It can be seriously tempted to visit our favourite locals time and time again. After all, we know what they offer and it can be comforting to be around familiar faces who may know our names.
However, Nottingham has a great selection of pubs, bars and microbreweries off the beaten track that are dying to be explored.
So if it's a good meal, a nice lunch of an excellent ale, or three that you are looking for. Here is our guide to the best non-local local pubs that are worth going the extra mile for.
1 - The Vic
Beeston, Distance - 4.2 miles
The Vic is well worth a trip for the atmosphere and the food alone. The pub is hidden among the houses in Beeston so it can take a bit of a walk to find or you could always hop off the train which stops right at the backdoor.
It's one of the most popular spots in Beeston and an excellent place to spend an evening but don't go expecting chips. The chip-free specials are displayed above the fireplace on wooden boards with some excellent local ingredients creeping into dishes. If you aren't after a tasty dinner, then the pub has an excellent selection of ales on offer and some quirky live music nights.
2 - The Old Volunteer
Caythorpe, 10 miles North East
The Old Vol had a bit of a makeover earlier this year but has bounced back with a new menu that boasts an incredible lineup of dishes. The pub has a lovely, relaxed atmosphere which makes it a great choice for a laid-back Sunday lunch or a cheeky post-work gin and tonic.
There are several different menus depending on what you need including outdoor, ala carte or Sunday roasts. Just a heads up that chefs, Andy Goodbourn and Jack Pearce are known for their Sunday roasts having cooked up a storm at city centre favourites such as World Service and Lord Nelson.
Dishes on offer include wild garlic gnocchi with purple sprouting broccoli, blue cheese, wild garlic and roast Scottish cod loin with cauliflower purée, sea vegetables, mussels, bacon crumb and pickled chilli.
3 - Paul's Restaurant and bar
Bottesford. Distance - 17 miles
Bottesford may be slightly further out but it's actually really reachable by train. The small village can be found just outside of Nottingham and is worth a day trip to take a walk around finishing with an excellent meal at Paul's.
The restaurant is a great place to pop in to sample the local favourites including their unbeatable fish chowder or cheeseboard. They also offer a lot of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options too.
The outdoor area is a bit of a sun trap where it's perfect for spending a few lazy hours working your way through the selection of gins on offer while people watching. It can get booked up quickly as there are few seats so it's often worth a phone call if you are travelling to make sure you can get a seat.
4 - The Old Green Dragon
Oxton, Distance- 4.9 miles
The Old Green Dragon is a great choice for anyone looking for an excellent selection of ales, beers or ciders. So much so that the pub has won several awards for its selection including Cider Pub of the Year 2020.
The cosy pub also does food and every Wednesday night is pie night where you can get a pie, chips and mushy peas for £8.49. Not forgetting the lashings of gravy over the top. The pub also has live music nights and also hosts occasional tap takeovers.
If you want to try something a bit different, the pub also serves Ashover Cider's Bakewell Tart cider which is a quirky take on the traditional apple drink.
5 - The Reindeer inn
Hoveringham, Distance - 10 miles Northeast
The Reindeer inn has some of the best views of any pub in Nottinghamshire as it looks out onto the cricket fields. Although the pub has a great beer menu, there is no better way to celebrate the sunshine than pizza and prosecco while watching the world go by.
The kitchen is open on Saturday and Sunday serving twists on classics such as the Hoi Sin Duck pizza with 6hr confit shredded duck leg, hoi sin, spring onion and sesame or the seafood option which has prawn, crayfish, garlic and chilli. Failing that, if you are feeling less adventurous then the pub also offers a classic Margherita.
6 - The Red Lion
Thurgarton, Distance - 12.1 miles
The Red Lion is a bit of a find if you are looking for a cosy pub tucked away in the countryside. It's a bit of a drive at half an hour but worth the trip if you are looking for an extensive cider selection or a well-designed menu. Staff are very knowledgable about the drinks they sell so are always ready to suggest something if you get stuck.
The menu offers hearty pub classics with some surprise options such as seared wood pigeon with textures of beetroot, black pudding croquette and celeriac remoulade. The pub is also really great for gluten-free and vegan options.
7 - The Unicorn Head
Langar, Distance - 12.8 milies
If you have dogs then you know how difficult it can be to find a good 'dog' pub where it's okay to bring your animals. The Unicorn is a great pub for humans and four-legged friends alike with plenty of nearby walks on offer if you want to earn a pint or two.
The pub has a great menu, extensive drinks list and is just a really cosy place to spend an afternoon. Another sign of a good community pub is that it offers an honesty shop where locals can nip in to get a few essentials. The shop was started during lockdown as a way to support the community during difficult times and has proved so popular that it has stayed.
The quirky decor is another reason to visit the pub which features vintage pieces dotted through the venue along with a pool table for anyone who fancies a game. The bartenders also make a mean Espresso Martini which goes down far too easy on a Friday night.
8 - The Woodlark
Lambley, Distance - 6.4 miles
The Woodlark is a good country pub hidden in the depths of Lambley. The pub is a great space to visit if you fancy a cosy pub atmosphere, great food and an all-weather outdoor area thanks to their covered patio.
The owners have run a successful pub and breweries in Cornwall before turning their attention to the premises in Lambley. They opened the pub and tap room along with a small restaurant and micro brewery. Locals recommended fish dishes such the traditional fish and chips. It's also worth noting that the pub runs Tasty Thai Tuesdays with some mouthwatering specials on offer every week.
9 -The Railway
Lowdham. Distance - 9.2 miles
The Railway is an award-winning gastro pub worth a visit for the food and great atmosphere. It has been voted the best pub in the East Midlands for both 2019 and 2020.
The cosy pub had a big refurbishment in 2017 and offers a relaxed atmosphere and decent ale list. It also hosts garden parties in its outdoor areas which have a selection of live music including Beatles tribute acts.
It also takes lunch time very seriously with a separate sandwich menu with options going above and beyond a standard ham or ploughmans.
10 -The Wollaton
Wollaton. Distance - 2.3 miles
The Wollaton offers a cosy pub experience which goes above and beyond just being able to order at the bar. The owners of the pub also own a brewery so visitors can order mini-kegs to be delivered.
There are extensive menus at the pub including Sunday Roasts with all the trimmings. But its not just about the food, the pub also has a community feel as it offers expectant mums and new parents a chance to meet up and chat with their Baby Cakes sessions. They offer a cake or pastry with a drink for just £4.98.
If babies, beer and Sunday Roasts aren't your thing then the pub also has great deals on post-work prosecco on Fridays and a pizza kitchen available. There really is something to suit all tastes at this relaxed community pub.
