Alexandra Hotel, Derby

Just along from the railway station and passing the temptations of the Brunswick, we popped into the Alex and were suitably impressed. Allegedly the birthplace of Derby CAMRA, the beers are listed on the wall and colour-coded for style. The high-ceilinged rooms give the pub a grand feeling and the seating was adequate without too many concessions to comfort. The beer was good and, since we all chose a pint from the Castle Rock Brewery, we're half-way now towards a free pint - always an incentive to return!

The Exeter Arms, Derby

What an outstanding pub! A warm welcoming, solicitous and knowledgeable bar staff and a good range of beers, seating and rooms all contributed to a lovely couple of pints in this rather out of the way pub. Dancing Duck beers featured strongly but there was also Pedigree and maybe others I've overlooked. The bartendress couldn't have been more helpful, advising on beers, delivering them with a smile and being prepared to change a pint drawn from the end of the barrel. An exceptionally good pub.

The Miners' Arms, Brassington

The usual destination in Brassington is The Gate, and this has not lost its appeal despite the somewhat frosty reception we often encounter, but we decided to try out the Miners' Arms and were not disappointed. There was a pleasant welcome from both landlord and regulars alike, there was food available (left over from an earlier funeral) and a good range of beers, primarily from Jennings Brewery in the Lake District. Comfortable seating, albeit in a slightly stretch-out arrangement (the pub's much longer than it is wide). Well worth another visit.

The Royal Hotel, Pilgrims Rest

The Royal Hotel, Pilgrims Rest, Mpumalanga, South Africa



During November, on a mountain bike trip in South Africa, we were guided to the Royal Hotel in the 1800's historical mining town of Pilgrims Rest, proudly noted for holding the World Goldpanning Championships in 2012.
The only beer on draught was Castle Lager, a pleasant brew which was very welcome after bike ride in temperatures of 30+ degrees.
There was a good selection of bottled beers and the bowler hatted staff were cheerful and friendly.

The food offered, all being locally sourced, was rather unusual.  In particular, wild boar stew, Impala steak, oxtail casserole and ostrich neck. Presumably the ostrich leg was available for a large group.
The tavern is a bit off the beaten track but I would certainly recommend a visit if you are in the area.

The Crown Inn, Matlock

This is a town centre pub and behaves like one. It attracts a wide cross-section of the local populace, sometimes to the point of entertainment and seeing how the other half live and sometimes to the point of conflict. It's a Derbyshire version of Yates'. However, on the plus side, Wetherspoon's buy 'remaindered' beer and sell it far more cheaply than almost any other pub around. They also offer a good range of beers, as well as the usual array of fizzy rubbish. The downside of Wetherspoon's everywhere is that they are understaffed so it's nearly always a wait to get served and the staff are not knowledgeable about the beers on offer. If you want a decent drink at a very reasonable price and are prepared to put up with a 'lively' atmosphere, it's one place to go.

The Peacock, Rowsley

Grander it doesn't get (or, at least, it hasn't for club members before). It's a rather upmarket hotel and restaurant and far too fussy and full of its own importance to be a place to enjoy a drink. It's a shame because the bar area is cosy (open fire, stone walls, rafters etc) and the beer is OK, of itself, but not worth the asking price of £4.80! Go there to eat, if you like good food (one member recommends it) but not conducive for people who just want a pint.

The Red Lion, Bakewell

This place was a godsend in the pub desert that is Bakewell. A quirky entrance led to (authentically) wood-panelled interiors and the choice of tables was vast, given that we were the only drinkers in, on a Tuesday night. A pint of Pedigree loosened one member's silver tongue but the barmaid was having none of his blarney. She acquitted herself with composure and charm and offered up some other quite palatable beer for the rest of us. I forget what it was. Worth popping into, if you're in Bakewell, but don't make a special effort. Better to venture onwards towards Monsal.