Review

Unsure if this pub is named after the crass commercialism of Shed Seven's dire Speakeasy, that homage to mobile phone store The Link (Speak easy, at The Link it's easy), although The Speak Easy pub is not as greedy and certainly does all it can to give punters a good deal. 'Squiggeldy Piggeldy' nights offer drinks at £1, and cheap drinks are always available on production of a valid NUS or Rock City card - the pub is opposite Nottingham Trent University and behind Nottingham's Rock City.

Previously known as Fagins, maximum points go to The Speak Easy for leaving the 19th century tiled floor in place during modernisation; most bar-conversions would steam-roller over the top, laying a naff floor onto whatever got in the way - the wooden floor here is raised around the original feature. Points are to be deducted, however, for banning Hen Parties, as a notice on the entrance informs that Hen Parties and Stag-Nights are forbidden without prior permission. It's a shame, as men love Hen-Parties and women love Stag-Nights; the opinion of the bloke in the photograph behind the bar is uncertain, although the speech-bubble above his head that says "I love the bum!" could be taken both ways (literally)!

The internal walls are painted in a red, Mediterranean style, like the bastard offspring of a Bar Med pub - although this place is far better - and the lights are made from steel drums, roughly cut in half diagonally with lightbulbs inside. Pictures on the walls are also made of steel drums, this time cut in shield-shaped pieces, into which holes are drilled in the shape of images such as Edvard Munch's The Scream. Benches are provided on the rear patio, where the walls are painted a dull blue colour.

Entertainment is fruit machines, a massive fighting game and a Wurlitzer-style jukebox, which caters for the rock-chicks and young, spiky-haired, Sum 41 look-alike blokes. The rock jukebox has its faults, as pie-man Robbie Williams is in evidence, like a 'fat dancer from Take That' (© Noel Gallagher). Radiators halfway up the walls, at face height, should also provide some amusing entertainment, as drunken, 18-year old punks, who've drank too much alcohol on those long, cold winter nights, scald their faces when falling over due to the demon-drink.

Ideally situated in the centre of Nottingham, this is a good pub with friendly staff, cheap drinks, and is popular with the rocking/gothic/alternative clientele.

Review by mr_psm