January 2026. Radcliffe on Trent.
Pub 3 of 4 on our expertly curated survey of public houses in the ancient Notts village of Radcliffe, whose most attractive feature was some doggy knitwear on the way to the Chestnut.
I’d struggle to find a lot to write about the village in 2019, but at least then I could take in Radcliffe Olympic’s muscular game before my micro tick, one of four GBG entries over the year.
Now all I can bring you is St Mary’s Church,
a street bench with a friendly sign,
and a genuine contender for a future Beer Guide entry.
It says a lot that I’d actually been in the (Horse) Chestnut years back but long forgotten it, Radcliffe-o-T’s pubs are joyously average, and I mean that sincerely (folks).
The young barman was cheery and polite,
the rarely spotted Batemans XB a malty, chewy joy (NBSS 4, Quinno score probably 1.5), and the opened up interior made more comfortable as one of our seven decided to be Billy No Mates and eat lunch alone.
I’m always a bit conscious of scoffing a large plate of grub in front of non-diners, and besides, someone would have nicked those chips. I’d rather they stole the fish, was a minute or so overcooked, but I’m not one for complaining.
Your soundtrack is defiantly Year 2000; Gabriells’s “Rise”, Travis and Coldplay, but if you can overlook those crimes and order better off the menu (Paul had the hotpot), you’d enjoy lunch here.
retiredmartin 
Dogs HATE that dodgy doggy knitwear. What a shame their owners didn’t get over the ‘dressing up’ phase with their colourful childhood toys.
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Those dogs were certainly very distressed about something, and I’m sure you’re right – it was the clothes.
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At least they weren’t in pushchairs…
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Or prams, like in Hampstead pubs.
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But their ‘private parts’ wouldn’t be exposed to the weather in a pushchair or pram !
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If i’d known of that HAPPY TO CHAT bench you could all have avoided my “storytelling” in the Royal Oak.
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I only go on these trips to hear your stories, Paul, particularly the tales from proper pub towns like Uttoxeter.
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Are they available in podcast/audiobook form? If not, get on the phone to Gary Lineker.
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I’d have sat on it too, Paul. Then I could have repeated everything that I’d been told to the next people I met.
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That pumpclip describes XB as “English EPA”, which invites a couple of questions: (i) what does the E in EPA stand for? and (ii) to what lengths won’t brewers these days go to avoid the word “bitter”?
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I assumed “Extra” but Marston’s says “English”. Oddly, the cask beers I’ve seen in Italy are happy to use the word “Bitter” !
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I thought it was English English Pale Ale, non of those New England hops in it..
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Quite agree.
One page on their website calls it a bitter:
https://www.batemansbrewery.co.uk/news/classic-xb-is-a-firm-favourite/
On another page they call it a pale ale (English):
https://www.batemansbrewery.co.uk/our-beers/xb-cask-beer/
A bit disappointed as I love bitters (but hard to find on this side of the pond). Also, I first learned of Bateman’s from the immortal Beer Hunter, Michael Jackson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x8lXo5xjoQ&list=PLnL1Ik_C8ExeLviQHwfXhg0uW697OkJEh
(that may start partway through)
Cheers 🍻
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In complete honesty, I’ve no idea what makes a bitter different from a pale !
Bitter to me means beers traditionally called bitter, such as Tetley and Brain’s.
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“Bitter” nowadays has negative connotations. “Pale” doesn’t.
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— that’s what I was trying to tell you all in the Royal Oak last Friday !
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“In complete honesty, I’ve no idea what makes a bitter different from a pale !”
To be honest as well, I don’t either! 😊
Actually, there are bitters in my neck of the woods. They are becoming somewhat popular in BC, provided they’re labelled as ‘ESB’.
https://bc.thegrowler.ca/beer/why-bitter-is-an-under-appreciated-beer-style-plus-10-brewed-in-b-c-bitters-to-try/
In the link above, I like both the Naughty Hildegard ESB and the Blood Alley ESB and pick them up when I get the chance.
(have yet to find them on tap alas)
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““Bitter” nowadays has negative connotations. “Pale” doesn’t.”
Yep. Same holds true over here. ‘ESB’ is what they use to avoid the “B” all by its lonesome.
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Dog outfits 😀
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“Sit here if you don’t mind the village idiot sitting next to you, telling you about his bunions.”
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That’s Simon.
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“Pub 3 of 4 on our expertly curated survey of public houses in the ancient Notts village of Radcliffe”
Hang on. ‘Ancient’ in the UK means, anything before 300AD? Unless you meant Daniel Radcliffe; for him ancient means anything before Harry Potter.
(argh, just Wiki’d ‘Radcliffe’. Roman roads forsooth so you win)
“whose most attractive feature was some doggy knitwear on the way to the Chestnut.”
(looks down)
If that photo had been taken in the States, it would mostly imply an LGBT parade with certain attendees wearing ar*eless chaps*.
* a protective clothing worn by cowboys
“a street bench with a friendly sign,”
(looks down)
At least they give you a warning.
“and a genuine contender for a future Beer Guide entry.”
(looks down)
Indeed!
“Radcliffe-o-T’s pubs are joyously average, and I mean that sincerely (folks).”
Average, by definition, is better than half the things out there. 😉
“The young barman was cheery and polite,”
(looks down)
And, shy?
“(NBSS 4, Quinno score probably 1.5)”
I think all that expresso is getting to you.
“and the opened up interior made more comfortable as one of our seven decided to be Billy No Mates and eat lunch alone”
Ooooooh.
“I’m always a bit conscious of scoffing a large plate of grub in front of non-diners, and besides, someone would have nicked those chips. I’d rather they stole the fish, was a minute or so overcooked, but I’m not one for complaining.”
Hah!
(slow golf clap)
Cheers
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Ancient is a word I use to describe a place with no other redeeming features. Hey ! Wasn’t Canada formed from a Big Bang ?
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LOL, so ‘ancient’ is somewhat similar to real estate agents using “rustic” or “fixer upper” or some such. 😉
As for Canada and the Big Bang; it was like a slow, glacial retreat. Literally. 😎
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