A.T.F.C.S.A.

Pubs & Drinking

This page was last updated on Fri Sep 25 2009.

There are two bars on the ground it's self that are very popular with both home and away fans. The bar on the left as you enter (John Harrison Suite) is now supporters association members only. While the bar on the right is open to everyone. The main bar on the right is free to enter at the moment and is open to the public with a full licence. Doors open from around 1.30pm/6pm until kick off, at half time, and then straight after the final whistle until the last person has gone!

The "supporters club" outside the ground on North St is not very well used by reds fans, or anyone else for that matter, but it is right next to the main entrance. They have had a trial with real ale but you can't rely on it being available. Prices are around 10p cheaper than for keg bitter & larger on offer in the town if you can stand the bingo!

 Nearest pub to The Impact Arena is The Victoria on Nottingham Rd, 2 mins walk from the ground. In addition to John Smiths Smooth, Fosters, Kronenbourg 1664, Strongbow, Guinness etc, The Vic has real ale in the form of 2 rotating guest beers, both at £2.50 a pint. There is a pool table, large tv screen & large drop down cinema screen with all sky sports channels, beer garden, and children are welcome. There is normally a good crowd of Reds fans in here before and after the game, and away fans can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome. This is the most popular pub in town for both home and away fans. No food served although there is a selection fresh rolls/baps/cobs/batches/ or buns depending on what part of the country you are from!

If you arrive by car and park at the stadium on North St, you can get to the Vic by going back to the top of North St and turning left. You will see the Vic on your left just ahead.

If you carry on past the Vic to-wards the town centre for another 3 or 4 mins you will arrive at The Hudson Bay Bar on your left. This is not really a daytime pre match type pub but they do have at least one real guest ale on at £2.30 a pint. To be fair, The Hudson is a sophisticated night time haunt, with a sleek restaurant at one end of the pub, and leather sofas to relax in at the other end. I have eaten there a few times and the food has always been very good, and the guest ale has always been on good form. Unfortunately this is now closed for refurbishment.

Just a few paces further along Nottingham road is the

Robin Hood, again, on your left. This is a Kimberley Brewery tied house and is a locals type pub where you are likely to see darts & dominoes being played, horse racing on the telly, and trays of eggs for sale stacked up against the wall. There is no pool table, no sky sports, and it does not yet serve real ale. There are usually one or two Reds fans in before and after the game. No food here.

Next pub along to-wards the town is The Plough. This is now closed and awaiting new landlord. The Hudson Bay Bar & Robin Hood are side by side & separated from The Plough by the junction of Wycliffe Road.

Carry on past The Plough for another 4 or 5 mins and you will be on High st in the town centre. go straight ahead past the mini roundabout and on to High St and the first pub on your left is Ye Old MacDonalds Farm. Noisy large open plan disco/theme type pub, with pool table & Big Screen Sky Sports. Has Mansfield Cask as their token effort at real ale. There should be a few Reds fans in here before the game.

A few yards further on is the Blue Bell. There should be quite a few Reds fans in here before the game depending on what time it is. No pool table but does have Large plasma screen with Sky Sports, and alternative viewing on a smaller tv (usually horse racing on Saturday). There are three real ales on offer that change from time to time. At the moment they consist of Ruddles County at £2.50, & Hobgobblin.

If you carry on past The Blue Bell up to the traffic lights and turn left you will come to The Wagon & Horses (Wetherspoons) about 50 yards down on the left. This (like in most towns) is the cheapest beer in Alfreton. Marstons Burton Bitter £1.39, Guest beers £1.75 a pint. There are a couple more pubs further on but you are starting to get a bit of a way out and they are not really worth the effort. The Four Horse Shoes just a few paces down the road is reachable and further still are Devonshire Arms (Barnsley Brewery), Miners Arms (closed), & Swan & Salmon (Food and outside play area for the young ones).

All in all it should not take more than 20 mins walk to get to Wetherspoons from the ground and slightly less to the Blue Bell or Ye Old MacDonalds Farm. 

If you arrive by train.

When you leave the station head up the small hill to-wards the main road. Turn left into Salcombe Road and then immediate right at the "T" junction on to the main road (away from the railway line), this is Mansfield road. Keep going until you come to The Station pub on your right. I can walk this in about 5 or 6 mins. If you are desperate for a drink, this is your first port of call. Pool table, but no sky sports. A pub that no longer has real ale due to an uninterested temp manager. There is a constant flow of managers in and out so it is difficult to keep track of. In fact there are more managers coming in and out than there are customers! No food here.
If you are OK for time from the train and fancy a few in the town centre you will have to carry on past The Station pub for about 10 mins until you come to the mini round about at the junction of Mansfield Road and Nottingham Road. Turn right and you are on High St in the town centre. The first pub you come to is Ye Old MacDonald’s Farm on the left.

To get back to the ground from the town centre, back track to the mini roundabout at the junction of Mansfield Road and Nottingham Road and take the right fork (Nottingham Road). This will take you past The Plough on your right and the other pubs mentioned above.

If on your way from the town centre to the ground and you are short of time for one in the Vic you can get to the ground via Alma St, which is first right after the Hudson Bay Bar. The turnstiles are on the left about 200 yards down. To get to the ground from the Vic you turn right out of the pub and first right into North St. The ground and main entrance is on the right about 100 yards and about 2 mins walk from the Vic.


If you come from the train station and either do not want, or don’t have time for a drink, or can’t be bothered walking into town you follow the directions to The Station pub and then instead of carrying on up into town you turn left into Prospect Street across from the Station pub and carry on up to the top. Ahead of you just to the right there is a pelican crossing. Cross here and you will see North St just ahead to the right at the side of the Catholic Church. If you have time, The Vic is straight on past North St about 100 yards on the left.

If you can’t be bothered with all that you can get a taxi to the ground or to the town centre for about £3. Don’s on 01773 833665 or Amber on 01773 836100 are your best bet.

Or get you can get a bus from the station to the town centre. Times are as follows;

Bus No: 331 at  9 mins past the hour

Bus No: 92 at 13 mins past the hour

Bus No: 93 at 28 mins past the hour

Bus No: 91 at 43 mins past the hour

Bus No: 93 at 58 mins past the hour

up to 17:58

Then

Bus No: 331 at 18:05

Bus No: 92 at 18:13

Bus No: 331 at 19:05

Bus No 93 at 19:05

Bus No: 92 at 19:35

The journey takes approx 3 to 5 mins depending on traffic.

Ask the driver to drop you off on the High St outside Boots or you will go on a mini tour of the town to get to the bus station where you don't want to be.