The Falcon Inn
A Victorian Pub with 160 Years of Nottingham History
The Falcon Inn has been a fixture of Canning Circus since the mid-1800s. Purpose-built as a public house in the 1850s, it has served generations of Nottingham drinkers, workers, neighbours and travellers — a true local landmark in an area known historically as the gateway into the city.
From its earliest days, The Falcon was designed as a classic two-room Victorian pub, and remarkably, that layout has barely changed in over 160 years. The snug-like bar, the warm gathering spaces and the traditional frontage all echo the pub’s original character.
The Shipstone’s Era
For much of the 20th century, The Falcon Inn was a Shipstone’s pub, and it’s this era that many Nottingham residents still remember most fondly.
Shipstone’s — founded in 1852 in New Basford — was one of the city’s great breweries, and their red-yellow-and-black livery was once a familiar sight across local pubs.
Shipstone’s — founded in 1852 in New Basford — was one of the city’s great breweries, and their red-yellow-and-black livery was once a familiar sight across local pubs.
Under Shipstone’s ownership, The Falcon remained a true community pub: busy, lively, and firmly rooted in its neighbourhood. Locals recall the hand-pulled ales, the friendly bustle, and the sense of being in a “proper Nottingham pub”.
Even after ownership changed hands, that Shipstone’s spirit continues to shape how people remember The Falcon today.
A Shift Upstairs: The 1990s Conversion
In the 1990s, during the Greenall Whitley era, the upstairs rooms — originally private accommodation for landlords — were converted into a restaurant space.
This was part of a wider trend of reviving Victorian pubs by utilising their underused upper floors.
This was part of a wider trend of reviving Victorian pubs by utilising their underused upper floors.
The name may not have been imaginative (“Upstairs at The Falcon”), but it quickly became a cosy spot for small dinners, functions and intimate gatherings.
Today, these rooms still serve the same purpose: private hire, quiet celebrations, Sunday overspill dining and the occasional pop-up restaurant experience.
Today, these rooms still serve the same purpose: private hire, quiet celebrations, Sunday overspill dining and the occasional pop-up restaurant experience.
Becoming a Freehouse
In 2013, The Falcon Inn was purchased from Punch Taverns and became a Freehouse.
This shift allowed the pub to expand its beer range, reconnect with Nottingham’s independent brewing scene and restore some of its historic autonomy.
This shift allowed the pub to expand its beer range, reconnect with Nottingham’s independent brewing scene and restore some of its historic autonomy.
Since then, The Falcon has focused on quality — proper Guinness, well-kept cask ales, straightforward food, and warm hospitality.
Restoration With Respect for the Past
Over the years, careful restoration has ensured the pub keeps its traditional charm:
Original-style wood panelling has been brought back to life
The two-room Victorian layout has been preserved
Period features and fittings have been reinstated
The atmosphere remains unmistakably “classic pub”
The result is a building that honours its history while feeling comfortable and welcoming today.
A Proper Pub, Still Serving Its Community
At its core, The Falcon Inn has always been a meeting place — a place for conversation, celebration, food, drink and connection.
We want The Falcon to remain exactly that:
a proper pub with real fires, real food, real ale, and real character.
a proper pub with real fires, real food, real ale, and real character.
Food focuses on:
classic bar snacks
traditional Sunday roasts, the heart of our week
occasional fine-dining events in the upstairs restaurant
The pub’s history may stretch back over a century and a half, but its purpose has never changed:
good beer, good food and good company — in a warm Victorian setting.