The Flowerpot, Derby

One of the premier real ale pubs in Derby. There were 11 handpumps on including a number of local brews plus three more available from the cellar. The selection was excellent with a mixture of hoppy ales, session bitters, a dark mild and strong beers plus a couple of ciders. The pub is a traditional old boozer with a basic but comfortable main bar at the front. There's a Derby County FC fixture poster above the fireplace from the 1914-1915 season which includes an advert for the "New Flowerpot". Towards the rear is a "library room" which is used for eating and also a function room and beer garden. The pub is well known locally as a music venue and they also have occasional beer festivals. Good place for a beer and anyone on the trail of real ale in Derby should make the pilgrimage.

In Venice, they say all streets lead to St Marks Square. In Derby, any mention of beer seems to lead to the Flowerpot. With an uncountable number of ales on offer, it is not hard to see how the pub gets its reputation as the No 1 Ale pub in Derby and probably the UK. It initially appears to be a fairly small pub but it opens up to the rear and is deceptively spacious. That said, it is also fairly plain and featureless and without the ales or the almost equally impressive adjoining music venue, it would be a fairly mundane run of the mill place. Music posters and listings dominate the walls but there are some interesting oddments among them including a display of old classic adverts (Pears Soap, Marmalade, Corn Flower etc), bottle collections and the 1914/15 Derby County fixture list that throws up some interesting forthcoming matches against the likes of Glossop and Leicester Fosse. Note also the old photos of the pub that show it named as the New Flower Pot. The stillage bar reveals numerous casks racked up behind a glass screen with a spaghetti like mass of tubes leading to the numerous beer taps. In contrast, at the end of the bar sits an old Watneys Red Barrel pump. It really is possible to spend an entire weekend here and not have the same beer twice although we did intend to have a lunch here but found the food selction was a little basic and disappointing. As a number crunching alehouse, the Flowerpot is second to none but don't expect a building of any significant character.

A two-tier building, with a red rendered upper and white rendered and larger lower section, with attached music venue. The interior is open plan, with different areas including a library. The decor is mainly in red, white and wood panel, with a nice wood bar, ceiling beams and lots of various old epemera on the walls, including pictures of the pub and Derby. Service was ok, the clientele friendly, again joining in our conversations - Mr Hackwood debating the merits of Bonnie Prince Charlie with a local chap. Beer; tap stuff, with a range on their own microbrewery beers on handpull, as well as several others. Sadly i only noted that i had York Brewery's Constantine - which was fine. I thought this place was another top-notch stop off. I will return here.

Friendly ale house with a wide range of well kept microbrewery beers. Looks small from the outside but is quite spacious inside. Plain older style décor but not tatty, fairly typical of decent old boozers. Good service and chatty locals, mainly middle aged men. Home of the Headless Brewery but I didn't try any of their fine ales. It also offers live music regularly.