When it comes to pubs in the city centre, there is no shortage of places to go. However, it takes a truly great pub to not only draw drinks further out of the city centre but also up a hill but the Lincolnshire Poacher has managed to do just that since the late 1980s.
The pub, which can be found at the top of Mansfield Road, is a hidden gem as it manages to have a steady stream of visitors and regulars but despite this, remains a good spot for a quiet drink or live music. What are the secrets to its success that keep the crowds coming back for more?
The poacher which is affectionately referred to began life as the Old Grey Nag's Head and was a Shipstone's pub before it became a Castle Rock pub. Incredibly, the venue has been open for 33 years with many of the staff staying on for a few years at a time.
John Slee is the manager of the Poacher. He says the secret to the success of the place can be found in its consistency and also good beer selection
"We had a review recently that summed it up: when you walk in the door, it just feels right. That's part of it in that the bar faces the door so you get an instant hello. We do our best to remember the names of people and what they like to drink so it's a very strong community here. Also, by the time people walk up that hill, they need a pint so it works well," he said.
"You know what you are going to get here as it doesn't change that much. It's good quality beer and a good range of guest beers. There is homemade food and live music here too with over a hundred whiskeys on the wall too so it's consistent."
Supervisor Siobhan Harris has been working at the Poacher for ten years. She says the Poacher was a lifeline for her when she relocated from London.
"It has good staff retention so we stay here and get to know people. I didn't know anyone when I moved here and this bar was my first port of call and I was made welcome here. People see the same faces here and get to know us too," she said.
Supervisor John Harris who works at the bar first started coming to the pub as a customer and then played gigs as a musician. He remembers what drew him to The Poacher.
"I saw a frienzed conversation taking place over the phone with a regular. The night before, one of the regulars had had a stroke and hadn't returned home. So the barman rang all the hospitals in Nottingham to find him and when he did, he then phoned a taxi. He called the man's wife and said he had called a taxi for them both to go to the hospital to visit him. I wanted to be a part of a community thing like that as I thought it was amazing."
Siobhan said her favourite memory of the pub so far has been the 30th birthday party which they celebrated with a week-long party and exhibition of photography upstairs in the function room.
"The effort we put into the 30th birthday was special. I put on a photo exhibition of hundreds of photographs that were taken over the years. We also had 1989 prices for one night where all pints were only £1. We sold over 1,000 pints that night and it was a Monday night too," she said.
For manager John, the pub has provided more than just a workplace but has become part of his life story as it was the venue for his wedding.
He said: "The amount of friends I've made here is incredible as I've gone on holiday with people I've met here. I met my partner and had my wedding here too. We rented out the entire pub so it's always going to be a part of who I am. It's integral to what makes me who I am."
Bar work was a tricky line of work to in during Covid as many pub workers found themselves becoming waiters or waitresses with new restrictions meaning table service. The Poacher was no different but it managed to weather the storm thanks to the hard work of staff and also the support of the brewery Castle Rock.
"In terms of working, it was stressful but it was great to see everyone coming back into the pub, especially the regulars so we knew they were okay. Everyone is loyal to this pub so after lockdown, we couldn't fit everyone in and had to open the function room to get everyone in," said Siobhan.
The pub is open to new ideas and has been trialling a board game night on Mondays and will be reintroducing quiz nights in the near future. John has big plans for the pub including tap takeovers and a potential beer festival called Poacherfest. For the foreseeable future, the live music nights will be continuing at the Poacher and are a firm favourite with staff and regulars alike.
"The music has always been amazing no matter what side of the bar you are on. Sometimes I'll just be pouring pints, listening and thinking, this is brilliant," said John.
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