Latest reviews from Nantwich
| 76 /100 Black Lion (Bar) 29 WELSH ROW “Just noticed that I haven’t reviewed this place yet – I thought I’d covered all the decent places in Nantwich ! So here’s a quick review, even though I’ve not been drinking there for several months.
Place is pretty easy to find. From two ncentre head west, and Welsh Row is the road across the old bridge over the river. Pub is on the left. From station head around the inner ring road till you get to the bridge.
This place is genuinely old – dating from 1664. Full of nook and crannies, low ceilings and hefty beams. The main part of the ground floor is now all one room, but was obviously originally three separate ones. From the front door you enter the front (bar on the right) you then progress to the back bar (other half of bar area on the right). Up the steep stairs there is the “lounge” (full of comfy armchairs), and also (at weekends) a small restaurant. Back downstairs there is a semi-open “snug” which is like a panelled over greenhouse. This leads you to an outdoor drinking area that takes you back to the main road. Outdoor area has it’s own “order point” in a small window that doubles as the back of the bar.
In terms of beer, each half of the bar has 4 handpumps – but only 6 beers in total because two of them are (genuinely) duplicated. At any one time, three of the beers are from Weetwood, though the actual beers may change (currently one is Old Dog). The other three beers are guests from almost anywhere (currently Roosters, Beartown and Parkway). There is also a Weetwood keg beer. Currently one cider but there are plans to increase this.
As mentioned above – from Thursday to Sunday there is food available. You can eat anywhere, not just in the restaurant. I have eaten here and the food is excellent, though definitely not cheap. There’s a quiz night on Mondays and live music occasionally.
Beer range isn’t the most exotic but otherwise this place is top notch. Well worth the walk from town. [ Not it’s currently closed at lunchtime Mon – Thurs ]
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| 62 /100 Crown Hotel (Bar) HIGH ST “An old black and white timbered building in Nantwich High Street (from the station just keep walking and eventually it’s on your left after the market square). This is a hotel but visitors are welcome for drinks or meals.
The entrance is down an alley to the side. You need to make a few turns past the reception to reach the bar. In the main room it’s on the left. To the right is some comfortable seating, including “comfy chairs”. There’s more seating beyond the bar as well – but that is more dining orientated. Lots of old photos, posters and bric-a-brac on the walls.
The bar has five handpumps, but sometimes they aren’t all in use. Beers can come from almost anywhere, though usually they are fairly local. At my last visit they included Salopian, Salamander and Deeply Vale. Unfortunately, beer quality can be variable, though my latest visit (first since Covid) it was fine.
Food is available, but I have never eaten here. I don’t know why – I suspect the prices might be a bit steep though.
The whole atmosphere is somewhat quiet and genteel. They used to have someone playing the piano at lunchtimes, but that seems to have stopped. And (being Nantwich) there is the obligatory large screen TV, though they do seem to show more obscure football matches (e.g. Huddersfield v Millwall).
Always worth popping in to see if there is a tick waiting
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| 56 /100 Vine Inn (Hydes) (Bar) 42 HOSPITAL ST “A genuinely old black and white timbered building on one of Nantwich’s main shopping streets. It’s so old that from the entrance you have to go down a short sloping passage to reach the main floor level. [ People who sit in the window seats have great views of shoppers knees ! ] Unfortunately the interior has been much modernised, and bears little relation to what it once was. The last “pew” seat was removed about 10 years ago. The regular who sat there moved his custom to another pub ! There is one main room, at the far on of which is the bar (on the right). On the left here is a small raised area, and there is another raised area beyond the bar.
Beerwise, there are four handpumps serving the standard range of Hydes core beers. Unfortunately these are often served freezing cold, though on my last visit it wasn’t too bad.
This used to be my regular lunch venue when visiting Nantwich. At that time it served a decent range of typical pub-grub. It certainly still serves food, but I cant give any other details.
I stopped eating here (and visited a lot less frequently) due the above mentioned beer quality problems, and also they installed a lot of large screen TV s and started showing football all the time (and attracted an unwelcome crowd).
It’s reasonable enough I suppose, but there are several better pubs in Nantwich.
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| 82 /100 2 CASTLE STREET “Oh, my. This is a top-notch craft beer pub. Visited with Martinsh. It's upstairs, one room laced with golden age Hollywood posters and filled with piped soft jazz. The beer list - one cask, 8/9 keg and a couple of Snail Bank ciders - is the big draw. Draught beers from Cloudwater, Mobberley, Neon Raptor, Abbeydale. There's also a brilliant bottle/can selection which included a Westmalle I'd not had before. A cracking place.“ |
| 68 /100 Wickstead Arms (Bar) 5 MILL ST “Thanks to Martinsh for introducing me to this place which I doubt I'd have found on my own. The Wickstead Arms is a traditional pub with two bars (and be warned, the beers are different on each side, but luckily there's a beer board). Four beers in all: Doom Bar, two from Weetwood and one from Laine. So, pretty traditional (maybe boring) beer choice but it's a friendly and comfortable venue for a beer.“ |
| 54 /100 Leopard (Joules) (Bar) 33 LONDON ROAD “This was originally a Taylor Walker pub built in the 1800s in the style of a hunting lodge. Taken over by Joules in 2010 and now their outlet in Nantwich.
Bears all the hallmarks of being run by Joules – lots of use of light coloured wood and semi humorous self-advertising on the walls. This one also has some antique hunting trophies on the walls. From the front entrance, the bar is slightly to the right. Three seating areas one on the left, featuring upturned barrels, one behind you to the right, and one beyond the bar to the right, featuring more formal dining. There is also a beer garden and a marquee out the back. This being Nantwich there is also the obligatory large screen sports TV – thankfully without sound most of the time.
Beer range is the standard Joules offerings. Pre Covid that included their seasonal offerings and usually a guest beer as well. Since lockdown it is just the 3 core real ales – plus their lager.
Food is available and I have eaten here in the past. Not for some time however so I can’t really vouch for the current offerings. Judging by their current takeaway menu, it is mainly burger-led, and certainly not cheap ! [ I recall they used to run a “chilli challenge” night, which required you to sign a disclaimer before eating ! ]
It’s a good friendly pub, but I wouldn’t go there looking for ticks unless you’ve never drunk Joules before !
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| 70 /100 Wickstead Arms (Bar) 5 MILL ST “Vibrant upmarket alehouse down a side street, concentrating on good food and well served real ale.
To the left as you enter is the “lounge” area, with plush upholstered seating against the wall, green tables and plush seating. One wall (round the corner) is taken up with a detailed map of the battle of Nantwich ! The other side of the bar is more basically furnished and has (sports) TV.
It is the quality of the beer, rather than the variety which stands out. There is a total of 6 handpumps, though usually only 4 or 5 are in use. Serving mainly regional stalwarts such as Salopian, Bass, Rev James and Titanic Plum Porter. Note that the beers available in each bar are different ! Though there is normally a full list on the wall behind.
The place also specialises in lunchtime dining. Traditional hearty fayre with large portions. Not cheap by any means, but well worth it. The goat curry is excellent !
The staff are very friendly, and always willing to accommodate..
This is my sort of pub and thoroughly recommended. Though it is very unlikely you will get a beer tick here.
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| 60 /100 2 CASTLE STREET “Nantwich is literally just down the road, or just down the train tracks, from Crewe, so martinsh recomended we popped there for a curry and a quick pub trip. Tucked away down an alley, but not hard to find as the pedestrian high street it's just off isn't that long. Craft oriented, but shy of the inyaface multi-tap overload you sometimes find. I think i counted 10 taps, but there was a decent selection of bottles too. Friendly staff. Quite comfortable shabby-chic fittings and furnature, lighting fairly low. Very good craft beer bar for a town of this size.“ |
| 72 /100 2 CASTLE STREET “A new addition to the Nantwich drinking scene in part of the former Gregory’s night club. Would be difficult to find - if it wasn’t for a large sign placed in the middle of the main square whenever it is open. Down a narrow alleyway besides Nantwich Bookshop, up a flight of step and then a twisting staircase to find a small thin bar. Layout seems to change periodically, but the actual bar is always on the left. Opposite it are shelves and fridges with a small selection of cans and bottles. Varied seating at each end of the room.
There is one cask ale available, plus 8 craft keg taps and a cider. Cask beer is usually from Salopian or Stonehouse, and the keg selection can be a bit bland, but usually at least one beer of interest. The “cellar” can be seen directly behind the bar. Range of gins and other spirits as might be expected.
Opening hours have recently expanded following closure of Nantwich Beerdock. Now open every day except Monday.
Beware the “open mic” night (basically karaoke) on Thursdays. 10% CAMRA discount on cask beer. Toilets are at the bottom of the stairs.
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| 56 /100 Vine Inn (Hydes) (Bar) 42 HOSPITAL ST “Small place in the town centre...“ |
| 70 /100 Wickstead Arms (Bar) 5 MILL ST “Visited on a Tuesday evening in September 2015. 2 roomed pub in the town centre.
It was pretty much deserted when we arrived. The bar has beers on from Shropshire and Cheshire and had 5 beers on tap. A decent range with a couple of interesting breweries including Salopian (which is never a bad thing!)
Staff were friendly and happy to chat, possibly because they needed the company. Food appears to be pies but arrived too late to sample them.
A decent juke box is available too to rate and groove along to some indie classics.
Decent pub and not one to miss out.“ |
| 70 /100 Black Lion (Bar) 29 WELSH ROW “Visited on a Tuesday evening in September 2015. Lovely old pub across the river from the town centre. It’s very ramshackle as it’s so old. Beware the low beams as you walk around as could have concussion with the rates.
There’s lovely rooms upstairs to relax in too with nice arm chairs.
Good range of local guest beers, staff were friendly, beer in good nick.
Definitely worth the stroll to. A decent pub.“ |
| 64 /100 Crown Hotel (Bar) HIGH ST “Visited on a Tuesday evening in September 2015. Bar is part of a big old black and white beamed hotel on the High St. Beware the low ceilings in the place. 4 beers on tap, 3 guests. The beer was in good condition but was the most expensive in town.
Bar has plenty of room to relax in, nice feel to the place. Recommended“ |
| 66 /100 Vine Inn (Hydes) (Bar) 42 HOSPITAL ST “Visited on a Tuesday evening in September 2015. This is a tied Hydes house in the centre of town. It’s got a nice vibe. A decent range of Hydes ale including a Beer Studio beer plus a couple guests. Opted for the Beer Studio beer which was decent.
Staff were friendly, plenty of room. It’s a decent place and a good spot to pick up Hydes beers.“ |
