The Fox & Crown, Newark

A Castle Rock pub, multi roomed and nicely kept or modernised inside. Off the street are two small rooms on the right with an U shaped servery, pumps and taps on two sides on the left, beyond is a small snug and seating area then up a step another small snug. Toilets at rear, the gents has interesting religious pictures. An old Space Invaders table machine is available. Amazing mix of floor treatments and furniture. Five hand pumps with three running with Castle Rock beers, the side face has a long T-bar with 10 taps . Lots of pump clips clinging to the ceiling beams.

As others have commented, it looks fairly unexciting from the outside but inside is an excellent ale drinkers' pub. The building is a nicely jumbled assortment of areas and snugs, apparently including the shop next door, with what looks like a large covered courtyard in the middle. Decoration is traditional with vast quantities of beermats and other breweriana on walls and ceilings. I was a bit difficult to tell how many ales they have on normally as a town beer festival was getting under way, but there was a very good choice of Castle Rock and fairly unusual guest brews. Definitely recommended.

The A-board outside the Fox & Crown says something along the lines of “If you’re looking for a pint of Doom Bar carrying on walking to the market”. On the edge of the U-shaped bar counter that comes out of the left-hand wall is a chalkboard that lists some craft keg that come in halves and ranges from £5 for a 10% beer to £11 for an 11% offering from Nerdbrewing. A bit strong for an all dayer so I was thankful to see two banks of five hand pumps that were drawing four offerings from Castle Rock Brewery alongside Ossett’s Voodoo, TRR’s Sonoma, Pentrich Brewing’s Invisible World and Bang the Elephant Brewing’s Custard Coloured Super Dream, which is a Blueberry and Lemon Trifle Pale Ale, FFS. Mexican Street food is available from the kitchen that has been taken over by Holy Moly, the smell was great and the burrito for £8.50 was tempting, but I overheard that there was a wait for food so I decided against it. The pub wasn’t busy, so I imagine the chef was just waiting for the oil to heat up. I thought it was OK in here, maybe a little pretentious, but worth a visit.

Facebook page of The Fox & Crown - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Fox & Crown - www.facebook.com