If the idea of a smaller micropub trail is more of your preference then the Derby suburb of Allestree may just provide that for you. This affluent city suburb was a few years ago described as an ‘ale desert’ i.e. there was not much choice for real ale drinkers.
Thankfully today there is a much better choice available in the Allestree area for real ale thanks in part to the arrival of a couple of micropubs. Although we say a couple, this trail actually consists of three small watering holes as we’ve also included a third micropub located on the main commuter road between Allestree and Derby city centre.
To help us to get to each of the micropubs on this trail we will enlist the use of the main local bus route, Trent Barton’s Allestree service, aptly named after the suburb that it serves. There are two services here, each serving the Allestree suburb area in either a clockwise (blue route) or anti-clockwise direction (green route). Both routes start and finish in Derby city centre.
Do remember to enjoy visiting these fine small watering holes, and of course DRINK RESPONSIBLY!
Bus route for this trail – Trent Barton Allestree
All day bus ticket available? – YES, Trent Barton ZigZag
1 – Creaky Floorboard
Leaving Derby city centre we travel along the main corridor into Allestree, but before we even arrive in the suburb we reach our first stop on this trail. The Creaky Floorboard is different from most micropubs in that it’s not based in a former retail shop, but has in-fact been established in part of a residential unit.
Now which route to continue in?
Upon leaving the Creaky Floorboard you have a decision to make. You can either take the blue route bus and continue this trail in the clockwise order below, or take the green route bus and do things in reverse order by visiting pub 3 first.
2 – No. 189
Situated in the smaller of Allestree’s two main shopping areas you will find the No. 189 micropub, a former launderette and then beauticians turned small watering hole. As well as serving up a fine selection of ales and other tipples this micropub also hosts various street food events on a regular basis.
3 – Pothole
Our final stop on this trail takes us to Allestree’s first micropub, The Pothole, located in the suburb’s main shopping centre. This micropub, situated in a former dry cleaners, is named after that of a former pub in the same shopping complex. This single-room venue opened up as a micropub back in 2017 and has been a welcome staple in Allestree’s real ale scene ever since.