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A trip down the East Coast Mainline today firstly to Grantham to visit the Whistle Stop Micro Pub on the railway station followed by heading back to Newark to visit some real ale and craft ale pubs in the area.
The Whistle Stop Micropub
A small micropub on the railway station at Grantham in the old parcels office on Platform 1. This opened in November 2019 and can be accessed from both the front of the station and from Platform 1.
The pub itself is done out with railway and parcel office memorabilia and signs and looks really great and welcoming as you walk in, with the bar being along one side.
A choice of 3 real ales on the bar, alongside a local craft ale and other lagers, ciders etc. I started off with their house ale “The Whistle Stop”, brewed by local Grantham brewery “Zest”. I followed on with “Session IPA”, a keg beer brewed by another local brewery “Beermats Brewing Co”.
After finishing my drink in here, I headed over the footbridge to catch my train back north, this time to Newark Northgate, a short 13 minute journey from Grantham.
The Castle Barge
A short walk from Newark Northgate Train Station to the banks of the River Trent by Town Wharf (right next to Newark Castle), is “The Castle Barge”. Formerly a Spillers grain barge named “Ril Elsie”, built in 1920, she carried over 200 tons (20 lorry loads) between Hull and Gainsborough, she was purchased for £2500 (Scrap Value) in 1979 and opened as a pub in December 1980.
A top deck and bottom deck on this barge (the bottom deck is where the bar is), alongside a big outdoor seating area on the bank. It looks amazing as you head downstairs into the bar, and the original features that have been kept.
A choice of 3 real ales on the bar these being from Pheasantry Brewery based in nearby East Markham. I went with “Lincoln Tank Ale”, a smooth and tasty English Bitter brewed to raise funds for The Lincoln Tank – a memorial to the Lincoln engineers that worked together to invent the tank in Lincoln in 1915.
The Real Ale Store
One worth dropping into, a short walk from The Castle Barge is “The Real Ale Store”. A Fantastic selection of both local and further afield beers to choose from in here, great if you fancy one for the train home afterwards.
The Fox and Crown
A short walk to “The Fox and Crown”, a great welcoming pub which reopened in 2022. Very traditional and homely inside with tiled floors and wood and seems very popular with locals.
A greats selection of 8 cask ales on here to choose from, 3 being from Castle Rock Brewery based in Nottingham alongside 5 guests. I started with “Our House” , a very refreshing extra pale ale.
A fantastic keg beer selection aswell, featuring 4 guests. I went with “Hold My Thumbs”, a blood orange, Sicilian lemon and Carrot fruited sour, sounds an odd mix but works really well. A collaboration between “Staggeringly Good” based in Portsmouth and “Fermenterana” based in Gothenburg, Sweden”
Oscar’s Inn
A slight walk to the edge of town now to visit “Oscar’s Inn”, a pub named after the owners dog. A lovely large pub, split into separate rooms – “The Oscar Wilde Room” where quotes can be found around the room and “The Oscar Peterson Room”.
5 real ales to choose from here (the 6th had run off), featuring some great breweries. I decided to go with “Hope Looms” from Pentrich Brewery based in Derbyshire. A delicious hazy and hoppy pale ale.
A huge outdoor beer garden here aswell, perfect for sitting out in todays warm weather (even if the sun wasnt out).
Organ Grinder
A walk back towards town this time heading for the “Organ Grinder”, a pub which opened in 2014 by Nottinghamshire Brewery “Blue Monkey”. A brewery renowned for its beers featuring a Monkey on the pump clips.
Lots of choice here, 7 real ales on cask, alongside a extensive craft keg selection. I went with “A4” a beer from Blue Monkey ive not seen before, a delicious easy drinking Golden Ale.
The Prince Rupert
Onto a completely different looking pub next, A Grade II listed building which was opened in 2010 after a magnificent restoration of this building which dates back to 1452.
Some great imagination has gone into decorating this pub, lots of interesting items and signs are dotted around the pub.
A choice of five real ales on the bar here, with a range of light to dark. I went with “Citra” from Oakham Brewery, never disappoints. A really refreshing beer, enjoyed in the outside courtyard.
The Flying Circus
A walk around the corner brings me to “The Flying Circus”. This pub reopened back in 2014 and is a big name with live music, having regular acts on. The pub itself is really well decorated, covered with brewery logos, Monty Python quotes and lots more. A really interesting place.
5 cask ales on the bar here (the 5th is further along out of the photo), alongside a extensive craft keg selection with some really interesting and different beers to choose from. I went with “Tom Cat” from The Fat Cat Brewing Company in Norwich, a pub id visited in August last year.
A huge beer garden outside at the back aswell (far bigger than it looks from the front of the pub).
Just Beer Micropub
Straight over the road brings me to “Just Beer Micropub”. A micropub I first visited back in 2015 and is still Newark’s only Micropub. It opened on 4th August 2010 and has currently served 6000 beers from 1473 different breweries.
A great choice of real ales and ciders on the bar, being 5 real ales and 3 real ciders to choose from. I started with a beer from Happy Valley brewery based in Macclesfield (a new brewery for me). Their “Lazy Daze” is a very traditional old ale.
At the back of the bar is a keg wall, serving a total of 8 keg beers. I went with “”Wait a While” from Manchester based Track Brewery. A delicious and refreshing Motueka and Citra Pale ale.
Swan & Salmon
Last call of the day, directly next to Just Beer Micropub is the “Swan & Salmon”. A great riverside restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is on the bottom level next to Newark Town Lock. Some great views of Newark Castle from the riverside seating area.
One cask ale available here today “Teamates” from Beermats Brewing Co based in Nottinghamshire. 10p from every pint sold of this beer goes to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Just a steady walk back to the railway station for my train back North.
Micropub Adventures 
Great choice of pubs. It was heartbreaking when the Fox & Crown closed but it has reopened and is better. The good news for Newark is that the Wetherspoons is closing !!
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Yeah I had down a couple of others to do but either closed or a poor selection of ales ☹️
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Good read. Slight correction that Castle Barge is on the Trent and not the Tyne.
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Edited ha ha dunno why ive pit that
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