Sawley Pub Research Trip

The first Friday in July saw a group of pub enthusiasts gather on the Notts/Derby border for a trek around half-a-dozen venues in the village of Sawley.This is home to over 6,600 folks, a marina, a golf club, and an impressive nine pubs plus a couple of clubs.And it comes with hazards from up above...Braving the birds, we made the one-mile walk down Tamworth Road into Old Sawley and the (unofficial) starting point for the day.The Harrington Arms (392 Tamworth Road, Sawley, NG10 3AU)Originally called The Blackamoor's Head, this 18th century coaching inn would have offered a refreshment stop whilst waiting for the ferry across the Trent, prior to a bridge being built in 1790. The name was changed in 1807 to honor the local Stanhope family who were given the peerage as Earls of Harrington.It's a building of three distinct bits, as can be seen on the picture. In contrast to the bright sunshine outside, the bar area was so dimly lit that I found myself bracing for a step that I couldn't…