Gone but not forgotten

Sadly, the number of pubs in this district which have closed down and failed to re-open get larger every month. Three of the most recent casualties are the Old Yew Tree at South Wingfield, the Derwent at Whatstandwell and the Nelson at Bullbridge.

Previous victims of this plague of pub closures were the Yew Tree in Holloway, Homeford Cottage, The Jovial Dutchman in Crich and the Vaults in Wirksworth. Each pub closed means a loss of variety, choice and local community facilities.

There must be many reasons for the situation: the ridiculously high price of beer, the smoking ban, drink-driving worries and even bad weather. Perhaps fewer landlords are willing to work long hours for shrinking rewards. But all the more reason to patronise the remaining locals and keep them in business.

The Marlpool Brewery, Marlpool

Now this is a gem. It's a watering hole for real drinkers, shoehorned into what was once a shop. It comprises a bar and three small (and I mean small) rooms inside and what could, if the summer ever arrives, be a pleasant outside seating area in a yard. the brewery is out there too. There were several in-house brews on offer as well as selected ales from other small breweries. The landlord was a very nice chap who seemed keen to know our impressions of the place and talk beer. The only downside is the restricted opening hours and the restricted capacity. Otherwise, a wonderful pub.

The Queen's Head, Marlpool

This free house, lying just outside Heanor town centre, has benefited from recent refurbishment and is an attractive pub, on two levels and with several small rooms. The range of beers is quite extensive and, as is now customary, there was a mild also on offer. The staff were friendly and the younger early-Friday-evening crowd departed around 9pm, leaving only the middle-aged to enjoy their pints. A good pub.

The Miner's Arms, Carsington

The Miner's Arms is a pub I have sometimes parked outside - it has its backside to the road - but never visited ( it's a useful starting point for a walk to the pubs at Brassington). I had modest expectations of what might lay inside and those expectations were met. On the night we visited, it offered two real ales - Bass and one from the Wirksworth Brewery, Laura Rose (A pale golden ale with a distinctive citrus floral aroma leading to a strong, but not overpowering bitter hop flavour followed by a fruity, hoppy, clean finish.) Both turned out to be fine. Perhaps the most interesting aspect was the 48oz steak challenge. If consumed in 30 minutes, free. If not, £35.

The Bull's Head, Belper Lane End

Another gem, this time uncovered by our cycling correspondent. A free house, under new management, this pub offers 4 real ales, three brewed in-house. We all sampled Shottle Gold - a light ale with a refreshing hoppy flavour (as they say in Camra). The bar staff couldn't have been more helpful and there was the Snug - a haven away from the kids in the carvery side - to enjoy your pint in. Open fires provided that certain woodsmoke ambience which complements a good ale. The pièce-de-résistance was that Thursday night is quiz night and. for a £1 entry fee, you get platefuls of freshly-prepared food to sustain you. Excellent! (We came third, by the way, only beaten by a team of regulars and a cabal of women with mobile phones, allegedly)

The Black Bull's Head, Openwoodgate

The Black Bull's Head is another gem. The exterior appearance belies the excellent interior - several rooms with open fires, quirky elements like a chair wide enough for Henry VIII, set up on a dais, and (on a Friday night) full of locals. There were several beers to choose from, from a number of breweries - a particularly nice flavoursome 'Manchester Bitter' - and, as is now quite popular, a range of ciders. A very convivial evening and probably worth returning for some beer-related event which happens in their 'slaughter room'. A pub that knows what it's doing.

The Hop Inn, Openwoodgate

Under new management, the Hop Inn is clearly still finding a direction. Whilst catering for families with kids who run around the pool table and teenagers who tear up beermats in acts of open defiance, the bar is well-stocked and the manager happy to offer tastes of the various ales on offer. The beer was from a range of breweries, some already known to our gallant band of quaffeurs, others new but the ones chosen were in good order. The place is also slightly overheated with steaming radiators and open fires. An odd pub but one to revisit to see how things go.