The Approach Nottingham food and drink deals through the week
The Approach sits in Nottingham city centre, run by Great Northern Inns Limited, and operates as a live music venue and sports bar showing football, rugby, cricket, golf and motorsport across multiple HD screens. Beyond the fixtures, it functions as a full hospitality venue with weekend bands, special events, and a kitchen turning out pizzas, Sunday roasts, and pub classics. For anyone planning a visit, the what to expect page outlines the layout and atmosphere in more detail.
For Australian travellers, expats, or simply fans of a well-run pub, the weekday promotion calendar is where the value lives. Back home, a Tuesday arvo pint in Melbourne or a Wednesday schnitty deal in Brisbane tends to be the local benchmark, and The Approach runs a comparable rhythm. The difference is that everything is bundled into one venue: food, drink, screens, and live entertainment, all a short walk from the Old Market Square tram stops. Each day carries its own personality, and knowing the pattern in advance makes planning far easier.
Monday
Monday is built around easing punters into the working week rather than blowing the roof off. Think of it as the British equivalent of a quiet Sunday session in Sydney's Inner West, where locals drift in for a parma and a schooner. The kitchen typically features a comfort-food deal, and the bar leans into soft-start pricing on selected draught beers and house wines. Football supporters planning their week around midweek European fixtures will find the screens tuned to whichever games are on, and the atmosphere remains conversational. Travellers jet-lagged from a long-haul flight out of Perth will find Monday a gentle way to recalibrate.
The Monday crowd is a mix of regulars, shift workers, and visitors who have realised the pub is quieter. It is one of the better nights to try something from the kitchen without a wait, particularly if you want to combine dinner with background sport.
Tuesday
Tuesday is quiz territory across most British pubs, and The Approach runs with that tradition. Teams book tables in advance, often bundling food with the entry fee, and the questions lean general knowledge with a sporty edge. Anyone who has spent time in an Australian pub watching the footy tipping comp will recognise the format. Beyond the quiz, Tuesday tends to feature cocktail promotions, with classic cocktail mixes priced to move. It is a popular night for catch-ups, date nights, and corporate teams.
The kitchen supports the quiz with sharer platters, pizzas, and lighter options. Booking is strongly recommended during the quiz season peaks. Drink pricing extends to selected bottles and pints, so the maths works well for teams of four or more. For Australians used to Tuesday being standard midweek, the British quiz pub tradition is a welcome change of pace.
Wednesday
Wednesday tends to be the most food-driven night of the week. The kitchen often runs a wings or burger special that turns a midweek dinner into a proper event, particularly when there is Premier League or Champions League football on the screens. Pints of craft ale and lager move quickly once kick-off approaches. For Australians used to Wednesday being the official "hump day" excuse for a long lunch in Perth's CBD or a work drinks catch-up in Parramatta, the British midweek pub session offers a similar release valve. The Approach's location near the Lace Market makes it a convenient meeting point for nearby office workers.
The drink promotions target volume: pitchers, selected bottles, and rapid service on tap beers. It is a high-energy night that rewards early arrival.
Thursday
Thursday is when The Approach shifts up a gear. It is the bridge between the working week and the weekend, and the promotions reflect that, with cocktail lists featuring a themed twist and pricing on prosecco for groups. Live music sometimes starts mid-evening, giving a warm-up feel. The crowd skews a little older and dressier, and tables are worth booking for a guaranteed seat near the screens. Some locals unwind on the journey in with a quick session of pirate themed online gaming on the tram, though most save the entertainment for the venue itself. If you are an Australian expat missing the buzz of a Thursday night out in Fitzroy or Newtown, the vibe will feel familiar.
The kitchen runs the full regular menu, with pizzas, burgers, and specials sitting alongside standard pub fare. Group bookings of six or more often get a bundle deal that includes a drink per person and a sharer to start, which works well for birthdays and after-work drinks. The bar team handles cocktail classics with ease by Thursday, and the energy builds steadily towards midnight.
| Day | Promotion focus | Food highlight | Drink highlight | Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Soft-start pricing | Comfort food, pizza deals | Selected beers, house wine | Quiet, conversational |
| Tuesday | Quiz night | Sharer platters, bundled food | Cocktail promotions | Interactive, social |
| Wednesday | Food-driven | Wings or burger special | Craft ale, pitchers | Pre-match energy |
| Thursday | Cocktail-led | Full menu, group bundles | Themed cocktails, prosecco | Dressier, warming up |
| Friday | Weekend launch | Pizzas, burgers, sharers | Happy hour, jugs | Live music begins |
| Saturday | All-day specials | Brunch to evening platters | Pitchers, cocktails | Peak, full venue |
| Sunday | Roast day | Traditional roasts | Real ales, red wines | Mixed, family to late |
Friday
Friday is when The Approach fully comes alive. Happy hour pricing often runs from late afternoon into the evening. Live bands begin their residencies, special guests arrive, and the screens stay locked to whichever fixtures matter most: Premier League kick-offs, Six Nations rugby, or whatever else is on. For Australians, Friday evening is sacred, and The Approach matches that energy. The food menu includes pizzas, burgers, and sharers. Anyone heading to or from a match at the City Ground or Meadow Lane will find it a natural meeting point.
Friday is the night the venue runs closest to capacity, so planning matters. Bookings open earlier in the week and tables near the screens go quickly. Drink deals favour volume: jugs of cocktails, bottle deals, and discounted rounds at happy hour. The kitchen keeps the menu streamlined, focusing on crowd-pleasers that travel well. By the time live music kicks in, the room is full.
Saturday
Saturday is the headline day. The Approach operates at full tilt with all screens on, multiple sporting events running back-to-back, and live music from the early evening onwards. Food and drink promotions run from lunchtime through to close, with brunch-style deals giving way to evening platters and pitchers. For Australians used to Saturday being the centrepiece of the sporting week, whether it is AFL at the MCG or NRL at Suncorp, the parallel is direct. The Approach handles the same volume of fixture-watching that a busy Brisbane sports bar would, just with a Nottingham twist.
The Saturday schedule typically begins around lunchtime with early kick-offs and builds into a long evening. Bookings are essential for groups, and walk-ins during peak hours should expect a wait. The kitchen runs the full menu plus weekend specials, and the bar moves through happy hour pricing, regular service, and late-night cocktail offers in sequence.
Sunday
Sunday is built around the roast. Traditional roasts with all the trimmings headline the kitchen, with vegetarian and other options usually available, and the bar leans into slower-drinking offerings: real ales, red wines, and long cocktails. Sports coverage continues through the afternoon, often with golf, cricket, or motorsport alongside Premier League fixtures. The crowd tends to be mixed: families in early, groups of friends taking over from mid-afternoon, and a steady stream of post-event revellers as the evening builds. For Australians used to Sunday being a recovery day, a roast at The Approach slots neatly into the rhythm. The kitchen and bar deals ease people back into Monday, completing the seven-day cycle.
Sunday is one of the most relaxed days to visit, particularly before 4pm. The roasts are the main draw, and the kitchen turns out a high volume without compromising on quality. By evening, the venue often hosts quiz nights, live acoustic sets, or themed events alongside the sports coverage. It is a flexible day for families, couples, and groups of mates.
The Approach runs seven days a week, with food and drink promotions layered across the calendar to suit every kind of visitor, from the midweek lunch crowd to the Saturday night regulars. To see the latest offers, check the weekly schedule, and book a table, head straight to The Approach and plan your visit around whichever weekday suits your schedule best.