The Cadland
Nottingham Mensa meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month at The Cadland in Chilwell. The event came into being when a group of Mensans started ballroom dancing lessons every Thursday around 2004 when Strictly Come Dancing began. At that time we rounded off the evening at a local pub and as the number of dancers grew we started advertising it as an event. Over the years all bar one have stopped dancing but we've continued meeting monthly rather than weekly and exchanged the dancing for dinner! Our previous pub was refurbished some years ago and we didn't like the new style and lack of large tables. It was at this point we decided to find an alternative nearby venue and plumped for The Cadland where the management and staff have always made us welcome and reserve us a regular table each month. The pub is believed to be the only one bearing that name in the UK. Historical records tell us that the building has been a public house since the late 18th century. It was originally named The Bulls Head, but changed to The Cadland in 1828, allegedly in honour of the British thoroughbred horse that won the Derby that year. He went on to win a further 11 races before being exported to France where he died in 1837. Local legend says that the landlord named the pub after the horse as it was trained in the fields of Chilwell, although there are no records to show the horse ever placed a horse shoe in the town. Another legend says the pub was named after the horse as the landlord won a large sum of money having bet on Cadland! Records show that both John Hopewell and John Felton were landlords around that time, so presumably one of them changed the name. Nowadays the pub is owned by the Ember Inn pub/restaurant chain and is a traditional pub with a comfortable atmosphere serving classic pub grub, a good range of drinks and has a welcoming real fire. See their menu at www.emberinns.co.uk. The address is 342 High Road, Chilwell, Nottingham, NG9 5EG. We meet from 7.30pm until late every 2nd Thursday. Do join us!
Maxine Bates