Can you find us a really good AirBnB in Nottingham, within walking distance of Trent Bridge?
…asked Daisy, the day we learned that Middlesex had qualified for a one day final for the first time since 1990.
How’s about this one?
…was my reply, finding a really nice-looking modern apartment, just across the water from West Bridgeford, overlooking the River Trent. Very conveniently located for the Trent Bridge ground, especially now that there is a new footbridge across the river enabling a walk through the park to the ground. I quickly secured two nights there.
I also booked us a table at Cleaver & Wake for the night before the match.
The thing I didn’t take into account was the fact that Nottingham Forest were playing Coventry City that Saturday, which caused a fair bit of extra traffic driving into Nottingham. I also worked out that we wanted to walk to the restaurant a little early, ahead of the heaving crowd that would be emerging from The City Ground around 7:20/7:30. We just about achieved that.
As we walked towards Cleaver & Wake, we heard very loud house music, which seemed to be coming from the Island Quarter – the exact vicinity to which we were heading.
How come we weren’t invited to the party?
…I asked the receptionist as we arrived at Cleaver & Wake.
You’re dining here, so you are invited.
The restaurant itself was quite well insulated from the noise, but we could see the amazing light show through the windows, which we rather enjoyed.
Excellent grub and very good service at Cleaver & Wake.
We shared a light smoked fish salad starter, then we also shared two amazing mains:
- BARBECUED MONKFISH Ratte potatoes, kohlrabi, dashi & Champagne Beau Blanc
- SIGNATURE BEEF WELLINGTON Pomme purée, Lincolnshire Poacher, Roscoff onion, Cabernet Sauvignon
We decided to take up our invitation to party at Binks Yard, but then got cold feet and watched from afar, you can click here to see what it looked like, before ordering an Uber home.
The next day we took that lovely walk across the footbridge and through the park:
We went to the cricket and had a great time. Everything we want to say about that is contained in Daisy’s match report, which will be published on the King Cricket site in the fulness of time. Once that has happened, I’ll link that piece here.
Spoiler alert:
