The Vat & Fiddle (no, it's not a typo) is a real ale pub owned by Castle Rock Brewery, just a 3-minute walk from Nottingham Station. It's not fancy, it's not glitzy - it's a waterhole, but a good one of its kind, with plenty of well-kept real ales on tap (not just by Castle Rock). The decor is nothing to rave about, but it's not shabby either. Some patrons may strike you as a bit shifty, especially in the late evening, but those "characters" normally won't bother you but stick to their own kind. Which sounds incredibly arrogant, I know. Anyway, the area itself is hardly the most glamorous in Nottingham, generally one of the prettier medium-sized cities in the Midlands.
I have visited this pub several times in the past year and a half, usually because there was enough time for a pint (or two) before the last train to Derby or Beeston was due. On each of these occasions the pub was about half-full.
Service is friendly and knowledgeable. A good boozer for a last pint in the evening. I guess the locals think that, too. read more