Nottingham: Forest Directions, Beer & Food

[Diego_Sideburns]

NOTE: This information may be out-dated in an ever-changing world.

 

Nottingham Forest, City Ground, Nottingham NG2 3HJ.

 

The City Ground is situated about a mile from Nottingham’s busy city centre along London Road and close to Trent Bridge. It is only a 20 minute walk from the major shopping centres, bars and restaurants to the stadium.

Up to 4,750 away fans can be accommodated in the Bridgford Stand lower tier; it’s odd because one third of this stand was built lower than the rest, due to a local Council planning requirement to allow sunlight through to the houses in nearby Colwick Road. The acoustics are excellent.

 

Don't be surprised if the stewards keep asking you to sit down if you stand in the seated areas. From past experience, they gave just one chance to sit down and, if you don't, you are out! What makes it frustrating is that fans in the home section are allowed to stand without interference.

 

Disabled facilities:

There are adapted toilets in all areas of the ground, apart from the away end where away supporters will need to travel across the pitch track side to access the toilets and catering outlets.

For wheelchair users there are 22 spaces for the away fans. There is a lounge area behind glass in the Bridgford Stand.

 

How to get there:

 

By train:

 

The stadium is about a 15 minute walk from Nottingham railway station which is well served by Central and Midland Mainline trains from London, Cardiff, Birmingham and Liverpool, amongst others.

 

As you come out of the main station entrance, turn left and left again. Follow the road down to London Road and then turn right by Hooters. The stadium is about a half mile on the opposite side of the dual carriageway.

 

By Car:

From The North:

Leave the M1 at Junction 26 and take the A610 towards Nottingham and then signs for Melton Mowbray. Cross the River Trent and you will see the ground on your left. Alternatively as you approach Nottingham on the A610 you will pick up signs for 'football traffic'. Although following these seems to take you all round the outskirts of Nottingham you do eventually end up at the City Ground, along the A6011.

 

From The South:

Leave the M1 at Junction 24 and take the A453 towards Nottingham. Then take the A52 East towards Grantham and then onto the A6011 into Nottingham. The ground is situated by the A6011.

 

Alternative from the South:

Leave the M1 at Junction 21a (Leicester East) and follow the A46 dual carriageway towards Newark. After around 20 miles take the A606 towards Nottingham. At the first roundabout that is the junction with the A52, take the 4th exit onto the A52, signposted towards Grantham. At the next roundabout turn left onto the A6011 towards Nottingham. The ground is about a mile down this road.

 

From the East:

Take the A52 to West Bridgford and a right into Colwick Road .

 

From the West:

Take the A52 into Nottingham, follow signs for Melton Mowbray and Trent Bridge, cross the River Trent, then take a left turn into Colwick Road.

 

Suggested exit route:

Head for the M1 via Junction 25 when leaving after the game. Follow the A52 (Derby) signs and join the motorway at J25 . This applies to fans who are heading either North or South on the M1 . Although the route planners and Sat Navs say head for M1 Junction 24, the A453 is notoriously bad for traffic and it can take up to an hour to get to Junction 24 . Although a slightly longer journey, when travelling south, getting to Junction 25 will take 20 minutes at the most and it is only five minutes down to Junction 24 once on the motorway.

 

Car Parking:

There is a large car park at the ground, otherwise there is some street parking to be had, especially in the roads near to Notts County’s Meadow Lane ground across the river.

 

The council operates a car park on match days on the Victoria Embankment, located near to the cricket ground. They charge £5 but it is only a two minute walk to the stadium'. The council also provide parking at their Eastcroft Depot (NG2 3AH) at about £4 a car. The Depot is a ten minute walk from the City Ground, located just off London Road (A60), opposite Hooters. The entrance is signposted with banners and is manned by security guards throughout the match.

 

By Air:

The closest major airport to Nottingham is East Midlands at Castle Donington on the Notts/Leics border. A regular shuttle bus will take you the 30 minute journey into Nottingham.

 

By Taxi:

Taxis available from the airport, station and many ranks in the city centre.

 

Where to eat:

Inside the stadium the catering outlets serve the usual stadium fare.

 

The nearest McDonald’s is on Radcliife Road, West Bridgford (opposite the cricket ground) and there is a Burger King located 5 minutes down Meadow Lane on the Lady Bay retail park.

 

Nottingham has more ‘international cuisine’ restaurants than any city outside London, so every taste is catered for. It could be Noodle Bars, Mexican or Portuguese at the Cornerhouse or Brazilian, Cantonese or Italian in the Chapel Quarter. The list is endless.

 

Those looking for a true gourmet experience may choose to reserve a table at the World Service or Merchants restaurants.

 

Restaurant Guide:

http://www.godine.co...ity-centre.aspx

 

Where to drink:

 

Stadium:

Inside the stadium Fosters, John Smiths & Guinness are available.

 

Near the Stadium:

The 'official' away pub is the Meadow Club at Notts County's ground, from where police will escort fans to the stadium.

 

The Trent Navigation Inn on Meadow Lane serves real ales from the nearby Magpie Brewery.

 

Hooters on London Road, is a regular haunt for stag parties. It is renowned for its attractive waitresses, serving beer and food. Kids eat free on Sundays.

Hooters

 

Further down London Road, just across from the hump-back bridge over the canal, opposite Meadow Lane, is the Globe. This is another fans’ favourite real ale pub (discount to CAMRA members) and only about 7 minutes from the stadium. It’s a comfortable open-plan pub with good food and five ever-changing real ales. However no children are allowed.

 

 

West Bridgford

The stadium is situated in West Bridgford, which has a good range of pubs and restaurants.

 

On the banks of the River Trent is the Nottingham Rowing Club, which welcomes away fans for a small entry charge.

 

Just over the Trent Bridge Bridge is the Southbank Bar, a sports bar with live TV games. It serves excellent food and real ales, including one from the tiny local Mallards brewery. The World Famous Trent Bridge Inn (WFTBI), next to the cricket ground, is now a J D Wetherspoon outlet.

TBI review

However, away fans are advised to stay away from the WFTBI and the Southbank in West Bridgford, and the King John in the city centre, because if you don't get there before the Bouncers, they tend to check match-day tickets and if you don’t have a home ticket you're not welcome!

 

Just off Radcliffe Road, up the side of Trent Bridge cricket ground at 2, Stratford Road, is the Stratford Haven, serving a good choice of beers and food. This pub is located in a largely residential area where there may be street parking available, if you arrive early.

http://www.castleroc...ite/?page_id=18

 

The Larwood & Voce is round the back of the cricket ground on Fox Road, just off Radcliffe Road. Until recently it welcomed away fans and was a good place to have a good craic with the locals before the match, however, after a recent refurbishment, it is more strict about allowing in away fans.

 

City Centre:

The stadium is situated only a 20 minute walk from Nottingham’s busy city centre which is inundated with eating and drinking establishments to suit all tastes and budgets. It is reputed that there are 1,000 licensed premises (Bars, Restaurants and Hotels etc.) within one square mile, but that was before the recession kicked in.

 

If it’s real ale that you are looking for, then a trip to the Vat & Fiddle on Queens Bridge Road (opposite the Railway Station) is recommended. On leaving the station, cross over, turn left and you will reach the pub on the right. It’s situated next door to the Castle Rock Brewery, and offers ten real ales and hot and cold food. Children are welcome.

Vat & Fiddle

 

There is also the Waterfront complex of bars (including a Wetherspoon’s outlet) which is a short walk from the train station. As you come out of the station turn right and cross over to the other side of the road (as you cross the bridge going over the canal you can see the complex). At the traffic lights turn left into Canal Street and the Waterfront complex is just down on the left, located behind the buildings. One of these pubs is:

Fellows. Morton & Clayton on Canal Street, a Victorian pub serving cask ales and bottled and draught cider. It opens from 10:00am on Saturdays and serves breakfast cobs or a sportsman’s breakfast (two rashers Prime Back Bacon Grilled Lincolnshire Pork Sausage Fried or Scrambled Egg Grilled Tomato, Pan Fried Button Mushrooms, Baked Beans One Round of Toast and Butter Coffee or Tea, with a vegetarian version) for £5 until 1:00pm.

http://www.fellowsmo...dclayton.co.uk/

 

Suggested City Centre Pub Crawl:

 

On leaving Fellows, Morton & Clayton, turn left and continue to Castle Boulevard. Cross over and walk up Castle Road to:

Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, Brewhouse Yard, NG1 6AD, claimed to be the oldest inn in Britain. This is due to the date of 1189AD painted on the side of the Inn. That was the year of ascension to the throne of King Richard the First, known as Richard the Lionheart, who crusaded against the Saracens in the Holy Land, from his stronghold of Nottingham Castle. The Inn is said to be unique in that it has rooms carved into the sandstone rock beneath the Castle. The building itself dates from the 16th or 17th century but the caves may date to the 11th century and could have been the site of the brew-house for the castle.

http://www.triptojerusalem.com/

 

On leaving the pub, turn left and continue up Castle Road, cross over and turn right down the street opposite the Castle onto Maid Marian Way. Cross over the dual carriageway to:

Ye Olde Salutation Inn, Hounds Gate, Maid Marian Way, NG1 6AJ also claims to be the oldest pub, dating back to 1240AD. Ask at the bar if you can have a look at the labyrinth of underground 9th century caves spiralling down behind an innocuous-looking door.

http://www.viewnotti...view-55759.html

 

On leaving the pub, continue up Maid Marian Way and turn right into St. James’s Street. On the left is:

The Malt Cross Café Bar, St. James’s Street, a former music hall built in 1877 (it was a brothel in a previous incarnation), and open from 11:00am to 6:00pm on Saturdays. The range of beers includes three real ales, DAB (German), Leffemans fruit (Belgian), Lindeboom (Dutch). It has a varied food menu of snacks, light bites, filled rolls and desserts. There is a range of teas and coffees, and even hot chocolate with Maltesers.

http://www.maltcross.com

 

Across the street from the Malt Cross is The Roebuck, a Wetherspoon’s outlet with all the usual good value food and drink.

http://www.jdwethers...the-roebuck-inn

 

On leaving the pub, turn right and at the end of the street turn left for:

The Bell Inn, 18 Angel Row, NG1 6HL, off the Old Market Square, which completes the ‘holy trinity’ of very old pubs. It claims to be the oldest inn in the city, dating back to the 1437, and has a 13th century well shaft leading to caves beneath it. It comprises several bars serving real ales. If you carry on through the narrow entrance passageway, with bars on both sides, you come to the wood-panelled dining room and along a bar the length of a cricket wicket, with real ale pumps sprouting up like stumps. Food is served.

http://www.gkpubs.co...m/bell-inn-pub/

 

Taxis are available in the area to take you to Hooters and/or the pubs in the Meadow Lane area near the stadium.

 

Map of Nottingham showing recommended pubs:

http://maps.google.c...ved=0CBsQngIwAA

 

There are also young trendy bars in the Hockley and Lace Market areas.

http://www.barcrawl....l.aspx?Crawl=94

http://www.barcrawl....City=7&Area=171

 

If you’re staying for the weekend you might want to work out your own bar crawl from this link:

http://www.nottingham-bars.com/

 

Facilities:

The nearest shopping areas for newsagents, bookmakers, fish and chip shops, cash machines, etc., is in West Bridgford. There is a cash machine There is a free cash machine outside the ticket office at the City Ground and at the Jet Petrol station on Meadow Lane, which is also the closest point to the stadium to buy fuel. Other nearby filling stations are located at the junction of London Road and Canal Street (opposite the BBC building) and on Radcliffe Road in West Bridgford.

 

Local Attractions:

Single blokes may be interested to know that a survey found Nottingham was the best place outside London to find eligible women. The survey, by a dating agency, rated the city’s women highly in areas of sexiness and intelligence (although the East Midlands accent was a slight drawback).

 

Stag Weekends UK has been known to host 300 to 350 men in the city at weekend, and apparently its website advertises the city’s female to male ratio as 6:1.

 

Nottingham is a historical City dating back to Anglo Saxon times. It has strong Norman influences and, of course, it is the home of the legend of Robin Hood. You can visit the Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery and the adjacent Brewhouse Yard Museum set into the Castle Rock. Over in the Lace Market area you will find the Galleries of Justice, providing a fascinating insight into 200 years of crime & punishment.

 

Nottingham is renowned as a major shopping destination having been consistently ranked in the top five of the U.K. shopping league. It boasts two large shopping centres, the Victoria Centre and Broadmarsh Centre, which are joined together by Clumber Street and Bridlesmith Gate, both busy shopping streets in their own right. In the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre you can gain entry into the City of Caves and explore Nottingham’s proud Anglo Saxon past.

 

The statue of Brian Clough at the junction of King Street and Queen Street, just off the Market Square, drew a crowd of 5,000 for its unveiling.

 

If you think ice skating is a cool experience, the National Ice Centre is the place to slide along to.

http://www.national-...time_and_prices

 

The Nottingham Contemporary, in the Lace Market near the Galleries of Justice, is one of the largest contemporary arts centres in the UK.

http://www.ccan.org.uk/

 

If you want to see a show, play, concert or gig, there are many fine venues including the Theatre Royal, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham Arena, Rescue Rooms and Rock City.

 

Nottingham listings:

http://www.viewnotti...k/listings.aspx

 

Lonely Planet suggestions for 20 things to do in Nottingham:

http://www.lonelypla...am/things-to-do

[Tommy_Fent]

I hope for the sake of the club that we bring a decent following

[opinions4u]

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[NewBlue]

I hope for the sake of the club that we bring a decent following

 

What would be decent? 1500 would be alright I think.

 

Depends on how we go on over the Christmas period though.

[oafca-u-l]

 

 

What would be decent? 1500 would be alright I think.

 

Depends on how we go on over the Christmas period though.

[oafca-u-l]

If its a Saturday and ticket prices are normal '£20 ish', then 3 thousand easy, a big day out.

[opinions4u]

If its a Saturday and ticket prices are normal '£20 ish', then 3 thousand easy, a big day out.

 

I wish.

[lancy lad]

If its a Saturday and ticket prices are normal '£20 ish', then 3 thousand easy, a big day out.

3,000???

 

Never in a million years, even if its a fiver. Will cost for travel and food aswell.

 

Anything over 1,000 is fantastic a few days after New Year.

[Jsweeting24]

I think the Globe pub has shut down now unfortunately.

[Tommy_Fent]

If its a Saturday and ticket prices are normal '£20 ish', then 3 thousand easy, a big day out.

 

I wish we'd take 3000 but around 1500 would do. FA Cup 3rd Round will bring out a few more than usual. Just as long as I don't end up with crap seats again

[Diego_Sideburns]

I think the Globe pub has shut down now unfortunately.

 

It's not the end of the world.

[oafc1955]

Train travellers ... Please book via PlayerShare WebShop.

 

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£36 return from Stalybridge is the cheapest I can find on train line .....any cheaper options?

[oafc1955]

3,000???

 

Never in a million years, even if its a fiver. Will cost for travel and food aswell.

 

Anything over 1,000 is fantastic a few days after New Year.

 

We got over 6000 at the same time last year!

[opinions4u]

£36 return from Stalybridge is the cheapest I can find on train line .....any cheaper options?

 

I'm pretty sure I saw £13 return from Oxford Road - limited number of trains though.

 

So a £3.10 return from Stalyvegas to Oxford Road, £8 from Oxford Road to the gun crime capital of Nottingham, a few swift halfs and catch the 7.40pm home for a fiver.

 

£16.10 in total.

Edited December 3, 2012 by opinions4u

[NewBlue]

We got over 6000 at the same time last year!

 

Liverpool is a much bigger game than this. Being in the top 4 BIGGEST clubs in Britain, I didn't say best just to be clear, and so close made it a glamour tie.

 

Forest are a declining club, their stadium isn't iconic like Anfield, and they're a mid table Championship club.

 

You can't compare that fixture to this one and say that it's similar. 3000 is pushing it, maybe we'll get 2000, who knows? But I highly doubt we'll get that amount. I'd love to be proven wrong though.

[Tommy_Fent]

Liverpool is a much bigger game than this. Being in the top 4 BIGGEST clubs in Britain, I didn't say best just to be clear, and so close made it a glamour tie.

 

Forest are a declining club, their stadium isn't iconic like Anfield, and they're a mid table Championship club.

 

You can't compare that fixture to this one and say that it's similar. 3000 is pushing it, maybe we'll get 2000, who knows? But I highly doubt we'll get that amount. I'd love to be proven wrong though.

 

TBF only Man Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal would compare to drawing a side like Liverpool in the cup. But I wouldn't class Forest as a declining club, they were down at our level a few years ago but they're probably the best supported club in the East Midlands, they have won two European Cups which is something which to me holds them high in regard and I'm sure was a factor in them attracting the Al-Hasawi Family to invests in them. They're a club that wouldn't look out of place in the Premiership and I'm sure this factor might attract a few more fans down for the match

[Diego_Sideburns]

We got over 6000 at the same time last year!

And that was on a Friday night!

[brad]

There not in a decline they are on the up with new investments and probabaly be in the prem the next couple of years. Looking and probably booking my train tickets soon knowing what day. Found one for 20 pound from manchester 8 45 train there for 10 30 and leaving Nottingham at 7

[opinions4u]

There not in a decline they are on the up with new investments and probabaly be in the prem the next couple of years. Looking and probably booking my train tickets soon knowing what day. Found one for 20 pound from manchester 8 45 train there for 10 30 and leaving Nottingham at 7

 

Did you use PlayerShare WebShop?

 

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[brad]

 

 

Did you use PlayerShare WebShop?

 

http://www.spendandraise.com/xtra/shop/retailers/?search=Virgin&order=alpha&page=A

will be doing when I book when I find out the date plus 3 others will as well. Every little helps

[Monty Burns]

If its a Saturday and ticket prices are normal '£20 ish', then 3 thousand easy, a big day out.

 

Big day out? They were in our division five minutes ago.

[Diego_Sideburns]

Big day out? They were in our division five minutes ago.

 

Nottingham on a Saturday is the big day out, regardless of who Latics play.