Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem: a pint in the caves beneath Nottingham Castle

Every city has a pub with a story, but few can match Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem. Set into the foot of Castle Rock at Brewhouse Yard, beneath Nottingham Castle, it is a place where centuries of the city's history meet over a pint.

The Trip proudly claims a founding date of 1189, the year Richard the Lionheart became king and the Third Crusade was called. Historians point out there is no documentary evidence for that date, and part of the fun is that several English pubs, including two others in Nottingham, compete for the title of the nation's oldest. What is certain is that the history here runs deep.

The building rests directly against the sandstone of Castle Rock and is attached to a series of caves carved into the soft stone. Those caves are believed to have served as a brewhouse for the castle, which was begun on the orders of William the Conqueror in 1068. A structure appears on the site on John Speed's map of 1610, the oldest parts of the present building are generally dated to between 1650 and 1660, and by 1751 it was an inn called The Pilgrim. The name Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is first recorded in 1799, and the pub has been Grade II listed since 1952.

Inside, it is a warren of characterful spaces. Visitors step through the Ward Room, settle into Yorkey's Lounge or brave the Haunted Snug, with curious artefacts dotted throughout and walls that are, in places, bare rock.

The bar serves cask ales, including the house ale Olde Trip, alongside wines, spirits and low and no-alcohol choices. The kitchen offers traditional pub food such as pies, a Sunday roast and seasonal specials, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. The pub is family-friendly and dog-friendly, and has a beer garden for warmer days.

It also makes a perfect pairing with a trip to the castle above, whose grounds and Brewhouse Yard reopened to visitors in June 2023. Few places let you feel quite so close to Nottingham's past with a drink in hand.

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is at 1 Brewhouse Yard and opens daily from 11am. Menus and events are listed on the pub's website.