The oldest pubs in Nottingham—and fascinating stories behind them
Nottingham is renowned for its historic taverns, some of which date back to the 12th century, as well as its caverns, lacemaking, connections to Robin Hood, and Raleigh bikes.
Nottingham, renowned for its caves, lace-making, connections to Robin Hood and Raleigh bikes, is also
famed for its historic pubs.
When you pop into one of Nottingham’s historic pubs, you’re in for more than just a pint – you’ll also get a
full history lesson, with opportunities to tour the famous buildings, learn about the pubs’ past and even
delve into the caves below.
Although there is some disagreement in the city about which pub is the “oldest,” Ye Olde Trip to
Jerusalem, which is tucked away beneath Castle Rock, appears to be the front-runner for both the title
and the distinction of being the oldest bar in England.
Ye Olde Trip is a Greene King pub that was shut down for several months following lockdown procedures
last March. Built into the rock under Nottingham Castle’s watchful eye, the structure dates back to 1189.
Visitors are full of praise for The Trip’s cave-like interiors, atmospheric nooks and crannies, spooky
happenings and ancient relics.
According to Visit Nottinghamshire, it was once a pit stop for crusader knights and is believed to be the
gathering place for King Richard the Lionheart and his men before they set off for Jerusalem in 1189,
hence the unusual name.
A blend of an inn and a museum, the pub boasts several bars and cosy snug lounges showcasing relics
from the city’s history.
The ‘cursed’ galleon at The Trip is a major point of interest, encased in glass to deter visitors from getting
too close due to a legend claiming that cleaners who have touched it met untimely deaths.
The spokesperson also clarified a common misconception: “A fact that people may not realise is that the
pub’s name, and specifically ‘trip’, doesn’t quite mean the same in modern English as it did in the Middle
Ages: a ‘trip’ wasn’t a journey as such, more of a resting place or where a long journey could be broken
up.”
“For those barons and knights travelling down from the North to board the ships on the South coast to
fight in the Crusades, Nottingham and the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem in particular would have been the
perfect stop-off.”
In addition to serving authentic ales and live rock bands, the Olde Salutation Inn, another ancient bar in
Hounds Gate, allows guests to explore the caverns beneath the building in between drinks.
The existing structure was built around 1240 as a tanner’s workshop and living quarters, replacing an old
alehouse named The Archangel Gabriel Salutes Virgin Mary.
Local Saxons are believed to have formerly lived in the 9th-century caves beneath the tavern, and there
are still stories of a ghost—a four-year-old girl named Rosie.
Local historian Dave Mooney referred to the Salutation as “an old fashioned rock and bike pub” and now
it is a rock pub. It has been listed with The Trip on a nationwide list of the UK’s most cherished and
historic inns.
Google review data was used to build this ranking of the top 10 historic pubs.It is believed that in the
fifteenth century, Jewish monks founded 120 friaries, including the Bell Inn.
The Bell, which is situated in Market Square, was constructed in the 1420s to accommodate the monks of
a local monastery. Experts who analysed the timber have verified the building’s age.
Cosy snugs, a larger room and bar area and the prospect of guided tours of the pub’s cellars again are all
aspects of this charming tavern.
The ancient Bell Inn has happily reopened to patrons after barely escaping being set on fire during
the turbulent Goose Fair riots in 1831. “It’s been so great to welcome customers back into our pub
and people have been so pleased to reunite here with their friends and family once again,” said a
representative for the well-known drinking establishment in Nottingham, expressing their
happiness. We’re hoping that the present limits on social distancing and table service will be relaxed
so that we may resume our regular operations, as they continue to be quite costly.”
A gem in Knead Pubs’ collection, the Prince Rupert tavern in Newark has a rich history of serving as
a refuge for soldiers during the Civil War. The inn, which is renowned for its function as a haven
during the war, is ideally situated near Newark Castle and is a component of the Civil War history
route that winds through the town.
The Prince Rupert dates back to 1452, and its still-present conventional timber construction makes
its long history clear.
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