Stanley's Alehouse, Smedley St Matlock

Stanley's Alehouse is a little way up the hill out of Matlock but it's worth the climb. A rather grand building houses Stanley's but the inside has been refurbished as an outlet for the various products of the Bumpmill Brewery. there were ales, too, from other small local breweries and I had a rather nice pint (well, three and a half pints, actually) of 'Amberillo' from Dancing Duck. There was quite a mixed crowd, i.e. women, for a micropub and we concluded that it may be because the interior is tastefully decorated and doesn't look like a waiting room. A pleasant evening was had.

The Market, Chesterfield Marketplace

Obviously quite popular with the young and trendy crowd, the Market devotes at least as much energy to its food as to the beer. They lay claim to serving the following: Pale Rider – Kelham Island Moonshine – Abbeydale Landlord – Timothy Taylor Dark Peak - Raw Cornish Knocker - Skinners Blanco Blonde - Sheffield Brampton Mild - Brampton Golden Pippin – Copper Dragon Jaipur – Thornbridge Hooky Gold – Hook Norton but carry only 3/4 selected beers at any one time. The surroundings are fine and the service was adequately friendly. A place to see and be seen, if you're thirty something.

The Royal Oak, Shambles, Chesterfield

You have to look quite hard for the Royal Oak and that might explain why only 2 men and a dog were in there on a perfectly good Wednesday night when we visited. It's certainly worth finding, though, mostly for the quirky interior. The pub is divided into two halves and you have to go outside to get from one half to the other. The lower half houses the TV set, fruit machines and toilets but the other half is the architectural oddity. Apparently it was originally two butcher's shops with upstairs living accommodation and, as you sit amidst the beamed walls, you can peer up into the vaulted ceiling. The range of beer is not extensive but a good pint of Farmer's Blonde was on offer and went down well. If you're in the town centre, certainly worth a visit.

The Peacock, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield

Now this is not quite the start of the 'Brampton Mile' but it's only about 100 yards from 'The Star', which is. Initially a little offput by the sight of a big screen, in one bar, we ventured in and found, in the other bar, some manner of folk evening (which eventually resulted in us being offered some sandwiches). the music was not invasive, nor was some seated bloke incanting a tale of drinking in Bradford. Now, by this stage in the evening, I am struggling to remember the beer but I do recall having a Farmer's Blonde, which was nice. Next time, if we come back and start at the 'Star', the Peacock is certainly worth a re-visit.

Rose and Crown, Old Road, Chesterfield

Now this is situated a little away from the main Chatsworth Road but is easily accessible. It is more of a 'civilians' pub than the ones we often frequent, i.e. there were women there. And not only seated in cabals making raucous laughter but also serving on (quite slowly) behind the bar. They had the same array of Brampton Brewery products, as at the Tramway, but also Everards' Tiger. The beer was well kept and, eventually, well served. they also rustled up, for us, a hearty pork pie with a choice of pickles - always a winner!

The Tramway Tavern, Chesterfield.

The Tramway is quite a well known pub, out along the Chatsworth Road in Chesterfield. You have to be doing the 'Brampton Mile' to take this in, as it's a fair stretch from the town centre. It is a few hundred yards (so a local told us) from the Brampton Brewery and the beer was certainly in fine order. We enjoyed some Golden Bud, 1302 and a Wasp's Nest (5% but that didn't affect the flavour). Their selection is available at: http://www.bramptonbrewery.co.uk/our-beers/. The surroundings were comfortable enough and the barman was friendly and informative but we didn't outstay our welcome cos we had a busy schedule of other 'Mile' pubs to visit.

Chesterfield Ale House, West Bar, Chesterfield

In the words of John Cooper Clarke "Limbo, baby, Limbo, It's a doorway in the rain" and the CAH is certainly no more to look at, from the outside, than a doorway. Inside, it's no palace, either, but it has the requisite collection of good ales, at the bar on a mezzanine, and enough basic chairs and tables for the Thursday evening clientele. I had a pint of  something light and hoppy from the Ashover Brewery but there were several other choices to be had and all, by today's standards, quite reasonably priced at <£3. The service was also bright and friendly, as were the locals. A good place for a pint, if you're in the town centre.