeston Road and the next pub was on the right side where most of the pubs were.

Wheatsheaf Inn
Photo taken by Alan Winfield

Another pub that was probably built in the late 60s or early 70s to serve the flats that were behind it.
The pub was a Shipstones tied house and had a separate bar and lounge,the lounge was comfortable and the bar more basic.
The Shipstones Bitter and Mild was very nice here.
I quite like these sort of pubs and we went it quite a few times.
Now sadly closed but still standing and now a Boots Chemists. 
The Wheatsheaf Inn was first visited on the 9th October 1982.

Another short walk down hill and the next pub was on the corner of Bloomsgrove Street.

Old Peacock Inn
Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A typical looking city corner pub that was an Home Ales tied house.
The pub had a separate bar and lounge and both were decent rooms,the Home Ales Bitter and Mild were quite nice in this pub.
Sadly now closed but still standing.
The Old Peacock Inn was first visited on the 28th May 1982.

Walking further down Ilkeston Road to the junction with Radford Boulevard and the next closed pub.

The Gregory
Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A large corner pub that was a Whitbread tied house.
The pub was fairly basic inside and also fairly rough,no real ales here,the keg Whitbread Tankard was a rubbish drink.
The pub was a lot smaller inside than the outside would suggest.
One of the pubs that we have not done that many times.
This pub lasted longer than most on Ilkeston Road and is still standing and converted into student accomodation. 
The Gregory was first visited on the 28th may 1982.

A short walk from the Gregory and the next pub was on the corner of redoubt street.

The Jolly Higglers
Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A typical looking estate pub that was set well back from Ilkeston Road. 
This was a Shipstones tied house and had the usual two room layout with a large bar that was basic and a large lounge that was more comfortable,the Shipstones Bitter and Mild were quite nice in this pub.
Now closed down but still standing and converted into a Tesco Express.
I first went in the Jolly Higglers on the 28th may 1982.

Walking further along Ilkeston road and the first pub that was on the left side on the corner of Farraday Road.

The White Horse
Photo taken by Alan Winfield

An old pub with a nice green tiled frontage.
This was a Shipstones tied house with a couple of rooms inside,the Shipsones Bitter and Mild were on top form here.
A pub i have done loads of times and played table skittles here in a league game.
The pub is still standing and is now operating as a cafe,what a shame.
I first went in the White Horse in 1981.

The last pub on Ilkeston Road was a bit of a walk and over the railway bridge and on the right side.

The Midland
Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A very basic corner pub that was an Ind Coope tied house.
The pub was quite small inside and basic,not one i have been in that many times.
There were no real ales on,the keg Ind Coope Bitter was a really dire drink.
The pub ended its days being called Bar Rowcow and is still standing.
I first went in The Midland on the 28th May 1982

A walk back up Ilkeston road and up St Peters Street which is on the left side as you go up.
A short walk and the next pub was on the left side.

Old Rose
Photo taken by Alan Winfield

I always liked the look of this pub from the outside,but once inside it was a very basic and run down pub.
A Whitbread tied house with no real ales on,the Whitbread Tankard was a very poor drink.
This area has changed a lot since my photo of the pub was taken.
I presume the Old Rose has been pulled down and student accomodation now on is site.
I first went in the Old Rose on the 28th May 1982.

Walking further up St Peters Road and into the back streets of Radford there were more pubs to be done.

Nottingham Arms
Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A proper old looking pub set on the corner of Dulwich Road and Brixton Road.
This pub was a Whitbread tied house with two rooms inside,a very basic bar and a carpeted lounge,there were no real ales on the bar,the keg Whitbread Tankard was a pretty poor drink.
The pub is still standing and converted into private use.
I first went in the Nottingham Arms on the 9th October 1982.

Set well into the back streets of Radford on Denman Street was a very large and basic pub.

Dover Castle
Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was probably one of the most intimidating pubs i have been to in Radford.
There was a very large and basic bar that was down a couple of steps from the entrance,there was only this entrance so no way out if trouble went off.
This was a Shipstones tied house,the Shipstones Bitter was a nice drink here.
I only did the pub twice.
I am pretty sure that it has closed down,but not sure of its fate.

The last pub of this sad crawl round Radford is on the opposite side of Ilkeston Road on a back street.

Marquis of Lorne
Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A decent sized corner pub that was a Shipstones tied house.
The pub had  a few rooms inside and was quite nice,the Shipstones Bitter and Mild were very nice here.
This pub lasted longer than most in Radford,on a visit in 2011 the pub had a decent drink of Nottingham Rock Bitter which is brewed on the other side of Ilkeston Road.
Sadly the pub finally closed down some time after 2011 and was converted into flats.

There will be more sad blogs of closed pubs i have done in Nottingham with lots more in Radford which now only has 4 open pubs when it had well over 30 in the mid 80s.