The Derby Arms, Grange-Over-Sands

Will Larter left this review about The Derby Arms

A large roadside inn that has had its main road stripped from it, but is well signposted. On this occasion I was misled by some roadworks for surface renovations, and had to drive past the turning once in a south-westerly direction, and again going north-east, before finally turning back again, this time on the old road that my grandparents used to drive on when coming home from a holiday in the Lake District. I don't remember them ever stopping at the Derby Arms, though. I was once treated to lunch here by my then boss (a backstreet garage owner who dabbled in used cars) and his girlfriend in 1977, on our way to nearby Lindale to pick up a car, which he then required me to drive back to Lancaster despite the absence of functioning brakes. To be fair, this fact was not known when he roared off in his Jaguar, leaving me to discover the bad news at the first sharp bend.

All of this had been churning through my mind as I turned up for a spot of beer scoring nearly half a century later. There are six hand pumps on the bar, with five beers on; perhaps more than the passing trade (a Tuesday afternoon in October) could cope with, as one of my beers was distinctly tired, but my half of Bowness Bay Swan Blonde was very good (NBSS 4), and two others were good or better. I had a little wander around the several rooms (see photos) which are kept in very good trim, with some items of interest everywhere you look. I really must come back again some time soon - obviously there's no chance of leaving my next visit until another 46 years have passed.

On 21^st October 2023 - rating: 8
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