FREE IssueCovering 164 Derby, Ashbourne, Amber Valley, ErewashNovember/December & Matlock Camra Areas 2015 Issue 164 November/December 2015 “Cheers!” The Magnificent Seven Shoot into the New Good Beer Guide The Malt at Aston-on-Trent Cross Keys, Ockbrook Old Silk Mill, Derby Swan at Milton Brunswick Inn, Derby Old Bell, Derby Golden Eagle, Derby Full details inside plus loads, loads more... New Good Beer Guide Lauched as Seven Local Pubs Celebrate New Entries he recent launch of the 2016 Good Beer TGuide saw 7 new entries from within Derby CAMRA Good Beer Guide Coordinator, Stewart Marshall (on the right) is pictured presenting the area covered by the Derby Branch of a Good Beer Guide to Alan & Philippe of the Brunswick on the launch night at the pub. the Campaign for Real Ale. We take a look at this year’s magnificent seven all pictured old favourites and it was a finalist in the 2015 nights a feature and good home-cooked on the front page. Derby CAMRA Pub of the Year competition. food being served including excellent pizzas. But this is not perhaps the whole story but Two other Derby pubs back in the Guide The Old Bell in Derby makes its long you can read it in Ian’s own words in Derby after relatively short absences are the awaited debut in the guide which in one Drinker Issue 158 available on Derby Brunswick Inn & Old Silk Mill, both way is a real surprise for a pub that has been CAMRA’s website. an iconic landmark on Sadler Gate for such a originally dropped out due to licensee long period of time but in another way changes but are now going strong again The Malt in Aston-on-Trent (formally the perhaps not as it has never been noted for under new licensees. Malt Shovel) appears in the Guide for the first time since 2004. Like so many out of its ales. This all began to change when Paul The Silk Mill Cider & Ale House was the 2nd town and village pubs it faced an uncertain Hurst acquired the premises and set about a venture for Martin Roper after successfully 1 future and possible closure 4 years ago long 2 /2 year project to return this historic guiding the Exeter Arms to the Derby when four of the villagers got together and hostelry back to its former glory which CAMRA Pub of the Year title in 2013. The Mill formed a partnership to save the pub. Since culminated in the opening of the front bar in has always been a regular circuit pub for then it has gone from strength to strength July (see feature in the last Derby Drinker) Derby Drinkers but is now renowned for with 2 of the original partners now running Some people may be surprised to see it in great food as well and its unique interior and the pub, Matt and Karyn Feeney. Matt in fact the Guide so soon after the front bar opened fantastic garden under the Silk Trades Lock has run the pub previously as has his Dad so but it actually achieved its status due to the Out mural add to its appeal. rear Tudor Bar which has been open knew what was involved in getting the pub There has been plenty written about the considerably longer serving a good back to its rightful place in the village and Brunswick since Alan Pickersgill & Philippe selection of local ales. Together with the the Malt is now a warm, welcoming place Larroche took over the running of the pub front bar there are now up to 12 Real Ales on again with good food and up to 6 Real Ales and rightly so as it has improved no end offer making the Old Bell a worthy entry into with local guest ales a feature such as since they have been there culminating in the new Guide. Dancing Duck. The Malt is a real community entry into the Good Beer Guide. And this pub with sports teams, quiz nights and open The Golden Eagle on Agard Street, Derby after winning the Derby CAMRA Cider Pub of mic nights and it’s nice to see it back on its last appeared in the Good Beer Guide 13 the Year Title and being a finalist in the Derby feet again. years ago in 2002 under one of its many CAMRA Pub of the Year Awards in 2015 previous incarnations, the Captain Blake. rounding off an excellent year for the Pub. The Swan Inn at Milton returns to the Guide Since then though its fortunes have slowly after a 2 year absence and is one of those Out of town the Cross Keys in Ockbrook waned while trying to appeal to the local pubs that has had to diversify to survive also makes its debut in the Guide and is student population with further name operating as Cygnets Tearooms in the day perhaps one of the most remarkable tales of changes, etc and somewhat losing its and a Restaurant at night serving great home how to revive an ailing pub’s fortunes cooked food. There is usually up to 3 Real identity along the way. Indeed its days really particularly when faced with the did look numbered and was probably Ales on including local beers with mini Beer competition of 3 other pubs in a small Festivals a feature. The pub also features destined to go the way of all the other village. Ian Darlington a local man took on nearby properties and become student railway memorabilia and although it’s a bit of this challenge 6 years ago and slowly but the beaten track is well worth a visit. accommodation. Thankfully however 2 years surely has turned the pub around and has ago father & son team Brian and James gone from serving only Marstons Pedigree So there you have it just a taster of the new Collins of the local Titan brewery saw the to having a selection of up to 5 ales on entries in the 2016 Good Beer Guide and if potential in the place making it their Tap and including the hard to find Tetley's Mild. Ian you want to see who else made it from turned it back into a real community local even put on a Beer Festival at the pub and Derby and Derbyshire then it’s now on sale full of history and character from the unique was a worthy finalist in the 2015 Derby from the CAMRA website, local bookshops external murals on the pub to the collection CAMRA Pub of the Year Awards. The locals and some local pubs such as the Alexandra & of eclectic material inside. Titan beers have also returned giving the pub a good Brunswick in Derby and the Royal Oak at feature of course alongside guest ales and convivial atmosphere with karaoke & darts Ockbrook. 2 DerbyDRINKER November/December 2015 Derbyshire's WikiCAMRA#1 - HOW DO PUBS GET Burgeoning IN THE GOOD BEER GUIDE? he CAMRA Good Beer Guide (GBG) time, and between different members’ Tfor 2016 is now on sale (£15.99 scores. Breweries from bookshops, or £10.00 + P&P from With similar score, we are also allowed http://www.camra.org.uk/). to take into account things such as a It details around 4,500 real ale pubs, pub’s facilities and its welcome. f you flip through the new GBG, one but who choses them, and why are Only one in eight real ale pubs get into thing that’s notable is that the list of I some great pubs not in it? the GBG and there are many great pubs real ale breweries in Derbyshire is almost with great beer that don’t make it. The Pubs get into the GBG thanks to the a full column. There are 56 of them, a competition in the Derby area is number only exceeded by Greater help of tens of thousands of CAMRA fantastic; a pub can slip out of the London (only 66 between 8.5 million members. Throughout the year, the guide only because another has upped people), West Yorkshire (63) and Greater quality of the beer in all pubs is scored its game with beer that is consistently Manchester (58). With North Yorkshire by members using the National Beer well-above average. Also, pubs are (47) in fifth spot, is there a Pennine effect? Scoring System (NBSS); see the next automatically dropped with a change edition of Derby Drinker. of licensee. In terms of breweries per head of All members are encouraged to take part. If you have any comments or questions population, Derby punches well above its on this article, please write to the editor weight, I’ve not worked out the numbers, The aim is that every pub will be scored on several occasions by different people; ([email protected]). We will but on this basis I think we would be some can get hundreds of scores. The try to feature these in the next DD. pipped at the post by North Yorks, and Derby Branch organizes survey trips to Rutland, with its tiny population, might less-visited ones pubs (all members only need the opening of third brewery to welcome!). lead the field. Each CAMRA branch has an allocation There are several new real ale breweries in of pubs based roughly on the number Derbyshire since GBG-2016 was finalized of pubs in their area. Every year the and they include: Ashleyhay; Draycott; Derby Branch GBG Coordinator Frontier; Intrepid; Bradwell; Landlocked; analyses the NBSS scores and draws up Little Bush; Pentrich and Matlock Wolds a list of candidates, based on the average NBSS score.