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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
World
Keimae Blake

Anger that 'punch-up' pub in The Meadows remains boarded up

The shell of a once lively pub which has been boarded up for years has been deemed as "disgraceful" by residents in The Meadows who want to see something done about the unused building.

The Riverway in Arkwright Way, The Meadows was boarded up in 2019.

It was originally built in the 60s and had been owned by Basford brewery Shipstones at one point.

It was taken over by Yorkshire-based Samuel Smith's Brewery in 2017 after a long period of closure.

The Riverway survived the demolition work which took place in The Meadows in the 1970s, when 22 pubs were lost, but it was boarded up in April 2019, leaving residents saddened.

Residents who have lived in The Meadows for years remember The Riverway well and other residents who have more recently moved into the area would like to see something being done to the derelict building.

Elliot Smyth, a 27-year-old teacher moved to The Meadows a year ago.

He said: "I'm not sure what I'd like to see, a pub would have been nice. I don't think we need any shops, we have a Co-Op.

"I think a pub or a restaurant would be nice to give people something to do, I know West Bridgford isn't too far but it would be nice to have something like that in this area."

Tommy Brown, 67, is now retired, and has lived in The Meadows for most of his life.

He said it was known for being a bit rough but that he used to enjoy it.

"There was a good few punch ups in there [The Riverway], I use to love it in there," said Mr Brown.

"The pub went under quite a few managements, it's a shame it closed down. Good pubs like back in the day are hard to find now. I think another pub will do."

The pub was taken over by Yorkshire-based Samuel Smith's Brewery in 2017 after a long period of closure.

Paul Singleton, 72, also lives in The Meadows and has fond memories of The Riverway.

"It's disgraceful the pub has been shut down all this time," he said.

"I'd like to see it re-opened, I liked it in there, I use to play darts in there. One thing I wouldn't like to see is it become student flats."

Tracey Hollis, 45, self-employed from West Bridgford added: "There's plenty of people around here that I'm sure would go to the pub.

"The social aspect of going to the pub gives people something to do. I think that it's time this turned into something, it's a big building, it needs to be made use of instead of being boarded up."

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