If you like pubs with a bit of history, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham is worth knowing about. It is at 1 Brewhouse Yard, NG1 6AD, and it is part of the Greene King chain. The building is Grade II listed, a status it received on 11 August 1952. It sits against Castle Rock, the rock that Nottingham Castle is built on, and it is linked to a network of caves carved out of soft sandstone. These caves were used as the castle's brewhouse, and an archaeological excavation in 1974 confirmed that the Brewhouse was originally in these caves. The pub says its door first opened in 1189, which it claims makes it the oldest pub in England. The name is linked to a legend about knights and men-at-arms stopping here before leaving for Jerusalem. The oldest parts of the present building are generally dated to between 1650 and 1660.
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The interior is split into several rooms, each with its own character. The Ward Room has a bull's horn used for the old game of 'ringing' or 'baiting' the bull. The Money Bar is covered in banknotes left by visitors from around the world. Yorkey's Lounge, built around 1660, has a massive oak beam and photographs of mid-20th century music-hall stars, most of them of Mrs Ada Geraldine Etherington-Ward, known as 'Auntie Ada', who owned the pub from 1950 to 1966. The Rock Lounge, which was once a malting room, has a chimney of about sixty feet and a model of a galleon hanging from the ceiling. Downstairs, The Cellars include an old rooster cage, part of the Gaol of Nottingham Castle with its condemned cell, and the Gaoler's Chair. A narrow chimney runs up through the rock to the castle, which is described as a 'shouting hole' used to order more beer.
The pub has a strong reputation for ghost stories. The model galleon in the Rock Lounge is at the centre of one of them. According to Marilyn, the owner in 1994, the last three people who cleaned it died unexpectedly within the following twelve months. Other reported occurrences include keys disappearing and turning up again, glasses and bottles flying off shelves, and the smell of old perfume such as lavender or rose water. Previous owners reported seeing two ghosts, a man and a woman in crinoline skirts. The cellars are also said to sometimes smell of candle grease. The Haunted Snug sits above an unused basement area known as the Secret Cellar. Whether you believe any of this is up to you, but the stories are a big part of what people come for.
On the food side, the pub runs a family restaurant serving comfort food such as empanadas, along with vegetarian and vegan options and a Sunday Roast. The drinks list includes the pub's signature beer, Olde Trip, a wide selection of wines, cocktails and 0% alcohol options. The pub is generally open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. The Greene King website describes a free food and drink offer for new customers who download the Greene King app, register and spin the wheel, and it mentions October specials, so check the website or call before you go in case offers have changed. On Google, the pub has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 9,005 reviews. You can call on +44 (0)115 947 3171 or visit www.triptojerusalem.com for more details.
Published Date
21 October 2026
