With an unusual name and an intriguing past, this Nottingham icon is much more than just a boozer
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is a Grade II listed public house in the city of Nottingham, which claims to have been established in 1189, although there is no documentation available to verify this date.
Resting against Castle Rock, upon which Nottingham Castle is built, the pub is attached to several caves, that were reputedly originally used as a brewhouse for the castle. Hailed as the oldest inn, The ‘Trip’ as it is known locally is said to have hosted King Richard the Lionheart and his men before their journey to Jerusalem in 1189 AD.
Part cosy, city centre pub, part homage to the past, the Trip is packed full of cave-like hollows, atmospheric nooks and crannies and ancient relics including a welcoming suit of armour. Beneath the pub, cave cellars bore deep into the sandstone cliffs that have been used for storing ale for centuries.
Full of mystery and intrigue, the cellars are also home to an old cockfighting pit and part of the Castle Gaol is also believed to have been located down there at one time too. Intrepid pubgoers can book a tour during their visit, to find out all about the labyrinth of caves that are steeped in history.
Over the centuries, there have even been reports of many ghostly goings-on between the ancient walls, and the building itself is rife with lore. The Rock Lounge on the first floor, in particular, seems to be the epicentre of many eerie events.
According to the BBC Nottingham website “a model galleon hangs from the ceiling, covered by what looks like 50 years of dust and cobwebs.” Marilyn, the landlady of the pub in 1994, told the BBC “No one will clean the galleon because it is cursed. The last three people who have cleaned it are said to have died mysterious and unexpected deaths within 12 months of doing so.
Another spooky part of the building is the condemned cell that can be found in the interconnecting caves that form the cellar. Marilyn said: “As you walk in the cell, you know it’s not right, you know it is evil. Men condemned to death were shackled to the walls in there. Some were left to die of starvation or dehydration.
“Two of the pub’s regulars, full of Dutch courage, once decided they would spend the night in the condemned cell. They lasted twenty minutes, and were violently sick afterwards.”
If grizzly tales of dark subterranean spirits don’t put you off, the modern-day inn is cosy and welcoming, with an extensive menu, serving up quintessentially British pub grub and delicious desserts. There is also an impressive range of local ales and wines and a cocktail menu for the more adventurous drinker.
With over 3400 reviews on TripAdvisor, the Trip has a total score of 4.5/5. One reviewer wrote: “What a venue! Where else in Nottingham can you bump into Robin Hood, enjoy some history and spook the kids with ghost stories all whilst having a great drink?!”
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