Future of 'prime' Nottingham pub that suddenly closed revealed as owner makes sale decision

The possible future uses of a closed Nottingham city centre pub in a 'prime waterfront location' have been revealed after it was put up for sale. The Waterfront bar on Castle Wharf, which closed suddenly last year, has been placed on the market by its owner the Canal and River Trust.

The venue, which had been particularly popular during the summertime due to its position overlooking Nottingham Canal, has been listed for £600,000. The trust, which manages 2,000 miles of historic waterways across England and Wales including those in Nottingham, said it would use the income from the sale to maintain its large network - amid a £300 million funding gap.

A spokesperson for the charity, which is currently turning the nearby British Waterways building into flats as part of ongoing change at the wharf, said: "The income from the sale will be re-invested to help fund the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of our 200-year-old network of waterways so they can continue to be enjoyed by local communities.”

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Marketing materials issued by estate agent FHP explain the buyer of the 7,033ft 'virtual freehold' would be acquiring a prime waterside plot that could be turned into offices, apartments, student accommodation, an Airbnb, or reverted back to a bar and restaurant. A representative for sellers the Canal and River Trust added: “Castle Wharf is a fantastic location and a really important part of Nottingham’s history, and as such we’ve already seen strong interest in this property."

The pub had been popular with football fans during significant matches and international tournaments, but punters in its last days criticised it as a ghost town that "might as well be demolished". It had been operated by pub chain Marston’s, but the brewer chose to hand it back to its leaseholder.

Castle Wharf, near Nottingham train station, once acted as an industrial artery for the city but in the 1990s and 2000s underwent a huge transformation. The waterway had brimmed with canal boats loading and unloading cargo as the world industrialised, but by the start of the 21th century it had become a hub for drinking and entertainment.

However, as 2025 approaches the majority of the hospitality venues in Castle Wharf have closed, with Via Fossa the latest to shut for good on Saturday, October 19 - with it also up for sale. The sale and possible redevelopment of the Waterfront will likely mean yet more change for the area.

However, there's some hope and optimism with the neighbouring Fellows Morton & Clayton pub expected to reopen next week.