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Detail Pages
Five Lamps, Derby
Derby
DE1 3BH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Five Lamps
Looking back at my previous review of this pub, nearly 10 years ago, it seems I found it "lacking a bit of character and atmosphere". On this latest visit, however, I found myself very impressed and promising to come back before long for more than just a swift half on a pub research trip. It was quite busy, which helps, I suppose. I was in a group of eight and it was difficult at first to see what was on, but spotting Bateman's XXXB was good enough for me and probably my favourite beer of the day, though not the one that was in the best condition - just missing out with NBSS 3.5. I reckon there were 11 beers on the bar (see two photos with Everards Tiger towards the right on one and towards the left on another), with Dancing Duck the only brewery doubly represented, the others being from Thornbridge, Docks (from Grimsby), Buxton, Wilde Child and Blue Monkey, plus Bass and Oakham Citra the only mainstream offerings. If my count of 11 is right, that's a drop from the 14 which used to feature, but perhaps that's a good thing in terms of ensuring beer quality. The Five Lamps is in the current Good Beer Guide.
On 11th June 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4348 recommendations about 3996 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Five Lamps
This is a great street corner pub with an opened up layout that wraps around a sizeable peninsula servery. The bar has blocky wood panel frontage to its counter, a matching canopy with the beer range and various other drink options listed across it, and a nice hop-lined, mirrored bar back. Seating is available around the perimeter of the room, with ample space between it and the bar for vertical drinkers. Button backed banquetes line much of the wall space, including some that have been formed into booths over to the right, but high stools and simple chairs are also available in good numbers. Some of the booths have been partitioned by nice leaded, stained glass screens, whilst the walls have near full height panelling, especially at the rear of the room, augmented by plain mirrors, local photographs and swathes of fancy wallpaper which add some colour. A raised seating area to the front right is accessed via a couple of steps beneath an archway which is flanked by some large potted plants. I spotted a couple of TV screens, both of which were switched off on a Saturday evening.
The ale range was very extensive, to the point that I couldn’t manage to note everything down, only recording the availability of Oakham Citra, Everards Tiger, Blue Monkey infinity. Abbeydale Dissolution IPA, Draught Bass, Thornbridge Brother rabbit and maybe four or five others. The bar staff were all very friendly and seemed really switched on, which helped minimise waiting time at the bar on a very busy evening. My pint of Oakham Citra was in great nick - probably the best pint I had on this thirteen-pub crawl.
I really liked this place, which I thought had a nice balance between traditional ale house and something a bit more contemporary in feel that clearly appealed to a younger crowd too. The great beer and efficient service were also standout features, making this another great pub in Derby’s strong pub scene.
On 4th September 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3361 recommendations about 3361 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Five Lamps
Five Lamps is a traditionally decorated single room Everard’s pub with a long curved central bar that faces seating around the exterior walls. I counted 19 hand pumps, those in operation were drawing Wilde Child’s Brownie Hunter, Hopback’s Summer Lightening, Dancing Duck Brewery’s Quack to the Future and Ay Up, Anarchy Brew Co’s Flat Out IPA, Salopian’s Darwin’s Origin, Everard’s Tiger, Thornbridge’s Leerie’s Tipple and Bass alongside five real ciders. I went for the Quack and Summer Lightening which were both well served by the friendly chap running the bar. Craft keg was also available, as were free dog treats for our flappy eared friends. Human food is also available, but I think the kitchen was closed during my Tuesday evening visit so I didn’t get to peruse a menu. I liked it in here and would have no issue returning for a longer stay.
On 1st August 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6133 recommendations about 6099 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Five Lamps
Heading out of the city centre, this is a fairly large pub with a large selection of both cask ales and craft beers. Being a warm day, we left the main bar behind to head for an outdoor area at the rear of the pub.
Regular beers here are Bass, Thornbridge Leerie's Tipple & Everard's Tiger. The pub was featuring a Castle Rock tap takeover and had their Harvest Pale, Elsie Mo, Suntrap, Steal My Sunshine, Preservation & Screech Owl. Also on were Dancing Duck Ay Up, Thornbridge Market Porter, Oakham Bishop's Farewell, Brew York Make It Columbus & Shiny Disco Balls.
Ciders were Thistly Cross Whisky Cask, Snail's Bank Pineapple & Pink Grapefruit Cider, Gwynt y Ddraig Dog Dancer & Weston's Rosie's Pig. Craft beers were Beavertown Neck Oil, Thornbridge Green Mountain, Verdant Light Bub, Castle Rock DDH Pale, Black Iris Cherry King, New Bristol Cinder Toffee & Everard's Cast No Shadow & New World IPA.
A number of our party indulged in various bar snacks, including a roll found with mould in it. It was duly replaced with the cost returned. Despite the snack faux-pas, this seems to be a good pub with a great drinks selection.
On 4th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3111 recommendations about 3109 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Five Lamps
Another good pub on the edge of town. A single room wrapped around a central curved bar, nicely furnished with some plush leather button back bench seating and wood panel walls. Plenty of beer available with fourteen handpumps in total with eleven in use on my visit. I only had time for the one ,choosing Blue Monkey Infinity.
Very nice pub worth tying in with The Furnace about five minutes walk away.
On 3rd November 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2183 recommendations about 2150 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Five Lamps
Built on the site of, or formerly named (1883) St Helen's Inn, this pub is a Georgian-styled brick and stone Everard's pub with front and back patio areas. The interior has a U-shaped open room curved around the bar, has part wood panel, with copious tankards and jugs for decoration, along with prints for interest. There was a TV (not on). There were 11 pulls advertised, with the Derby Beer Co Business as Usual, Everard's Tiger and the Peak Brewery Chatsworth Gold all being decent. The service was fine and the food, I just had a build your own burger, was perfectly OK. Visited here a few times over the last few years as Soupette no2 is at Uni in Derby, but this is no student pub. A better than solid performer and worth a visit.
On 25th July 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3076 recommendations about 3071 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Five Lamps
Very functional, yet perfectly formed, locals pub. I dont know how Derby seems to carry over the quantity of pubs and the quantity of beer they serve. Another 8 available here.
TT Landlord in great condition.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2w1lOlC
On 20th August 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1607 recommendations about 1584 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Five Lamps
Tidy, high ceiled pub, has the feel of a Wetherspoons. The room follows the bar around a U shape. Large choice of average quality beers.
On 2nd December 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1556 recommendations about 1533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Five Lamps
Not much internal change in the five years since my last visit. There are now ten pumps as you face the bar, with another three to the left and another three to the rear right – pretty awkwardly done and easy to miss. My Peak Ales Chatsworth Gold was in impressive nick. Some noted additions were the availability of papers, a collection of jugs hanging from the ceiling beams and dog-friendliness. A downside was that on a dank autumnal day the place was cold and felt a bit grim – there’s a stove there, why not use it?! Still worth having on the ‘must-do’ crawl list for the range and quality of the ales but it doesn’t quite have that ‘pubby’ factor to it to make it 9 or 10 sort of place.
September 2010
Recently re-opened after a period of closure under Everard’s ‘Project William’ banner. This is a big knocked-through place with an upmarket, airy feel and has been done up fairly smartly (if a bit Spoons-like in places, lots of light wood and brown seating – corporately bland). The button-backed raised seating areas near the windows looked like the best spot to imbibe. I counted nine ales available from such breweries as Peak, Oakham, Burton Bridge, Buxton and, of course, Everards (just the one though – Tiger) as well as some proper ciders in barrels behind the bar. Beer quality was excellent. The chap behind the bar was friendly and convivial. A muted TV was showing a cartoon for some unfathomable reason. Toilets were modern and spotless. Well-worth a visit for the beer alone. Rated 8
On 22nd November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5589 recommendations about 5570 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Five Lamps
Comfortable pub with a modern but still largely traditional interior. Its key selling point is a constant 14 ales available which are to be found around the central wooden floored main semi-circular bar.
The ones I noted were Draft Bass, St Austell Tribute and Proper Job, Castle rock Harvest Pale, Peak Ales Chatsworth Gold, Poppy Otter, Everards tiger, the house Five Lamps Ale from the Derby brewing company, Exmore Beast and Boggart Brewery Rum Porter. And at that point I stopped and didn’t bother going round the other side of the bar, and the Rum Porter was on excellent form.
There are a couple of carpeted seating areas dotted around the wooden floored central bar area and then there was a largish undercover decking area outside.
A solid real ale pub and certainly one worth visiting when in Derby.
On 22nd November 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2245 recommendations about 2105 pubs]