Paws, Pints and a Little Nottingham History

On Thursday 3 September, our members and their four-legged companions assembled at the Robin Hood statue to begin our first ever Charity Paws & Pint Treasure Hunt around the city of Nottingham.

Six teams, accompanied by nine enthusiastic pooches, gathered for a group photograph beside the iconic statue before setting off at timed intervals to prevent any temptation to swap answers or gain an unfair advantage!

The hunt began by taking participants up Standard Hill and past the historic Malt Cross, where they discovered the origins of slapstick comedy before heading down Beastmarket Hill to the first dog-friendly refreshment stop, the fifteenth-century Bell Inn.

From there, teams made their way across Old Market Square, learning about the famous Left Lion and admiring the distinctive architecture of local architect Watson Fothergill. One challenge along the route was to find the stone carving of a monkey on the former Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank building. Some teams spotted it immediately, while others walked straight past it!

So what does the monkey represent? It is said to refer to the expression "having a monkey on your back", meaning to carry a burden. In this case, the burden was a mortgage. Victorian humour at its finest!

The intrepid treasure hunters then continued through Hockley to their second dog-friendly pub stop, The Angel, a unique venue that even houses its own chapel. Following a well-earned break, teams embarked on the final leg of the route.

Travelling along Cheapside beside Old Market Square, participants discovered that Nottingham's Old Market Square is the largest public square in the UK after Trafalgar Square. Many were also surprised to find a small statue that they admitted they pass almost every day without noticing: the little hound lying at the base of a lamp post at the bottom of Hounds Gate. Have you ever spotted it?

The route then led walkers up Hounds Gate and beneath Drapers Bridge, which once connected two textile warehouses. Crossing Maid Marian Way, teams passed the now-closed Regency building that housed the World Service restaurant and formerly the United Services Club, before making their way past the Lace House to learn more about the fascinating history of Mortimer's Hole.

Waiting at the end of the trail was the final dog-friendly watering hole. Established in 1189, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem provided the perfect finishing point to a fun, social and surprisingly educational walk.

It is amazing how often we walk through our city without looking up, down or around us to appreciate the incredible history hidden in plain sight.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our first charity event in aid of PASIC. Thanks to your generosity, we have already started our fundraising pot with £145, and this total will be boosted further through Gift Aid. Every pound really does make a difference.

If you would like to complete the Paws & Pint Treasure Hunt in your own time, please get in touch. We are happy to provide the route and clues in return for a suggested £5 donation to PASIC.

Thank you once again to everyone who took part and helped make the event such a success.