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Worst Place to Sit at the City Ground
Written by Aviran Zazon
In 2026/27, the worst place to sit at the City Ground is in the Peter Taylor Stand, where some seats can line up with the old roof-support columns.
The worst cases are in blocks B1 and RR3, where the seats directly behind these obstructions have restricted views. Of course, this affects a minority of seats, and most fans will have clear sightlines.
The Peter Taylor Stand contains the clearest physical obstructions, while issues with City Ground tickets in the John Robertson (previously Bridgford), Brian Clough and Trent End stands are more to do with personal preferences on standing, viewing angle and comfort.
Something important to mention in 2026/27 is that planning permission has now been approved for major redevelopment involving the Peter Taylor Stand and Trent End, with outline approval also covering a later Brian Clough expansion.
Those changes have not yet made the existing seating advice redundant, so supporters buying tickets now still need to account for the current stands.
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What Is the Worst Place to Sit at the City Ground?
The strongest candidates are those where something physically removes part of the pitch from view.
| Seat or area | Main problem | How serious is it? |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Taylor seats directly behind support columns in RR3 and B1, but also further back in E2 and D3, and C4, B3 and B4 | Pillar can remove part of the pitch from sight | Strongest general restricted-view risk |
| Rear Peter Taylor rows | Low roof creates a closed-in view | More about panorama than losing the pitch |
| Row 1 at front of Peter Taylor Stand | The parapet wall is surprisingly high, which, along with match operations, can lead to poor views. | In places, including Block RR1 the disruption can be substantial |
| Lowest Trent End rows | Flat behind-goal angle and possible temporary pitchside obstruction | Mostly preference-based |
| John Robertson U1/U2 and lower safe-standing areas | Spectators expected to stand | Important if you need or want to remain seated |
| Brian Clough Block P safe-standing pocket | Standing around you | Small, very specific area |
| Some Brian Clough lower seats | Tight legroom or changed front-row sightlines | Comfort rather than genuine restriction |
Peter Taylor Stand: The Biggest Restricted-View Risk
The Peter Taylor is the oldest part of the current City Ground and the stand where its age most affects the view.
There are two large columns here, coming down in Blocks RR3 and B1. Behind, in Blocks E2 and D3, as well as C4, B3 and B4, certain fans may need to crane their heads from time to time to follow the match.
Seats directly behind the support columns
Forest's published customer charter states that supporters are warned in advance when purchasing a seat with a restricted view of the pitch, confirming that restricted-view inventory forms part of the City Ground seating.
Even within the hospitality-related 1865 area, a report from Row C4, Seat 24 described an otherwise good position compromised by a pillar.
Naturally, pillar obstruction depends on alignment, and moving several seats sideways can change how much of the pitch disappears, while somebody nearby may have an almost uninterrupted view.
Row 1: When a wall and matchday operations become the obstruction
In the Peter Taylor Stand, Row 1 appears to suffer from the height of the parapet wall in front, which can cut off a large sweep of the pitch, especially for fans who need to remain seated.
In fact, we’ve narrowed down RR1, Row 1, Seat 176 is probably the strongest individual candidate for the worst documented seat at the City Ground.
The May 2026 spectator report describes several things combining at once, with the fixed wall in front, camera personnel, stewards and ball staff all causing problems at this low level. Crucially, the contributor also reported receiving a club disclaimer about the view.
Back rows of the Peter Taylor Stand: The roof closes in
The problem changes completely at the opposite extreme.
From the back of the Peter Taylor, the old roof can dominate the upper part of the view and make the stand feel enclosed. This is not necessarily a restricted view of the playing surface: the pitch itself can remain visible while much of the wider stadium disappears above it.
For somebody interested only in following the ball, that may be a minor inconvenience. A supporter who enjoys an open panoramic view of the whole ground may find the rear considerably less appealing.
John Robertson Stand: Safe Standing Counts More Than Obstruction
The former Bridgford Stand was renamed the John Robertson Stand in 2026, although older Forest maps, supporter discussions and safe-standing documents naturally use its previous name.
There is much less evidence of serious fixed obstruction here. The main question is whether you actually want to sit.
U1 and U2: Expect supporters around you to stand
When Forest expanded safe standing, its own relocation guidance designated every seat and every row in Upper Bridgford U1 and U2 as safe-standing accommodation. Season-card holders who wanted to remain seated were specifically advised to consider moving.
For supporters who want singing, atmosphere and the freedom to stand, that can be a positive.
For someone who needs to remain seated, or a family with a child whose sightline may be lost behind standing adults, the same sections can be a poor choice even though the underlying view of the pitch is perfectly respectable.
Lower Y2, Z1 and Z2 have a similar layout
Forest's documentation also identified Rows N–Z in Y2, Z1 and Z2 as safe-standing accommodation. That means two tickets in the same general lower end can offer quite different experiences depending on the row.
Visiting supporters also occupy the lower part of this end, where safe standing forms part of the away allocation for Premier League matches. Recent seat reports from this side of the ground are generally positive about the football view itself.
The John Robertson therefore should not be labelled a bad-view stand. Its main warning is for people who specifically want to watch while seated.
Brian Clough Stand: Few Serious Sightline Problems
The Brian Clough Stand produces little evidence of the recurring pillars or severe roof interference found in the Peter Taylor.
Recent reports from Block J and several neighbouring areas are positive about seeing the whole game, which makes it difficult to justify inventing a supposedly poor section merely for the sake of giving every stand one.
There are still a couple of details worth checking.
Block P contains a small safe-standing area
Forest's safe-standing guidance identifies Block P, Seats 230–243 in all rows.
It sits towards the John Robertson end of the stand and creates the same trade-off as U1 and U2: potentially a livelier matchday experience, while being unsuitable for somebody who expects everybody around them to remain seated.
Some lower seats can feel tight
A 2026 report from Block S, Row XA, Seat 118 praised the football view while flagging limited legroom.
There is also a modern wrinkle near the front. Additional seats installed in front of parts of the Brian Clough Lower have changed the experience for some supporters who previously occupied what functioned as front-row positions. Choosing one of those older rows no longer necessarily means having nobody seated ahead of you.
Neither issue compares with a Peter Taylor pillar. They are considerations about comfort and the precise eye-line rather than reasons to avoid the Brian Clough Stand generally.
Trent End: Low Front Rows Rather Than a Permanent Obstruction
Older descriptions of the lower Trent End need updating.
Forest acknowledged that spectators using the pitchside walkway had frequently obstructed views from the lower tier, particularly late in matches. Before the 2025/26 season, the club installed gates and barriers to restrict access to that walkway until the final whistle.
It would therefore be misleading to describe that as an ongoing permanent flaw in 2026/27.
The lowest rows still come with a very flat angle
The more enduring consideration is the Trent End's position immediately behind the goal.
From the lowest rows, you are exceptionally close when play comes towards you, while the eye-line is correspondingly flat.
Players overlap visually, the far penalty area becomes harder to judge and pitchside staff matter more because they are closer to your natural line of sight.
That is a viewing preference rather than a restricted view. Someone wanting to feel close to the action may love the front. Somebody interested in seeing passing lanes and the general shape of the play would probably prefer greater elevation.
How We Judged the Worst Seats at the City Ground
The most weight goes to how much football you physically cannot see.
A pillar sitting between your seat and the penalty area therefore matters more than limited legroom. Fixed structural obstructions come first, followed by temporary operational obstructions such as cameras or stewards crossing the eye-line.
After that come safe standing, very low angles, roof enclosure and comfort. Those can still make a seat unsuitable for a particular supporter, while another person may actively prefer the same area.
An older Premier League discussion illustrates why supporter descriptions of a bad ground need treating carefully rather than being used as proof about individual seats:
Worst stadium you’ve been to? by
in
In that discussion, the City Ground criticism concerned the physical experience around the seating and concourse rather than establishing that one current stand or block has universally poor views. It is useful supporter opinion, not evidence that overrides current seat-level reports.
How to Avoid a Poor Seat at the City Ground
The most useful rule is to check the exact seat in the Peter Taylor Stand rather than judging by block alone. Look for any restricted-view warning and, where photographs are available, pay particular attention to pillar alignment.
If you need to remain seated, check whether the ticket falls within a designated safe-standing area in the John Robertson or at the P Block end of the Brian Clough Stand. At the Trent End, deciding between the front and a higher row is more about the angle you prefer.
The stadium's redevelopment is another reason to use current information rather than relying indefinitely on an old seating guide. Planning approval was granted in September 2026 for the Peter Taylor and Trent End work, so sections of this advice will eventually need revisiting as construction progresses.
Where official availability is limited, Ticket-Compare.com can be used to compare City Ground ticket options.
It is a comparison platform compiling listings from pre-vetted resale sites and official ticketing partners so supporters can compare availability and prices before clicking through to the respective website.
Also be sure to check in with the City Ground seating plan to follow the changes caused by the stadium expansion.
Worst Place to Sit at the City Ground | Frequently Asked Questions
Are there restricted-view seats at the City Ground?
Yes. Nottingham Forest's published customer charter states that supporters are warned in advance when they buy a seat with a restricted view. The strongest current evidence places the principal fixed-obstruction risk in the Peter Taylor Stand, where roof-support columns can interfere with individual sightlines.
Which City Ground stand has the worst views?
The Peter Taylor Stand has the strongest case because it contains genuine structural obstructions. That does not mean the whole stand is poor: recent reviews from several blocks are very positive. The issue is that an unfortunate seat can line up with a pillar while another nearby seat remains clear.
What is the worst individual seat at the City Ground?
There is not enough evidence to declare one seat definitively the worst, although Peter Taylor RR1, Row 1, Seat 176 is the strongest documented current candidate. A May 2026 visitor reported substantial interference from the wall, cameras and matchday personnel, alongside a club warning about the view.
Is the John Robertson Stand a bad place to sit?
Not because of the fundamental pitch sightlines. The more important consideration is safe standing.
Areas including U1 and U2 were designated for safe standing, making them attractive to supporters seeking atmosphere but potentially unsuitable for anyone who needs or strongly prefers to remain seated throughout the match.
Are the front rows of the Trent End still obstructed?
Forest has acted on the recurring problem that previously affected the lower Trent End. Barriers and gates now restrict use of the pitchside walkway because people congregating there had been blocking supporters' views. The lowest rows still have a flat viewing angle and can be more vulnerable to temporary pitchside activity.
Will the City Ground redevelopment remove the restricted-view seats?
The approved plans involve replacing the Peter Taylor Stand and carrying out work around the Trent End, so the current pillar problem is likely to disappear with the old structure. The important point for 2026/27 is that planning approval does not mean those existing seats have already gone.
So, Where Is the Worst Place to Sit at the City Ground?
The best answer we can give is an individual restricted-view seat in the Peter Taylor Stand, particularly one directly aligned with a roof-support column. In the same stand, row 1 seats can be affected by a pitchside wall, while the upper rows can suffer from the stand’s low roof.
Elsewhere, the drawbacks are different. John Robertson and the edge of the Brian Clough contain safe-standing areas that may be excellent for one supporter and completely wrong for another.
The lowest Trent End rows sacrifice overview for proximity, while the persistent walkway obstruction reported in older accounts has already been addressed by the club.
For the current City Ground, the practical rule is to take particular care with the exact row and seat in the Peter Taylor Stand.
A small movement sideways or backwards can be the difference between watching the whole match and spending 90 minutes trying to see around part of the stadium itself.
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