Joiners Arms, Bakewell

For years (since the Peacock in 2005), Bakewell didn't have an entry in the Good Beer Guide, which seems a shame considering Thornbridge brewery is just down the road. However, the latest Good Beer Guide has 2 Bakewell entrants and the Joiners Arms is easily the better of the two. Looking at all online sources, it appeared that the pub should open at midday. However, it is 3pm opening during the winter. Ironically, we arrived a few minutes before 3 and the manager quickly opened up for us. He turned out to be a really amiable guy who had similar aims to myself, in trying to visit as many pubs as possible across the country. He'd clearly done a fair few, especially in the local area. This pub is fairly large for a micropub. It's located in a prominent location near to a busy roundabout and having been a former newsagents, it felt quite spacious. Although until the arrival of another punter shortly before we left, business was quiet on a Tuesday afternoon. The real ale range was excellent - Thornbridge Lord Marples, Peak Ales Mild, Liquid Light Daimbag, Thornsett He's Behind You, Wincle Waller & Temple Relacite. This was also the only pub visited in Derbyshire that stocked a real cider Weston's Rosie's Pig Rhubarb Cider in a bag in the box on the bar. A discount is offered upon presentation of a CAMRA card, whilst there is also a selection of craft beers available too. I was spoiled for choice between the Daimbag (described as a chocolate, pecan & caramel stout) or the Mild. I followed my instinct and chose the stout, which was nice, but not as tasty as it sounded. My drinking partner was impressed with the Thornsett and Wincle beers and we enjoyed a pleasant 30-40 minutes chatting with the manager about beers, breweries and the local pub trade. This was my favourite pub of the day and warrants a special visit to Bakewell, which is finally on the beer map for something other than the Thornbridge Brewery. We resisted the temptation of taking home a tart whilst here!

Quite a large building for a micropub, but at the time of my early evening visited there was a good smattering of people at various tables - I guess it would hold 30 fairly comfortably. The bar is at one end, near the side door facing the Rutland Hotel. There are six hand pumps (see photos) and several keg taps. My half of ESB from the local Eyam Brewery was pretty good, and I found a table near the front door, which faces the roundabout. I wouldn't mind coming back here, but the bus drivers on the 218 from Sheffield tend to leave late and then drive too fast to catch up, on twisty roads in double decker buses. This may be ok for some of the young Chinese students visiting Chatsworth and Bakewell, who treat it as a sort of fairground ride, but at my age I'm not sure I want that sort of excitement.