Could your "priest house" near Nottingham, Sarah the Flute, be The Priory? Somewhere near the University, as I recall?

My take on pubs:
Most important is lack of jukebox.
Next is the company; good company in a crap pub is better than the esrever, I think. (This is, of course, related to the former point. Good company implies good conversation, and if you can't hear your neighbour over the noise of the ambient "music", conversation dies.)
Next the beer. (I surprise myself putting the beer third, but on reviewing my list, I choose not to change it.)
Next the bar-staff. Too many good pubs are spoiled by a surly landlord. A pleasant barmaid who can give and take some chaff is worth her weight in gold.
Last, the pub itself -- other things being equal, I'd prefer to drink in a Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem rather than a Victorian gin palace. Unfortunately, other things rarely are equal (and I've enjoyed myself in a few V.g.p.s).