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Detail Pages
Ye Olde Dolphin Inne, Derby
Derby
DE1 3DL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Ye Olde Dolphin Inn
Update – November 2013
Despite being a trained investigator, there’s a number of additional rooms in this pub which I evidently missed last time and didn’t therefore include in my earlier review below.
Behind the main bar is a splendid, cosy wood panelled snug with a small serving hatch to the main bar. This snug has banquette seating and a number of interesting items of memorabilia, including part of the centre circle of the Baseball Ground ( the former ground of Derby County F C ).
At the back of the pub, with a separate entrance, is a Lounge Bar. A brass plaque on the door tells us that “standards of dress and behaviour must be observed”, although I didn’t immediately see anything to clarify what these standards were. Whilst I was certainly on my usual impeccable behaviour, it didn’t stop me attracting a rather fierce frown from a white haired lady who reminded me of Pat Butcher, formerly of Eastenders
An outside stage is used for live music.
Beers on were predominantly the mainstream, usual suspects – Deuchars IPA, Doom Bar, Adnams Broadside, Timmy’s Landlord, Pedigree, Bass and Abbot, although I did enjoy a splendid dark mild – Centurion ND from the Nottingham Brewery – notably, served direct from the barrel, via a jug.
I really like this pub, and, if you’re a first time visitor to this city, you’ll probably want to come here, but it would be nice to see a couple more or so local micros being represented
ORIGINAL REVIEW - APRIL 2009
This is an attractive black and white timber-framed Tudor-style pub close to Derby Cathedral in the City Centre.
It's Derby's oldest pub - 1530 AD - a fact of which it makes no secret, judging from the blackboards outside.
It's an old highwaymans' pub apparently - a framed print in the Offilers Lounge tells us that Dick Turpin allegedly stayed here where he had "an illicit affair with the inn's young and beautiful landlady".
The pub interior is a typically cosy wood-panelled interior with etched leaded windows and a low beamed interior. There's several rooms either side of the entrance and an upstairs restaurant.
( Surprise, surprise !) - several ghosts are said to haunt the pub and local Derby Ghost Walks start here.
There was a good range of real ale available on my visit, mainly mainstream. Sod's law being what it is, on the date of my visit, the only beer that I wasn't familiar with - Nottingham Legends - wasn't on. However, both the TT Landlord and the Deuchars IPA ( £ 2.85p and £ 2.75p respectively ) were on form. Adnams and Black Sheep were also on.
The pub is listed in the 2009 GBG.
There's an outside drinking area at the side of the pub and a beer festival planned for July.
You should make the effort to do this one when in Derby
On 18th December 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Ye Olde Dolphin Inn
Called in here on a Sat eve and the place was mobbed, still managed to have a good look round. A lot of people eating so most of the tables were occupied. Great service in spite of how busy it was and did not wait long at all to sample the Notts Brewery Bullion, which was excellent. Will call again when less busy.
On 24th November 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roy Collins left this review about Ye Olde Dolphin Inn
very olde worlde pub with good beer selection
On 31st July 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 124 recommendations about 121 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about Ye Olde Dolphin Inn
One of our long standing favourite pubs in the centre of Derby, this is a lovely old rambling pub entered through a passageway with two internal drinking areas off this. There is also an outside bar that is used at bust times. Theres always people eating in this place when we visit so presumably it has a good reputation for food. However, we are there for the ales and whilst not as large a range as a number of other pubs in Derby, it always has a good selection that is well kept. There are also a number of beer festivals held here throughout the year. Can get very crowded on Friday and Saturday nights but we have often still found soemwhere to sit.
On 3rd June 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Ye Olde Dolphin Inn
A detached pub in white render, with part timber look.Claimed to date from 1530, the exterior tries to give that impression. There is a beer garden.
The inside has a nesting of rooms, also in the white render, wood panel and beam look, continuing the Tudor/Jacobean theme and no doubt making the ghost hunters feel well at home (i believe ghost walks of Derby incorporate the pub into their itinery). We sat in the snug, which had a nice fireplace and various prints and other ephemera on the walls and elsewhere to add further interest. The service was very good and the clientele small, mature and friendly; with one ex-soldier joining in our conversations, which ranged from Jenny Agutter to the Domesday Book.
Beer; tap stuff, with 8 handpulls, with Bass, Black Sheep, 'Dolphin Ale', Deuchars, Adnams Bitter and Abbot, with a decent drop of Y Not and Timothy Taylor Landlord. An excellent choice, even if perhaps they are not that uncommon to find.
Another super place, you cant go far wrong in here
On 28th November 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Ye Olde Dolphin Inn
Billed as the oldest pub in Derby, it certainly looks old in places with low ceilings and lots of dark wood in its many little rooms. There is a good choice of well kept beers from regionals and a couple from micro's on the eight handpulls. Pleasant bar staff and chatty locals in a nice setting.
On 21st November 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3276 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Ye Olde Dolphin Inn
Tried to get a pint in here on Saturday afternoon. The beer festival was on in town so you would have thought they would have put some extra staff on. Two staff on, three deep at the bar, not good enough.
On 13th July 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about Ye Olde Dolphin Inn
All the signage points to this being the oldest pub in Derby dating back to 1530 and the cobbled corridors and low wooden doorways back up the claim. It's a nice looking pub with some decent beers and a cheap menu. It does come across as a bit touristy though, with the eating area being named the “1530 AD Restaurant” and various advertisements for ghost walks and the like. There was also a notice about a spiritual medium appearing every Wednesday, I was there on a Wednesday and the next event was advertised as two weeks later, unforeseen circumstances maybe!! It's definitely worth visiting though as it oozes history.
On 27th May 2007
- rating: 7
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]