Tuesday Edition - Bassetlaw Rum Gets Stronger, Worksop Child Sex Offender Jailed, Planned Roadworks, Winston to Make a Rare Appearance & More

Winston Churchill lookalike will be attending the RAF Flypast event.

Hello readers, I hope you had a great Bank Holiday weekend and enjoyed the sunny weather which is also expected to last a while longer.

Its that time again, grab a coffee or a cold drink, put your feet up for a few minutes and catch up on today's edition of Bassetlaw Today's newsletter, covering all things Bassetlaw and surrounding areas, and of course - your daily puzzle fix.

Todays thought for the day ... "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." — A.A. Milne

Enjoy the read, please email us if you have a story for us and have a great day wherever you are in Bassetlaw.

Justin Doddy, Editor

P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter here if you haven't already and please forward our newsletter to someone you think may enjoy a daily news read with no adverts and 100% FREE.

Cheers to Three Years: Notts-based DropWorks Rum Doubles Revenue

Pictured: Founder and Master Distiller Lewis Hayes

Celebrating three years of trading this month (May), British rum distillery DropWorks Rum, based in Welbeck, Nottinghamshire, has reported that it has more than doubled its revenue compared to the same time last year.

Since 2023, DropWorks has focused on disrupting the entire rum category and establishing its high-quality, naturally flavoured British rum alongside long-standing traditional brands. The team continues to challenge customer perceptions around rum, has secured premium listings in major venues and opened the doors of their distillery in the heart of Nottinghamshire to show exactly how their liquid is produced.

The increased revenue is thanks to DropWorks’ branded bottle sales, private label sales and more than 3,000 visitors booking tours at the distillery. Looking ahead, following its successful crowdfunding push in late 2025, DropWorks will continue to seek targeted investment to reach its long-term goal of international expansion.

With more than two decades of experience in the drinks industry including marketing roles at global giant Diageo, CEO Graham Appleyard joined the company just over a year ago. Graham reflected on his time at DropWorks so far: “I was attracted to the business due to three reasons: premium rum is a big opportunity, the products were winning awards and creating a buzz and, above all else, the team had a big ambition - you don’t build Europe’s largest premium rum distillery without one.

“More importantly, though, when I stepped into the business, I discovered liquids that were even better than I had imagined, a visionary founder in Lewis who is an expert in his field and a talented team ready to make a difference. Over the last 12 months, we have evolved dramatically and I look forward to seeing us move from strength-to-strength for the remainder of the year.”

Already poured in a number of the UK’s top 50 bars including Soma, Disrepute, Slowpour and Blinker, DropWorks recently secured a listing in one of the world’s most recognised luxury high-end stores, Fortnum & Mason.

Over the last 12 months alone, DropWorks surpassed its first crowdfunding target (raising nearly £500K) and partnered with HAUS Bitters to launch ‘HAUS Parties’ across the UK. These immersive cocktail events are hosted on multiple dates each month in bars, putting the DropWorks brand in front of the country’s top bartenders and hospitality venues. Another standout moment from a remarkable year was the introduction of its limited-edition Distiller’s Drop range to the public. The first sold out in under 48 hours and the second won Gold in the Spirits Business Rum and Cachaça Masters 2026.

“After welcoming Graham to the helm early last year, it is clear that his experience is paying dividends as we continue to grow the DropWorks brand and inject excitement into the rum category,” Founder and Master Distiller Lewis Hayes said. “As we look back on the last year, we have enjoyed some fantastic successes and the next 12 months promise to be no different.”

Located in the heart of Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Forest, DropWorks Distillery is the largest of its kind in Europe, spanning 17,000 sq ft. The facility can produce up to one and a half million bottles of rum a year and up to 10 barrels of rum a day.

The distillery houses copper stills which have been made bespoke for DropWorks production. The team ferments, distils, ages and bottles every Drop of rum on site and has oversight of every single step of the production process.

Winston Churchill to join RAF FLYPAST in Worksop

Worksop Armed Forces Weekend have received confirmation from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Royal Air Force, for a flypast over the Worksop Armed Forces Weekend event at Worksop Rugby Club on Sunday 28th June.

In what promises to be a great event the weekend runs over two days Saturday June 27 and Sunday June 28, 2026 a Winston Churchill lookalike attending the event on Sunday.

A fantastic chance to step back in time, take photos, and enjoy some true wartime spirit as part of the weekend celebrations.

The #RAFFlyPast is guaranteed to be the highlight of the two day event.

The Worksop Armed Forces Weekend team will announce flypast times and aircraft details closer to the date, possibly even on the morning itself, as final approval is given on the day and the Air Events Team confirms the route.

Keep watching Worksop Armed Forces Weekend and Bassetlaw Today for further details as they are announced.

Armed Forces Day is a national celebration, held annually to honour the men and women who serve in the British Armed Forces.

The event is held at Worksop Rugby Club, Stubbing Lane on the last weekend in June and everyone is welcome.

Content and images courtesy of Worksop Armed Forces Weekend

One major roadwork listed for Bassetlaw over the next month

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: Full list of large Notts roadworks over next month

By: Laura Monaghan

Nottinghamshire County Council is set to send out its crews to tackle damaged roads across 24 Nottinghamshire locations over the next month (between Tuesday, May 26 and Monday, June 22) including one Bassetlaw location.

In March 2026, the Reform-led authority announced it would be spending a “game-changing” £122.5 million on the county’s crumbling road network in 2026/27, with an aim to resurface and patch around 16 per cent of roads.

The following month, it announced a further boost of £58.75 million to go on highways, making the year’s total spend on roads “the largest investment ever made” in Nottinghamshire’s highways, at £181.25 million.

Both boosts of cash came after a September 2025 survey found about 38 per cent of the county’s roads in ‘poor condition’, along with more than half of all road marking being in ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ condition.

Reform’s two new JCB Pothole Pro machines – hired for £132,000 for the year – will also be out fixing some of the damage caused to roads, with experts previously telling the Nottingham Post they can prepare a pothole “in as little as five minutes”.

With works across various parts of the road network already under way, here is a list of larger-scaled works the authority’s highway team, VIA, is aiming to start between Tuesday, May 26 and Monday, June 22 in Bassetlaw:

Bassetlaw:

B1403 Clayworth Common / Hayton Road, Hayton, surface dressing preparation patching works from Town Street / Wheatley Road, Clayworth to junction B1403 Main Street The Boat Inn / Burntley’s Road, Hayton – estimated to start on June 8 and finish on June 19.

The full list for this month (May 26 to June 22):

Ashfield

A611 Derby Road, Kirkby in Ashfield, resurfacing works estimated to start May 26 and finish June 5 – Shoulder of Mutton Hill to surface change approaching B6020 Diamond Avenue junction.
A611 Derby Road / B6139 Coxmoor Road junction, Sutton in Ashfield, resurfacing works to the full junction estimated to start May 26 and finish June 5.
C216 Beardall Street, Hucknall, resurfacing works from B6009 Watnall Road to Portland Road, estimated to start on June 8 and finish on June 19.
C150 High Pavement, Sutton in Ashfield (across Ashfields / Sutton Central and East), resurfacing works from Prospect Place to, and including, Spring Road roundabout, estimated to start on June 22 and finish on June 26.

Bassetlaw

B1403 Clayworth Common / Hayton Road, Hayton, surface dressing preparation patching works from Town Street / Wheatley Road, Clayworth to junction B1403 Main Street The Boat Inn / Burntley’s Road, Hayton – estimated to start on June 8 and finish on June 19.

Broxtowe

Peveril Road, Beeston, resurfacing workings estimated to start May 26 and finish May 29 – From Abbey Road junction to o/s No 86.
Noel Street, Kimberley, resurfacing works to the whole length of road estimated to start on May 26 and finish May 29.
Ryecroft Street, Stapleford, resurfacing works estimated to start from May 26 and finish May 31 – from o/s No75 to o/s No87 approx 30m north of Welch Avenue – concrete section.
Plumptre Way, Eastwood, resurfacing works from Nottingham Road to The Island (both lanes), estimated to start on June 22 and finish on July 3.

Gedling

Lambley Avenue, Mapperley, resurfacing works to the whole length of road, estimated to start on May 26 and finish on May 31.
Shelford Road, Gedling (Phase 1), resurfacing from Arnold Lane to Freda Avenue, estimated to start on June 1 and finish on June 12.
Longue Drive, Calverton, resurfacing works from Georges Lane to Jumelles Drive and from Rowan Close to Jumelles Drive, estimated to start on June 1 and finish on June 5.
Prospect Road, Carlton, resurfacing from Valley Road to Standhill Road, estimated to start on June 1 and finish on June 12.

Mansfield

Cox’s Lane, Mansfield Woodhouse, resurfacing works to the whole length of road including Sunnydale roundabout, estimated to start on May 26 and finish on June 5.
Slant Lane, Mansfield Woodhouse, resurfacing works from Brown Avenue to Shakespeare Avenue, estimated to start on May 26 and finish on June 5.
A617 Rainworth Bypass (Westbound carriageway, across Mansfield East / Blidworth), resurfacing works from Rufford Colliery Lane junction to A6191 roundabout (Westbound), estimated to start on June 8 and finish on July 3.
A6191 Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield (across Mansfield West / Mansfield North), surface dressing preparation patching works from A617 Pleasley Hill Way junction to A6009 Rosemary Street junction, estimated to start on June 8 and finish on July 3.
A6191 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, resurfacing works from St. Peters Way to surface change at Frederick Street (including St. Peters Way junction), estimated to start on June 22 and finish on July 3.

Newark and Sherwood

C3 Grange Lane, Balderton – continuation of resurfacing work from 2025/26 financial year, estimated to start on June 15 and finish on July 3.
C83 Main Street, Balderton (across Balderton / Newark East), resurfacing works from surface change at Bridge Court to Church Lane, estimated to start on June 22 and finish on July 3.

Rushcliffe

Morkinshire Crescent, Cotgrave, resurfacing works to the whole length of road, estimated to start on June 1 and finish on June 5.
Stonebridge Drive, East Leake, resurfacing from Gotham Road to o/s no 4 approx 15m past Carlton Crescent, estimated to start on June 1 and finish on June 5.
C26 Costock Road / Leake Road, East Leake (across Ruddington / Keyworth), resurfacing works from Meeting House Close to approx 100m past Brook Furlong Farm entrance, estimated to start on June 8 and finish on June 19.
Works Lane, Barnstone, resurfacing works to the adopted section, estimated to start on June 15 and finish on June 19.

Our three interesting facts for today ....

Latex is Latin for 'liquid'

37% of Britons think their jobs are meaningless and don't contribute to the world.

The lost property office at Dublin airport has an unclaimed tombstone with the words: 'You will always be remembered, never forgotten'

Worksop man jailed for sex offences against child

A 51‑year‑old man has been jailed for 10 years and 2 months after admitting to sexually assaulting a young girl.

Damning medical and forensic evidence gathered in September of last year enabled officers to secure three charges against Asa Ord, formerly of Worksop.

Ord, now aged 51, originally denied any wrongdoing in his police interview, but he eventually pleaded guilty to three counts of adult sexual activity with a child during an appearance at Nottingham Crown Court on 12 February 2026.

He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and given a 20‑year Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his activities after release.

DC Dee Hawkins praised the bravery of the victim and urged anyone affected by sexual abuse to come forward, saying police will listen, investigate, and work to get justice.

If you need to report sexual assault:

Call 999 in an emergency

Call 101 for non‑emergencies

Visit a police station

Report Online

Notts County win promotion to League 1

Notts County beat Salford City 3 - 0 to win promotion to League 1.

Goals by A. Jatta (32'), L. Ness (45') and J. Jones (70') secured victory.

Three pubs in Bassetlaw looking for new landlords this month

Bassetlaw already has a lot of pubs and bars to offer punters, but many are looking for new landlords and landladies

If you’ve ever liked the idea of becoming a pub landlord, now could be the perfect opportunity with plenty of Bassetlaw establishments currently available and waiting to be taken over. These boozers are on the hunt for someone to take the plunge on fixed term tenancies.

Most of us like the idea of spending all day in the pub. But be warned, actually running one is no walk in the park and in recent decades the industry has faced a series of unprecedented challenges.

We have listed three pubs across the county that are looking for someone to take over the lease, according to www.findmypub.com, www.starpubs.co.uk and www.greenekingpubs.co.uk.

Royal Oak, Main Street, Retford

The listing for this pub reads: “The Royal Oak Retford is located in the village of North Leverton, close to the towns of Retford and Gainsborough.

“The pub is surrounded by residential housing with a shop nearby and close to West Burton power station.

“It benefits from being the only pub in an area of around 844 adults.

“The Royal Oak Retford customer base is made up of midlife and mature adults."

Annual Rent £16,875 Estimated Annual Turnover £296,147

See the full listing HERE

Whitehouses, London Road, Retford

The listing for the pub reads: “This modern pub is in excellent condition, offering the perfect canvas to drive wet sales and elevate its already outstanding food offerings.

"With a large open-plan trading area to cater for both drinkers and diners with adequate covers. The pub also boasts a larger modern commercial kitchen, a small patio area to the rear and ample parking, creating a well-rounded offering and pub opportunity to deliver consistent trade and strong sales growth."

Annual Rent £48,000 Estimated Annual Turnover £477,100

See the full listing HERE

Sun Inn, Newcastle Street, Tuxford

The listing for this pub reads: "A refurbishment investment of around £160,000 is planned to transform The Sun Inn into a premium local pub with food, sport and entertainment at its heart.

"Situated in the market town of Tuxford, just off the A1 in Nottinghamshire, the Sun Inn is strategically positioned in a charming village.

"The refurbished Sun Inn is set to captivate a diverse audience, offering a premium pub experience with a balanced menu and quality drinks for locals and visitors alike."

Annual Rent: £27,464 Est. Annual Turnover: £457,234

See the full listing HERE

Content sourced from www.findmypub.com , www.starpubs.co.uk and www.greenekingpubs.co.uk (24/5/2026).

Can you figure out today's puzzle?

First figure out the nine letter solution and then find as many words as you can in today's panagram that contain the letter T.

Our last panagram was LIQUIDITY. Read our next newsletter for the solution to today's puzzle.

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Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you read our next newsletter.

Justin Doddy, Editor