A quintessentially rural canal, the 33 mile long Grantham traverses three shire counties
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Nags Head ~ Harby
Visitors to the pub will find a lounge area with beamed ceiling, cosy alcoves and traditional furnishings, along with areas for pub games such as darts, cribbage and even pool. You're likely to receive a warm welcome from Beau, the boxer, who, along with Fred & Charlie the cats, currently comprise the animal residents belonging to landlord David Dorkes. David has looked after the Nag's Head for 14 years, through the transition between Home Breweries, and is very much in favour of restoring the canal. "It'll be a very big asset to Harby and the surrounding villages if it can be made navigable to the Trent. We already get a lot of canal walkers calling in and having the boaters as well would really boost trade in the area." His one reservation is the work that has already been carried out on the towpath along the section, "I think they've spoilt the natural look with that horrible yellow colour and turned it into a bit of a race track for kids on their bikes - they'd have been better spending the money in dredging the canal and getting the boats back up it!" That said, David fully supports the idea of restored canal and would be pleased to welcome all prospective users of the canal to sample the range of hand-pulled beers and lagers - plus the fine food on offer Tuesday to Sunday lunchtimes and Thursday to Saturday nights. Oh, and be sure to say hello to Beau! |
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The Nags Head is the kind of traditional hostelry that any self respecting boater would want to walk to from a restored Grantham Canal - or indeed that any self respecting person would want to walk to from anywhere! Nestling at the heart of the fine Leicestershire village of Harby, part of the building dates from the 14th century - one of the oldest in the county - but it wasn't originally a pub - in those days, the upstairs served as accommodation for the local monks whilst their animals lived beneath. Much of the original timber structure can be found under today's modern roof and within the downstairs area of the building which was licensed about 200 years ago.