Admiral Nelson pub, Braunston, reopens under aegis of Braunston Manor

You don’t notice it until it’s gone.  

The Admiral Nelson pub, halfway up the Braunston lock flight, has slaked the thirsts of ten generations of canal users.  

When I passed by in March it was recently closed and boarded up, and a plaintive sign on the door said ...  oh bugger, I forgot to photograph it. 

Anyway, the sign said:

"It's your own fault we closed. You didn't come and spend enough with us when you had the chance, so go bobbing for apples in a toilet, you cheapskates!  

"I bet you spend all your dole money on 2 litre bottles of Ice White cider.  Serves you right, I hope you die of thirst.  We're off to Spain where they know how to support bars properly." 

Or something like that. 

Wait, now I remember; Ernie of NB Ten Bob Note remembered to photograph it when he passed through in February (above).  Thanks, Ernie!

It's an Enterprise Inn, described on their website a couple of months ago as being in 'Braunstone, Leicestershire'.   I rang Enterprise Inn's area Manager, Jeremy Griffiths, to break the news to him that perhaps this was why business was so bad - people were getting lost trying to find it.  He promised to get it changed - and said it would soon have new tenants.

As indeed it has.  The revivified Admiral Nelson reopened last month, under the patronage of the owner of Braunston Manor and The Plough, two popular and successful hostelrys.

I daresay it won't be a modestly priced boozer any more.  It'll have to be more of a gastropub, if it's to stay profitable.

I rang the new owner late on a busy night, and he was bonhomie personified, and invited me down to see for myself how splendidly everything was going. (He didn't offer to pay, but he did sound kind, friently and optimistic.)

Naturally I'll never get around to dropping in on my way past.  It's a tough location for boaters to stop at, with the only moorings being in short pounds between locks.

Made more troublesome for towpath walkers by the broody swans in the spring. 

Comments

[Geoff McKergow]

It's been many years since I was in that part of Britain and I am sad to read of the mixed fortunes of the pub - although I understand that the story is being repeatd all over the country - certainly those parts where the yuppies and the clever young chaps from the merchant banks gather.

I first visited the Admiral Nelson in 1976, and subsequently sought it out in the mid-eighties. At that time it seemed a typical English country pub with the added attractions of the canal lock and the remnants of the old GCR nearby. A nice change for a visitor from the Wide Brown Land.

I'm glad to learn that there is some revival going on, although it doesn't sound as if there is much cause for excitement.

Must make it an objective to get to Little Braunston again if I ever return to the UK.

[Gary Stevens]

Had a 'Good Sun Roast there 4 yrs ago. We went back again today 24 June 12. I asked if same chef was still here, daughter of couple running it said not likely as it had changed ownership about 20 times since then!
Anyway, I ordered the Roasts - They were fine, generous meat portions but as is often the case, stingey with the Roast Pots as every roast lunch at every pub I have ever had has been - Never understand it as the pots are the cheapest part of the meal!
Also the Cauli Cheese was pleasant but way too crunchy, cauliflowere barely cooked. Decent gravy though. Alll in all 7/10.

[Charlie]

used to work in this pub so it is sad to hear that it closed down with Dianne and endaff they're lovely people and they gave me my first job... i hope they do well for themselves with whatever they're doing now...

[Keiran Hallam]

Loved the interpretation of the sign!!!

[penanbern]

Visited the Nelson on Saturday at around lunchtime. It was to windy to venture using the NB so we went in the car. The young staff were friendly, very polite, the service was good, the Black Sheep Ale was fine but the Cheese Burger I was served with grated raw cheese sprinkled over it was lacking in any flavour and was overpriced . . . . .

[Andrew Denny]

Thanks, Martin!
Would be lovely to have seen a video of the accordion playing.

[Baz Juniper]

Nice translation! However, informed sources in Spain tell me that bar owners, especially of 'English-themed' establishments, are locking them up and walking away because trade is so bad - I hope the previous proprietors of the Nelson didn't look that far south for alternative employment.

[Martin Ward]

Forget to mention the two gentlemen playing accordion canal side of the pub. A high point of my evening was their 'Winster gallop'

[Martin Ward]

I visited the Admiral last at the end of May: I was able to overnight without difficulty in the comparatively long pound above #3. I found the reborn hostelry welcomimg but somewhat spartan; the beer was good, the food ordinary, and the prices high. The lady in charge was something of a martinet, much exercised by welding together a new team of youngsters!
(Didn't notice any proper cider Andrew.)