Derby Pub Crawl

Do you remember the old Derby Mile?

Start at the Derbyshire Yeoman – now a McDonalds – and slowly walk down Ashbourne Road towards Derby.

I’m too young to remember it, but I did the slimmed-down version before too many pubs closed, making it more of a hop, skip, and jump.

It’s time we brought the Mile back, so it’s with great pleasure that I present the new ‘Love Derby Mile’ (hold for applause).

Eight excellent old and new pubs make the Derby pub crawl with a walking distance of roughly a mile (according to Google Maps, it’s not far off). Take note or print it off; this is a great crawl for friends. The trip has plenty of real ale and has some of my favourite pubs in Derby.

To start...

1. Five Lamps

Our pub crawl starts in the Five Lamps, a little pub on the edge of town on Duffield Road. Runner up in the Derby Food and Drink Awards in 2009 and featured in the Good Beer Guide from 2012 to 2015. They offer an astonishing 14 real ales. There’s a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, which makes it a great place to start the crawl.

2. The Seven Stars

Walk out the front of the Five Lamps and down the road towards Derby, passing the petrol station on your right. After about 200 metres you will come across the Seven Stars, a traditional pub inside and out, you’ll get nothing but a warm welcome here.

3. The Flowerpot

Again, leave the way you went in and follow the road down towards town. You should see the Flowerpot in front of you on the corner. Famous on the live music scene, the Flowerpot has been hosting the likes of the For Fighters and Clone Roses for years. I saw my first-ever Metallica cover here, and they were excellent! There’s plenty of real ale and a great beer garden to boot.

4. The Blessington Carriage (Or the Bless)

Come out the front of the Flowerpot and turn left and left again down Chapel Street, about 20 metres down you will find the Bless on your left. I spent many nights in the Bless, dancing to the Clone Roses’s Inspiration and Joy Division. It's a great pub with a great vibe and always offers some interesting drinks. Head to the back bar to get cheaper mixers.

5. Seymours

Walk out the Bless and turn left following the road round to the left, cross over to the other side of the road and walk along passing the Parksafe ‘the safest car park in the world’ Car Park on your right, walk down a little path, and almost immediately on your left, you should see Seymours. Tiny but with a big sound, you can sit (or stand) in the heated area outside listening to bands such as Oasis or The Who, creating an atmosphere rarely experienced anywhere else in Derby.

6. The Bell

Walk out of Seymours and turn left, walking down the cobbled path onto Cheapside, turn left again, cross the road diagonally ahead to the right and head up Sadlergate, where you will see an optician on one side and brand new office space, Sadlerbridge studios, on the other. Walk up Derby’s most ancient and interesting streets for about 100 yards, and The Bell will be on your right. Once a heavy metal rock club but now a smart pub/bar space, the Bell serves plenty of drinks and some nice-looking grub.

7. The Dolphin

Turn out of the Brooklyn Social and walk up Sadlergate to the top. There is a couple of cash machines in the area so it’s handy if you need ‘stock up’, turn left and walk passed the impressive cathedral on your right. The Dolphin, Derby’s oldest pub, will be just after it on the corner. Retaining its Tudor charm, the pub is a cavernous convolution of rooms where you can step back while sipping on some ale or cider.

To end...

8. The Silk Mill

If you walk out the back of the Dolphin you will see the Silk Mill across the road, if you walk out the front, turn right and then right again. The Silk Mill, owned by the Dancing Duck Brewery, has enjoyed a renaissance since it was taken over. Serving quality Dancing Duck Brewery ale and guest ales is the perfect ending point for our Love Derby Mile. You are in the centre of town, so handy for wherever the night will take you next.

That’s all, folks!

I hope you have enjoyed our ‘Love Derby Mile’ pub crawl.

Do you think you’ll do it? Would you change any?

Add your comments below.