Food review: The Angel Microbrewery
Food review: The Angel Microbrewery
Big portions, brilliant options, and bags of character
The Angel Microbrewery is one of our favourite place for a pint in Hockley, so when we were invited to check out its new menu, we were very much up for the challenge.
If you’re looking for a pub with delicious choices that aren’t your typical chain offerings, finding out what it has to offer may come in useful for your next visit to the city centre.
It’s also one of our top dog-friendly pubs around Nottingham, so it’s worth having on your radar if you’re bringing along your pooch for a mooch in town.
“It will make you (and your stomach) feel right at home” — The Angel Microbrewery food review
By Eve Smallman
I’ve never been to The Angel Microbrewery for a meal before. I have visited it for drinks numerous times, as it’s a cosy spot filled with character. The pub is within a 17th-century old building, which was originally two townhouses, interestingly enough.
You’ve probably been past it in Nottingham — it’s nestled in Hockley and is the great big blue building tucked next to The Lace Market Fish Bar and right opposite Oscar and Rosie’s old spot (I miss you!).
There are plenty of other restaurants within walking distance of the area — but sometimes you just can’t beat good, hearty pub grub. And boy was The Angel’s food good.
I’ll start this off by putting my hands up and disclosing that I’m vegetarian. In recent years, I have been spoiled with the amount of eateries now serving veggie food. But in pubs, it tends to be a little lacklustre — a token Beyond Meat burger, a stonebaked marg pizza, or a cheese and onion pie (IYKYK).
This is why the first thing that I was really appreciative of was the sheer amount of like-for-like swaps for meat and non-meat options on the menu (you can view this on The Angel Microbrewery site). Wings can be swapped for mushrooms, chicken for tofu, and fish can be substituted for tempeh. There’s also a brilliant selection of big favourites and lighter dishes, such as burgers, pub classics, tacos, and sandwiches.
My boyfriend and I tried the beetroot gnocchi (£6.50) to start with, which was earthy and sweet. Randomly, we put this together with the crunchy, vinegary mushroom ‘calamari’ (£6) — hey, this journalist wanted variety, okay? I think you could pair both of these with a salad and the spring green arancini and have a wonderfully fresh selection for a warm evening in the beer garden with a glass of wine or three.
But, these smaller plates can also work as starters, which is the route we took. From here, we segued into mains. I dove into a Nashville hot chicken burger (£12.50) made from tofu. I’m not a huge Spice Girl when it comes to flavour (not music), so I was pleasantly surprised to find it had just the right amount of tingle. Meanwhile, my boyfriend had the tempeh fish and chips (£12.50) and was a big fan of the crispy beer batter and the minty mushy peas (a must in Notts, obviously).
I’m not about pubs that give you a piddly stack of chips, and clearly, The Angel isn’t either as they give you more than enough. As much as I love a french fry, I did wonder if they could be a little thicker, but that could just be my personal preference. That being said, the portion sizes of both meals were very generous and extremely good value for money.
Along with having varied food, it also has a fantastic bar stocked with independent ales and ciders — many of which are vegan and gluten-free. On top of that, it also serves up its own Angel Ales, made with locally sourced hops.
If you’re in the city centre and are looking for a spot where you can take a large group of people, this is a great option for catering to many food preferences. The energetic, friendly atmosphere will envelop you and put you at ease.
Whether you go for a bite to eat, a few ales, or a mixture of the two, The Angel Microbrewery will make you (and your stomach) feel right at home.