The Brunswick Inn, Derby

I've been here a few times in the past and was concerned that it is no longer GBG (2014) listed. The Everard's ownership is no problem as I'm fairly sure that they had taken it over last time I came here. It all looked and felt exactly as I remembered it but on an early Saturday evening was not all that busy. I was feeling quite tired by the time I got here so only noted the beers tried. These were Brunswick Railway Porter (£2.85) and Everard's Original (£3.20) both in perfect condition. Everard's is one of the regional brewers that I still have faith in although I've never rated their Tiger Bitter. They deserve a lot of credit for keeping this place going as a brewpub.

Built originally back in the 1840's as part of a railway village for those working on the North Midland Railway and in the adjacent station, this attractive Grade II listed building now houses arguably the city's most iconic pub. The place has an unusual relationship with three breweries, seemingly being owned by Everards, managed by Brampton and housing the Brunswick Brewing Company, so it's no surprise to learn that this is a top destination pub for real ale fans. My visit on a Saturday evening happened to coincide with the National Winter Ales Festival in the nearby Roundhouse, so the pub was packed to bursting with ale fans, making it virtually impossible to figure out exactly what was on the bar and almost as difficult to fully explore this interesting building. There are apparently sixteen hand pumps to choose from, but I considered myself lucky to be able to see eight of them, which were dispensing Brampton Golden Bud, Best and Bock Daniels, Moles Gold, Taylor Landlord, Burton Bridge Festival Ale and Raw Grey Ghost IPA, with one turned clip. I assume there were some Brunswick Brewery beers somewhere along the lengthy bar counter and it's worth noting that eight ciders were listed on a board as well. I gave the Grey Ghost IPA a try and thought it was a cracking pint. The pub is laid out around a long central corridor that forms the spine of the building. The bar area is in the mid section, with flagstone flooring and a decorative patterned wall below dado level. A seating area opens out to the left of the servery - one of many available throughout the pub and seemingly the most popular on this particular evening. There is another one opposite the bar in a separate room, also with a flagstone floor and with mostly standard table and chair arrangements. Décor includes a fair few old black and white photos and a rather incongruous dartboard. Another room is located near the front door, where the building tapers to a wedge shape. The room is signed as the 'Family Parloure' and offers banquette, low stool and button backed chair seating options. This room plays on the pub's ties to the railway, displaying various items of rail memorabilia as well as a modern pub mirror. Just outside this room is a staircase, which may lead to additional rooms but I didn't have the time to explore. The walls here are lined with brewerania including some nice brewery posters and mirrors. At the opposite end of the pub, there is one final room - a small carpeted lounge with banquette seating arranged into a semi partitioned formation. At the far end of the corridor, which displays some nice framed items detailing local history, the in house brewery can be glimpsed through a final doorway. This is clearly a destination pub for ale fans as well as those who appreciate interesting, historic pub interiors. I feel I timed my long anticipated visit rather poorly, having struggled to get a good look around the place, but its popularity is clearly down to a lot more than it's convenient location and I will be sure to call again the next time I'm in Derby.

Update – November 2013 Another very impressive visit in mid November 2013. Various traditionally furnished rooms contain brewery memorabilia ( posters etc ) , black and white framed photos of old Derby ( with particular emphasis on the nearby railway station and old trams ) and the surrounding area. Worth looking out for – on the wall opposite the bar – is a fascinating framed narrative account of the pub in days long gone entitled “ Memories of The Brunswick Inn 1910” Additional seating is available in an upstairs room, which I don’t recollect being in use at the time of my previous visit, the review of which is below. The home brewing plant is still at the end of the corridor. A notice on the glass fronted door refers to “award winning ales from Derby’s oldest brewery” of which 4 were on when I visited – The Usual, White Feather, Triple Hop and Father Mike. Also on were 3 beers from Brampton Brewery ( who, according to the website, have now taken over the day to day running of the pub ), 2 from Everards, T T Landlord, plus one beer from Milestone. Quality of beers sampled was first rate. A Comedy Club evening was advertised for 20 November and a Whisky Evening for 28 November, so it’s clear that the pub is trying to position itself wider than just the real ale market For some reason, the pub is not in the 2014 CAMRA Good Beer Guide, although it has been regularly in previous years. Based on my recent visit, this fact is certainly not going to stop me making a beeline here when next in Derby – nor should it you ORIGINAL REVIEW - APRIL 2009 Splendid free house at the end of a red-brick terrace close to the station. The guide books - and a very informative pub website - tells us that this terrace was built in 1842 as part of the community village for workers of the North Midland Railway. The Brunswick Inn lays claim to being the first ever railwaymans pub. It was saved from demolition in the 1980's, reopening in 1988 after a spell of closure. Nowadays it's a fine traditional multi-roomed pub, with wood-panelling and flagstoned floors and restored in keeping with the character of the original building. It's much larger inside than it looks from outside and with its own self-contained brewery. The pub sign outside refers to "A True Ale House and Brewery" which strikes me as a very good summing up of this not to be missed gem. It's owned by Everards, but sells beers brewed on site and a number of guests. The Brunswick White Feather Ale was a nice light session ale and, at only £ 1.70p, noticeably cheap. Being behind schedule, and with a train to catch, I was unable to stay as long as I wished, but I shall return. In conclusion, it's one of the best known real ale pubs in the country and should be on everyone's itinerary for a visit at some stage

Still a fantastic beer drinkers pub, close to the station and the perfect start or finish point for any pub crawl in Derby. Huge array of ever changing beer on the bar and very quiet on a recent Saturday lunch. this was not my first visit to the Brunswick and it certainly will not be my last.

Superb pub for real ale drinkers that is in the 2012 Good Beer Guide and deserves it's place. Multiroomed and has a brewery too. It is one of the Everards Project William pubs that helps smaller breweries, and they have around 5 of their own Brunswick beers on but have to keep an Everards beer on one of the handpulls. They also have guest beers, and both the Oakham Scarlet Macaw and Brunswick Belpaire Weisse were in good condition. Reasonably priced food available.