Derby has been referred to as ‘The Real Ale Capital of the UK’, so it had to be worth a trip to see what the offering is compared with Cambridge. Initial research showed there are many highly regarded pubs within walking distance in the centre area and spread through the city.
The Flowerpot is a pub with three large rooms and a terrace, featuring music on many evenings. There is plenty of beer choice, a pint of their excellent Black Iris Sunflower (4% Golden Ale) was very easy to drink, especially to accompany their in-house ‘gurkha’ curries on Tuesday evenings.
So the standard was set high from the start, but where to next? Given Derby’s links with trains it seemed logical to head for the station area. In amongst some railway workers cottages the Brunswick pub can be found, with its interesting interior and own brewery, White Feather (3.6% pale session beer) and Triple Hop (4% Bitter) were superb examples produced on site.
Around the corner to the Alexandra Hotel, Derby CAMRA pub of the year 2015 and I was beginning to sense there was something a bit special about these places, apart from the excellent selection of beers and CAMRA member discounts on top of cheap prices (compared with Cambridge), there seemed to be a real buzz and atmosphere.
The pubs were busy with a varied clientele; there were fans on the way to the match, people who had just finished work and discerning diners especially in the Exeter Arms, a free house with ‘Dancing Duck’ beers among many others and a formidable food reputation. Also worth a mention Ye Olde Dolphin Inne (dating back to 1530) has small rooms and original beams and the nearby Silk Mill Ale and Cider House has a mural on the side illustrating the 1833 Silk trades lock out, part of the origin of the Labour movement.
This visit was to a fraction of the 25 pubs on the CAMRA ‘Real Ale Trail’. As well as all of these delights Derby sustains three large Wetherspoons, the most notable being the Babington Arms, featuring an electronic ‘scoreboard’ of the varied beer range.
Derby Cathedral may have been closed for refurbishment, but luckily the pubs were open and welcoming….
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