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Date of photo: 1930s	Picture source: picturethepast.org.uk
The Nottingham Castle Inn dated back to 1550, and possibly much earlier. It was extended onto Queen Street in the 17th/18th centuries. Around 1930 when this picture was taken the Inn still brewed its own beer - 'the tubs and barrels are placed in the street to air and dry, thus ensuring a good sharp drink'. It finally closed in 1962 and was demolished in 1964.
I well remember the old Nottingham Castle pub in Derby, I lived just a few doors away in Queen St. Harry Groom was the landlord then and Darkie Groom was the brewer. I remember when I was small that the brewhouse had stable doors and the top part was nearly always open as Darkie was brewing. I remember standing on tiptoes looking over the bottom half of the doors and chatting away with Darkie. He was a nice man who never told me to go away as he was busy, always had time to talk, and I loved the smell of him brewing the home brewed ale that Harry used to sell. My Father had the bakery, just a few doors away and he used to give me a big Burrows and Sturgess empty bottle and told me to take it round to Harry Groom and get him to fill it. I used to sneak round into Michaels Lane to the side door of the pub, open the door and Harry used to see me, take the bottle off me and sent me outside again. Two minutes later he would appear with the bottle full of beer, give it to me and tell me to hide it. Then I used to run back to the bakery and watch my Dad pour out the beer and take a big swig of it. He loved it. Good old days, sadly long gone as has the pub. Derby town planners want putting against a wall and doing away with. They have absolutely ruined Derby.
John Thomas (September 2020)
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