What’s in a Nottingham Pub Name? 🏹

Nottingham is such a brilliant city and one I love dearly given I went to university there. Given I’m here for the weekend, I thought I’d get around to writing about the etymology of its excellent pubs. Often we don’t realise the history that is soaked into the names of our local pubs but they often speak to characters, customs and curiosities from the past which are remembered in the names of inns and taverns across the land. Researching their etymology, you can find a treasure trove of trivia.

In a previous blog, I’ve covered which pubs are my favourites in Nottingham so the focus here will be on just the names. If you’re curious about this then you might like my book which focuses on London pub names, where many popular names from across the country are covered.

Like my blog on the etymology of Wolverhampton’s pubs, I’ve focussed mostly on city centre pubs, with one exception but if you have a request for one elsewhere in the city, let me know and I will do some research and add it in.

Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem
Brewhouse Yard, 1, Nottingham NG1 6AD

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem claims to be the oldest pub in the country, opening in 1189. It’s etymology appears to give this claim some credence, however, this claim is disputed at the pub was previously called The Pilgrim in the 1700s. Nonetheless, the first confirmed use of Ye Olde Trip dates from 1799. The story goes that during the Crusades, Richard III raised his banner in Nottingham at the pub, which is built into the cave network beneath Nottingham Castle in 1189 before heading off to the Holy Land.

Vat & Fiddle
12 Queensbridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB

The Vat is the tap room of the Castle Rock Brewery which sits a minute’s walk away from the city’s train station. The name here is rather excellent as locals will know that HMRC had an office just around the corner, meaning it’s a rather cheeky nod to taxes!

The Ned Ludd
27 Friar Lane, Nottingham NG1 6DA

Ned Ludd is a legendary character whose name is given to the Luddite movement. Allegedly, he was a weaver who destroyed two knitting frames and thus the story and the movement grew from there. I do doubt that any Luddites will be reading this blog post however!

Fothergills
5-7 Castle Road, Nottingham NG1 6AA

Watson Fothergill (1841-1928) was an architect who has designed over 100 buildings in Nottingham. Primarily using a Gothic Revival style, his signature style is using primarily red brick, incorporating bands of blue bricks. Examples include is own office (which is Grade II listed) and the building which the pub bearing his name now sits.

The Joseph Else
11-12 South Parade, Market Square, Nottingham NG1 2JS

Nottingham’s branch of Whetherspoon’s, like most Spoons across the land, takes its name from a local figure who is important to the city’s history. In this example, Joseph Else was the principal of Nottingham’s School of Art in the inter-war years. He is responsible for sculpting the lions which adorn the entrance to the city’s Council House which sits in front of the pub in Market Square.

Ye Olde Salutation Inn
Hounds Gate, Nottingham NG1 7AA

Like the Trip and The Bell, the Salutation claims to be Nottingham’s oldest pub, with parts of this pub dating from 1240. The name has a religious connotation as the full name of the original pub was “The Archangel Gabriel Salutes the Virgin Mary” and a salutation is the greeting that Gabriel gave to the mother of Jesus. At the time, this sort of name was typical of guesthouses of friaries and other religious institutions.

Pit & Pendulum
17 Victoria Street, Nottingham NG1 2EW

The Pit & The Pendulum is a short story written by Edgar Allen Poe in 1842 and was later adopted into a film in 1961. The story covers the torment suffered by a prisoner during the Spanish Inquisition in the 1500s. This seems apt as the pub has a gothic theme, with dungeons and candles decorating the pub.

The Loxley
24 – 26 Victoria Street, Nottingham NG1 2EG

Of course, one of Nottingham’s pubs refers to its most famous son. I am obviously talking about Robin Hood. One of his aliases was Robin of Loxley, which this pub has taken for its own name. Loxley itself is actually a village in South Yorkshire.

The Lord Robert’s
24 Broad Street, Nottingham NG1 3AN

Many pubs across the land are named after famous military commanders. In this example, the pub remembers Field Marshal Lord Frederick Roberts VC who was one of the most successful leaders of the Victorian era, serving as commander in chief in India before leading British forces during the Second Boer War. He died of pneumonia aged 82 in November 1914 after visiting troops on the frontline as the First World War was in its early stages.

The Thurland Hall
Thurland Street, Nottingham NG1 3DR

Thurland Hall was the country home of the Earl of Clare which stood nearby in central Nottingham during the 1500s. The pub sat on the site of the old hall when it was opened in 1830, however when the railways came in the following decades, the pub was compulsorily purchased and moved to its current site.

Kean’s Head
46 St Mary’s Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QA

Edmund Kean (1787-1833) was a famous Shakespearean actor of his day and started his stage career aged four playing Cupid. He would end up appearing at the Drury Lane Theatre many times and also performed in Paris and America. However, a tumultuous private life limited his career as he committed adultery and his wife left him. He was subsequently booed and pelted with fruit when he appeared on stage after this.

Tap & Run
Main Road, Upper Broughton, Melton Mowbray LE14 3BG

While not in Nottingham, given we’re in the East Midlands I couldn’t resist including this excellently named pub. Tap and run is a cricketing term when a team is batting and the batter gently hits the ball and picks up a run. This makes sense when you know that the pub is owned by England bowler Stuart Broad. Sadly the pub was devastated by a fire in June 2022, however, the pub has risen from the ashes and reopened a year later.