Hogarths, Ilkeston

A ‘spoons a like with more solos and T-bars than a God fearing cask drinker should be faced with. There are three pulls but clipped for ungodly cider from Lilley’s. There are some nice features to this ex-Post Office some dark wood, some stained glass, geometric tiling at the counter and a carpet, as I said ‘spoons a like. It has a raised area with fancy seating at the end with dart boards and there’s an outdoor area. I discovered a little later they had Theakston Old Peculiar on one of the handpulls but the clip was hidden behind a mini blackboard advertising mocktails, the gits, there was also a Theakston’s Lightfoot clip reversed as well, double gits.

This is a very impressive town centre pub that has been refurbished in the style of an old gin palace, with no expense seemingly spared. The pub has an L-shaped layout with a very large servery occupying much of the right-hand side, leaving seating options confined to the left and in a pleasant front lounge area. The whole pub boasts some lovely carpeting with a check-tiled space around the servery. The lounge at the front seemed like a great spot to grab a seat, with plenty of options including plush button backed banquettes, padded low stools, high stools along drinking ledges and a few standard tables and chairs at the far end. It’s a stunning space thanks to numerous stained glass partitioning screens which the sun was shining through to create a beautiful effect on my mid-afternoon visit. A check tile fireplace on the far wall had a TV screen above it, showing live football with the sound on, although no-one seemed to be watching it. The bar has a glorious carved, dark wood counter front with large, etched glass pub mirrors on the bar back surrounded by grand display cabinets full of various bits and bobs. The bar runs down the right-hand wall towards the back of the pub, broken along the way by numerous pillars, with plenty of additional decorative features to check out along the way. Loads of high tables and stools can be found opposite, down the left-hand side of the room, with many more colourful glass panes on show, before the room opens out again to the rear, where several dartboards can be found and where fans of various East Midlands football teams were competing in some sort of lively tournament complete with lights, music and a proper caller/compere. Decorative chandeliers and light fittings throughout the pub add to the grand spectacle and I noticed a few more TV screens showing the same match further to the rear. The bar is very long, but I’m fairly sure the only handpulls are in a cluster together and were offering Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold and a couple of real ciders. A hapless barman got a bit of a drenching when the beer practically exploded out of the pump, but he managed to pour a respectable pint of the Hobgoblin Gold, which I enjoyed supping whilst taking in the surroundings and laughing at the good natured stick the darts players were giving one another. This is a spectacular pub with a very attractive interior that I thought was well worth setting aside some time to check out. It’s a shame that such a tasteful refit couldn’t be matched with a good ale range, but at least they have an active handpull and seem to know how to keep their beer. I’m glad I read about this place in the local CAMRA magazine and added it to my crawl at the last minute, as it was a memorable visit and something a little different to what the rest of town has to offer.

On my first visit here, just after Christmas, it was fairly quiet with just three beers available on the six hand pumps. (I was here again in January but my review does not relate to that occasion as I was with friends and did not make any notes.) Two were seasonal beers and the helpful young barman offered me a taster - and then talked me out of buying one! He diverted me onto Ringwood Boondoggle, which although not a favourite of mine, was in good nick and an absolute snip at just £1.25. Looking around, I could see that this old crown post office had been made into a pretty good replica of an old pub, with reproduction features such as woodwork and stained glass. Although Hogarths style their pubs as gin palaces, in fact there is nothing at all rowdy about them (if you go early in the day!) and I find them comfortable and the staff friendly. Date of visit: 27th December 2017

Hogarths page on the Amber Taverns website - ambertaverns.co.uk

Hogarths page on the Amber Taverns website - ambertaverns.co.uk