City Ground Sports Fan Tips
City Ground is a venue in or near Nottingham that is most often used for Soccer
Best Pubs around City Ground?
There aren't too many pubs around for away fans, but a little searching will find you a few. The Nottingham Rowing Club is one, just by the river Trent: £1 to get in, but friendly and sociable atmosphere inside. Stratford Haven is another, not far from the ground, that lets home and away fans mingle in comfort.If you're a Forest fan that's travelled in from elsewhere, virtually every pub near the stadium is yours to enter – enjoy yourself!
City Ground seating?
If you're an away fan, you're in for a treat as the seating is pretty great throughout the Bridgford Stand, where you and your 2,000 compadres will be seated. It's in the lower stand, so you don't get the aerial views accorded some home fans, but it's still good.The best seats in the house is a matter of some contention and mostly depends on your taste. A great resource is this 3D virtual view of the stadium: http://www.3dcityground.com/. Find out what views you like, then head for those tickets!
How do I get to City Ground?
Praise Nottingham – there's actually parking at this ground! So many stadiums these days don't provide any parking for fans, but not City Ground. There's also parking at the Victoria Embankment, a few minutes' walk from the stadium, which costs about £5 for the day. Quite recently, a multi-storey car park has opened at Nottingham Railway Station which is even cheaper at £4 per day, though if you don't get a good space, you could be stuck in there for quite some time!You can also get the train to the Nottingham Railway Station, an easy mile from the venue.
Best Food and Drink at City Ground?
The alcohol available at the ground all comes in at under £4 a drink, which is okay for a footie ground, but quite pricey for a bottom of the Championship side. You can get lager, cider and an IPA for £3.70 (each) and Smirnoff Ice for the same price. The food is nothing worth shouting about (is it ever with football?) with some pies, pastries, hot dogs and burgers on offer from £3.20-3.80.
Things to check out around City Ground?
You're in Nottingham, so why not learn a little bit about one of England's most prolific folk heroes? The Robin Hood Town Tour has the certificate of excellence on TripAdvisor and does not disappoint. The guide is charismatic, full of knowledge and makes you feel like you've been transported through time, living with the vigilante himself. Get in touch with Ade (who runs the tours) and you can thank me later!
What to expect from the City Ground crowd?
It's a tricky one, as there have been some pretty bad stories from visiting fans over the years. In general it's a good, competitive atmosphere, but sometimes home fans have been known to blur the line (quite possibly antagonised by visitors) and a fairly tense, aggressive atmosphere has settled on parts of the ground. Some home fans have hurled lots of profane abuse at supporters, so it might not be the place for families or fans who want to focus solely on the game.
Best restaurants near City Ground?
It's hard to recommend restaurants sometimes, since you never know what a person's preferences are. However, there are a few options which offer great food, great atmosphere and aren't too pricey:-Bombay Bridgford is moments from the stadium and offers delicious eastern European or Asian food.-The Riverbank Bar & Kitchen is nothing short of stunning. Gorgeously presented food, pristine service and enviable surroundings. Particularly good venue if you're out with a close friend or significant other.
Best Insider tip at City Ground?
An alternative for drivers who don't want to spend hours trapped in a city centre car park is to use the newly-established Park and Ride system. It's called the Totan Lane Park & Ride and is pretty easy to find with a satnav or quick Google search. It's free parking, then a quick tram to Nottingham train station (£2 return) and finally a short 10-minute walk to the stadium itself. It's more efficient than cramming yourself into a private car park, if a slightly longer journey on the way in.