Loughborough & North Leicestershire CAMRA

Amber Valley 27th August 2022

On a warm sunny day, 9 members met at High Street Loughborough for the 09.39 Kinch Skylink bus to Derby. We purchased a £3.70 ticket to East Midlands Airport, beyond there the Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket is valid covering most buses and trains. The ticket costs £13.40 single, £24 group for 2 people and £6.70 senior (60 and over), check the website for more details. Bryan from Ravenstone joined us at the airport. The reason for using the Skylink bus was the tight connection using the train from Loughborough and then getting the 71 bus to Little Eaton operated by Notts and Derby.

The bus departed Derby at 11.30 from Derwent Street and the journey was around 12 minutes to Little Eaton. Our first port of call was the Shiny Tap Brewery Micropub, tucked away in an small industrial area. Real Ales on offer were Affinity 4.6%, Disco Balls 5.3%, 4Wood 4.5% and NZ Pale 3.9%. They have 10 Craft Beer lines of various beer styles and 150 bottles and cans to drink onsite or takeaway which some members tried. Prices were very reasonable and I opted for Affinity which was £3 a pint. Craft beer prices were higher as normal. The Micropub is open every day, but as always check their website for times before travelling. The one and half hours soon passed and it was time to move on.

The 71 bus at 13.35 from Little Eaton took us to the delightful hill top village of Holbrook only 7 minutes away with attractive commanding views . The first pub was The Spotted Cow, a community owned pub restored to former status as an historic ale house. A warm welcome was received from the new landlord running the pub, with 5 mainly local real ales available. On this nice day we opted to sit outside the front of this lovely pub to admire the surrounding views. There is a food menu and accommodation available and the Spotted Calf Café/ Post office is nearby, run by the same community society. The set-up is impressive and shows what can be achieved to keep the pub and village facilities running.

Our second pub in Holbrook was The Dead Poets Inn, an oldy-worldly friendly village pub a 10 minute walk from the Spotted Cow. The pub is owned by Everards and leased by the Brunswick at Derby as a project William pub. The pub is cosy with various areas within including a stone flagged floor bar area with low celling, high back pews and large open fires (winter) and a cosy snug. There is conservatory at the back leading into the beer garden. A selection of 9 real ales is available to choose from. One of the staff members recognised John and Terry from when she worked at The Free Trade Inn at Sileby (also own by Everards). After an enjoyable visit, just a short walk up hill to the bus stop for 15.05 no.71 bus to Bargate which is just a 3 minute journey.

The White Hart, a former East Midlands pub of the year 2018 and Amber Valley POTY 2020, is a cosy 2 room pub in the heart of Bargate, high above the town of Belper. There was a welcoming atmosphere with friendly staff and changing selection of real ales on offer. On our visit there were beers from Timothy Taylor (Boltmaker), Skinners (Betty Stoggs), Pennine (Blackcurrant Porter), Oakham (Citra), Thornbridge (Crackendale) and Belper Brewing Co (One) which I opted for and was excellent. The pub also serves craft keg beers and has a beer garden at the rear of the pub. It was soon time to catch the 15.47 no.138 Notts and Derby Co bus to Belper from the stop just a few yards from the pub on the next street.

In Belper we got off the bus near the Market Place, and tucked away in the corner of the Market Place is The Angels Micropub, a quirky friendly and popular pub serving 8 plus beers, ciders and Gins. The pub is spacious as micropubs go, and there is also an area to sit outside. On our visit they had a Lenton Lane Brewery Tap take over with 6 of their beers on of various strengths and styles with Pale Moonlight 3.7%, Breakfast in America 4.1%, Dealers Choice 5.5%, Atlas Stout 4.2%, Walters Lido 6.1% and Pekko SM&SH 4.9% plus other beers available. Please note the pub is only open Thursday to Sunday.

Our second pub in Belper, on the award winning main shopping street, was The Railway, a refurbished large town centre Pub operate by the Lincoln Green Brewery and offering 8 real ales and 6 craft keg beers. There is a large beer garden at the back and they serve food until the early evening. There was a good section of their beers which was most enjoyable. I forgot to take a photo here (must have been that time of day). On to the bus stop for 17.25 Trent Barton Sixes bus (6.2) towards Derby.

Our bus Journey from Belper to Makeney was 5 minutes, and a short walk from Milford Corner is the classic popular Holly Bush Inn, a traditional late 17th century grade 2 listed unspoiled pub where time has stood still. The middle room has high pews, range cooker and stone floors. 8 real ales are available with Marston Pedigree served in a jug from the cellar. Other regular beers include Timothy Taylor Landlord, Thornbridge Jaipur IPA, Whim Hartington IPA and up to 4 changing beers. A food menu is available at lunchtimes and snacks are available at other times in the form of pork pies, scotch eggs etc. There is also a beer garden. It is always a delight to visit the Holly Bush for a pint and a pork pie. The time soon passed by to make our way back home, from Makeney. The bus was the 18.35 Trent Barton Sixes from Millford Corner to Derby Bus Station which took around 22 minutes. There are number of options back to Derby using the Wayfarer ticket from here.

Our intention was to catch the train back to Loughborough from Derby however there was a 19.05 Skylink bus waiting to depart from Derby bus station for Leicester and we decided to bus back instead, as the train wasn’t until 19.30. The Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket is valid to East Midlands Airport then cost £3.70 to Loughborough. A most enjoyable day was had by all and the timings for the transport went like clockwork.

The Amber Valley has other interesting pubs to visit, check them out on the CAMRA WhatPub website.

The information was correct at the time of our visit to the Amber Valley area. Always check the latest bus information before travelling, and pub opening times on their webpages, and social media in some cases.

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