Face Of Cheam

Decided to spend my birthday weekend in Nottingham, which coincided with Saints game against Forest up there. Bit of an anti-climax to the weekend though with us already down and Forest safe.
We got a train up and had some time in Grantham. Beer In The Evening did not let us down as we ventured to the Blue Pig Inn. A quaint 16th century pub with a beer garden somewhat detached from the main building. Some real ales too (as well as the orange Cheddar Valley Cider). A lovely barmaid too.
After spending sometime here we wondered slowly back via the Stagger Inn which was a bit rough and ready and a very much backstreet local, the Odd House.
Arriving at Nottingham we went straight for food and to the only Hooters in the UK. Made for the male this a is sports bar / American restaurant where you are served by attractive girls in vest and orange shorts. We got the lovely Andrea who had a pierced tongue.
Checking in at the Britannia was a bit of a pain with the receptionist saying they only had one of my bookings (not four) and after saying they were full, they quickly found the three other rooms. A crawl of Nottingham then ensued with the Salutation and Royal Children done early on. Keans Head was an ale pub though they had the eastern European lager Veltins on draught which is what I had,. We then headed to the back bar of the Bell via The Pit & Pendulum. Here a bad move, as I had a whiskey chaser with my pint (no more whiskey – an in joke of a previous visit many many years ago!). Foremans the punk bar we sat outside at before getting into Rock City. We hung around in the classic rock bit and although (at our request) they played Skin’s Look But Don’t Touch, not much else we knew was played which was disappointing. Feeling the worse for wear I somehow managed to get lost on the way back to the hotel making what was a five minute journey into over an hour!
Still up and earlyish for breakfast and a pint in the Wetherspoons. We must have just ordered at the wrong time as half the breakfasts took no time at all with the other half of our group waiting over 45 minutes! Bizarre as they were ordered at the same time. On the way to the City Ground we stopped at the Fellows Morton & Clay pub on the canal where again we enjoyed some of the weather. The game saw Southampton dominate for an hour before conceding three goals towards the end, not that it really mattered.
Again the trip home was via Grantham where we made a second visit to the Blue Pig Inn, to be greeted by the same lovely looking barmaid. If only I could make it my local. The Blue Bull (not that great) was then done before heading on the train back to London for a well earned rest. An earlyish night then ensued in preparation for the following night and last day of the bank holiday!