Marlpool Alehouse, Marlpool, Heanor

I really enjoyed my visit to this pub, though I was so busy being chatted to and questioned by landlord and customers alike, that I had no opportunity to take any notes. One drinker, hearing I lived in Sheffield, asked me about pubs he used to go in 50 years ago, which I was happy to answer. But, I asked him, why not go and see for yourself, it's only 35 minutes on the train and a Derbyshire Wayfarer is such good value if you're over 60. Another regular chimed in extolling the value of said ticket, and I could have been there all day. This was made worse when I noticed a beer being brought up from the cellar: I had failed to notice that as well as the six hand pumps on the fairly small bar, which has been adapted from some chapel furniture, there are two pump clips advertising beers direct from the barrel - so of course I had to have another, didn't I. To top it all, there are high shelves around both rooms with examples of (unopened) bottled beers from many years ago - Andy, the landlord, described one that he'd had a duplicate of and they'd opened it to see if it was still drinkable (it was). I can feel a return visit coming on.