Sip in the sun at city's best beer gardens

MOST pubs in Nottingham city centre have some kind of outdoor space.

- By LYNETTE PINCHESS

That can range from tables and chairs on the pavement in a busy city centre street to a dingy patch of land at the back that’s used as a smoking area.

But then there's those beer gardens that are a magnet when the sun shines.

In our pick of four of the best spots for al fresco drinking, a bite to eat and soaking up some rays, we've got a hidden oasis that can’t been seen from the street, another that’s worth a trek up the hill near the castle, a colourful garden in the heart of Hockley and a waterside retreat.

THE LORD ROBERTS, Broad Street, Hockley

Think back to six years ago and the pub in Hockley had small grotty smoking area where staff parked their cars.

It wasn’t the kind of spot you'd want to sit and enjoy a drink. But how that has changed after a transformation into an attractive colourful space with plants and hanging baskets.

Landlord Craig Pennington-Hayes invested £30,000 on getting the garden partially covered, which proved a game changer during the pandemic.

The only way drinkers could socialise was to sit outside, so they were queuing round the block for a seat.

More recently owners Punch have spent £100,000 on a revamp. The 60-seater garden is in high demand when the sun pops out, with drinkers making a beeline to Broad Street.