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Newark Castle, Castlegate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1BG
24-26 May 2024
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23-25 May 2024
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This wonderful unspoilt pub has thankfully been saved from the threat of closure in 2014 following the long-serving landlady moving into a care home and her subsequent passing away, and after it being run by a band of locals for nearly 5 years. A rare rural time-warp, in the same family hands since 1913, with the former landlady, Elsie Maynard, taking over in 1973.
It comprises two bars entered separately from the front entrance. Note the old Bisset dart scorer on the public bar wall - three finger-operated metal dials that change the score; being darts, the numbers come down as you enter the score. Warning: this has become fragile so is actually best not used anymore! Use your head instead.
In addition to the Larkins cask ale (on gravity dispense in the outbuilding and on handpump in the main building) the pub sells Titsey IPA and Titsey lager on keg dispense. Cash and card payments accepted.
Precise closing times are subject to customer demand.
Historic Interest
Listed Grade II historic pub. It was built in 1841 by William Longley of Pound House, the name commemorating the Queen’s Royal West Kent Regiment. A rare rural time-warp, in the same family hands since 1913, with the former landlady, Elsie Maynard, taking over in 1973. During her tenure a sign on the outside of the pub warned customers 'Lager not sold here' (this sign still exists but is no longer "obeyed") and there was no ice and no children's room in those days! There is no till - just a small bowl for coins with notes placed beneath. Crisps were stored in tins – all crisps were supplied in tins up to the 1950s and two had been retained – you could just about make out ‘crisps’ on one and ‘cheeselets’ on the other! The pub has one of the last remaining totally unspoilt rural public bars (on the right) dating from the Victorian era and which, apart from the paintwork, has been almost untouched since the end of the nineteenth century. The front door leads to a tiny lobby with doors to the left and right and another in front of you that leads to the pub's private quarters. On the right is a door with the figure '1' on it leading to the stark public bar having the original panelled (part herringbone) counter with decorative brackets all along it. The black mastic around the base of the bar counter is the position of the spittoon trough that ran along it originally. On top is a set of three hand pumps with the date of 1948 on them that can still dispense exactly half a pint of beer with one pull. There is simple shelving for a bar-back, basic bare benches attached to the dado panelling around the window recess and a two-sided bench at the rear of this small room. The brick fireplace looks as though it may have been changed around 1953. The saloon bar on the left with '2' on the door was originally a very small room that in 1953 was increased to twice its size by combining with a previous private room. It retains its original curved Victorian panelled counter with decorative brackets all painted bright yellow. The rear straight section looks like it is a later addition in the same style but without the brackets and was probably added in 1953? The very spartan room has a bell-push and a sign saying 'please ring for service'; old fireplace; and a ticking clock. At the rear an extension added in 1953 contains a ladies' toilet. The present inside gents' accessed from the public bar replaced outside ones in 1953.
Three star - A pub interior of outstanding national historic importance
Listed status: II
A precious survival of a small Victorian wayside country pub. Land for it was acquired in 1841 and the pub was named to commemorate the Queen’s Royal West Kent Regiment. It was in the same family hands from January 1913 when Henry Long became the licensee, followed in 1973 by his daughter Elsie Maynard who died, aged 91, in April 2015. The present owners had taken over in August 2014 intending to keep it just as it was (including the no lager policy!). Ahead of the entrance is a door leading to private quarters while that on the right leads into the tiny, simply appointed public bar. The counter, shelving and plain bench seating are pretty timeless and but they could well go back to the 1840s. The Dalex handpumps are dated 1948, prior to which beer was brought from the cellar in jugs. There is still no till, hence the bowls for coins. The only significant modern changes have been the addition of the gents’ in 1953 (formerly outside) and the fireplace brickwork. Note the Bissett darts scorer, a finger-operated device to save the strain of mental arithmetic. The saloon (left) was doubled in size in 1953 by taking in a private room: it too retains its Victorian counter (which has acquired bright yellow paint but a good few years ago).
A rare, rural time-warp, in the same family hands from 1913 to 2014, with the former landlady, Elsie Maynard taking over in 1973 (she died aged 91 in April 2015). It was purpose-built by William Longley of Pound House on land purchased in 1841, the name commemorating the Queen’s Royal West Kent Regiment. The pub has one of the last remaining totally unspoilt rural public bars (on the right) dating from the Victorian era and which, apart from the paintwork, has been almost untouched since the end of the nineteenth century.
The front door leads to a tiny lobby with doors left and right and another in front that leads to the private quarters. On the right-hand door with the figure '1' leads to the tiny public bar with its original panelled counter with decorative brackets. The black mastic around the base of the bar counter is the position of the spittoon trough. The three Dalex handpumps, dated 1948, can still dispense exactly half a pint of beer with one pull: prior to their installation beer was fetched by jug from the cellar. There is simple shelving, basic bare benches in the window recess and a two-sided bench. The brickwork around the fireplace probably dates from 1953.
The saloon bar on the left with '2' on the door was originally a very small room that in 1953 was increased to twice its size by combining with a previous private room. It retains its original curved Victorian panelled counter with decorative brackets all painted bright yellow. The rear straight section is a later addition, no doubt of 1953? This very spartan room has a bell-push and a sign saying 'please ring for service'; old fireplace; and a ticking clock. At the rear an extension added in 1953 contains the ladies'. The present inside gents' (public bar) replaced outside ones in 1953.
A sign on the outside of the pub warns customers 'Lager not sold here' and there is no ice and no children's room! There is no till - just a small bowl for coins with notes placed beneath. Crisps are stored in tins – all crisps were supplied in tins up to the 1950s and two have been retained – you can just about make out ‘crisps’ on one and ‘cheeselets’ on the other! Note the old Bisset dart scorer - three finger-operated metal dials that change the score.
The saloon bar is venue for monthly folk music sessions (ring 01732 862862 or 01737 248708 for details) - it has a few chairs and the odd table placed around the edge of it.
Queens Arms, Cowden Pound
Garden
Family Friendly
Parking
Dog Friendly
Games
Real Fire
Separate Bar
Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub
Quiet
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