Hand & Heart

You'll walk past this place a dozen times before realising there's a proper pub carved directly into the sandstone cliff face. The Hand & Heart isn't just using Nottingham's famous cave system as a gimmick – they've created something genuinely atmospheric here, with low stone ceilings and alcoves that feel like you're drinking in a medieval fortress. The beer selection takes itself seriously without being pretentious, and the food goes well beyond standard pub grub. You're not coming here for the views (obviously), but for an experience that actually lives up to its unusual setting. It gets properly busy with a mix of locals and visitors who've done their homework.