Smith's Tavern, Ashbourne

A gem of a pub! Situated at the bottom end of the market square in Ashbourne is a pub it's easy to walk past and, in truth, its narrow double doors are not the easiest to get through. However, once inside, we were made to feel very welcome by a landlord who was very happy to advise on the 4 real ales he had on offer. We all chose 'Sunbeam' from Banks Brewery of Wolverhampton. It was zingy, hoppy and went down a treat. Also available was 'Snecklifter' from Jennings and a couple of others from other breweries.

Smith's Tavern is clearly popular with locals and the landlord seemed to have a good rapport with them all. All in all, a very good pub.

The Olde Vaults, Ashbourne

It might have been a particularly quiet Monday night but, at 8 o'clock in the evening, the landlady (who was, otherwise, quite charming) was on the point of closing up. Our cheery demeanour, though, persuaded her to come up with beer. Pedigree and Bass were on offer and went down well and an interesting discussion ensued over the wrongdoings of Jimmy Savile and Lance Armstrong, who had more in common than you might think. After one pint, we took the hint and moved on.

The Queen's Head, Belper

What a cracking pub! Initially, it promised little from the outside - there was a band practising in an upstairs room and the door looked blank. Inside, though, a real treat - rooms galore, some with open fires, some with books for reading and exchange, a terrace with a view (allegedly), suitably antiquated toilets and that type of bleak lighting which, in other settings, would be garish. A range of four beers were on offer (after some changing of barrels had taken place) and we all settled down with a perfectly acceptable pint of Bass. This wasn't the end of the entertainment, though, by any means. At 10 o'clock, the pub suddenly filled with teams of men  eager to pit their wits in the Tuesday Night Quiz. Once order had been established by the twitchy quizmaster, the questions came thick and fast and maybe if we'd stayed another half an hour, we'd have found out who won. Maybe next time...

The Fisherman's Rest (Home), Belper

Being situated near a cemetery, the Fisherman's Rest has all the sullen atmosphere of an undertaker's waiting room. The bar staff (presumably the landlord/lady) were functional without any hint of friendliness and probably a little disappointed that we were only there to drink.We did our best and almost enlivened a couple who clearly had run out of things to say to each other sometime in the 1970s. The beer, however, was quite palatable - something hoppy from Banks' and well-kept Pedigree - and the seating was adequate and comfortable. Perhaps this pub has better nights but I doubt we'll be returning to find out..

The Flying Childers, Stanton in the Peak

The Flying Childers already appears elsewhere on this blog (under "Easter Walk") but is such a special pub that it deserves an individual entry. The attractive stone facade was festooned with a banner announcing the pub as Camra's 2012 pub of the year and it's easy to see why. A very warm welcome from an exiting regular, an open fire, a two-tiered lounge bar and a range of beers - most interestingly "Random Toss"  from the Flipside Brewery in Colwick, Nottingham - provided a great atmosphere. There was also several interesting artefacts to provide mental stimulation above and beyond the discussion we had on the universe and everything. We didn't eat anything more than crisps and nuts but the pub does provide some range of freshly-prepared food. - we'd sampled some on the Easter Walk visit. An all-round great pub and one not to be missed.

The Church Inn, Darley Dale

Spotted by a member whilst out on a bike ride, this slightly out of the way (on the original, pre-A6 road from Matlock to Bakewell) pub looked a likely propsect. An attractive stone-built pub offered more extensive accommodation than was first apparent. We went into the lounge bar and sat in a fairly brightly-lit but slightly cramped room and took delivery of some Hardy Hansons and Spotted Hen beers. All very acceptable. The landlord and regulars were friendly enough (after the initial chill had thawed) and the highlight was a mechanical doll of Louis Armstrong, which sang and chomped along to "Hello Dolly".

The Fishpond, Matlock Bath

The newly- and extensively-refurbished Fishpond provided an interesting challenge to the tastes of a group of middle-aged men. Eclectic decorations, including an elaborate (but probably fake) gold mirror and a trompe-l'oeil bookcase, and a variety of seating options in several settings both inside and out, made for an intriguing venue. From the door, it looked like the 'beer' on offer was going to be cold and fizzy but, on approaching the bar, there was, in fact, some range of beers and the one recommended was hoppy and refreshing. Other members may recall the names of the breweries. I don't know if we'll go back, as a group, but we might individually pop in, if we're caught up in the hell that Matlock Bath sometimes is at the weekends.