The Knowhere Guide

Eating and Drinking in Derby, Derbyshire*

Derby, Derbyshire Pubs, Cafes, Coffee Shops and Restaurants

Food

• Got to go to Rocky's for kebabs after a night at the Bluenote!
• pappas, london road, opposite the DRI, hmmmmmmmmmm kebabs and burgers.
• BISTANGOS RESTAURANT,ST.PETERS CHURCHYARD-EXCELLENT ITALIAN,GREAT PRICES
• Eagle Centre market cafe (up the top end) sells good chip butties and slush puppies.
• There's this great little sandwich bar in the Eagle Centre market. It's called G.Morgan & Sons - the sandwich bar' and is run by two brothers - Iain and Lyndsey. (Lyndsey is the big one!) They will make up any sandwich that you want and they have loads of different types of bread and fillings from chicken tikka to cream cheese and cucumber! I reccoment that you try it as it is not at all pricy and the quality is fantastic.
• The Abid is pretty poor. The king of curry houses has to be The Eastern Tandoori on Curzon Street. However, The Full Moon on Normanton Road is legendary.
• o`neills snack and share platters
• RAJPOOT TANDORI NORMANTON RD CHECK IT OUT BUT DONT EXPECT DINGY SURROUNDINGS TANDORI MEETS ROYALTY GREAT FOOD FAIR SERVING S SLIGHLY HIGH PRICES BUT GREAT DECOR
• For a truly excellent meal you must visit Stelianas & Saphos Greek Restaurant, Old Blacksmiths Yard, Derby. The Greek Meze is wonderful and the people are really nice too! Also, Paradise is no longer so! It has changed names and is still crap!
• For an excellent meal (about £8.50 a head), a trip out to the Coopers Arms at Weston on Trent, Derby is recommended... The beer is excellent and the setting cannot be beaten... It's an old Manor House which used to be Oliver Cromwell's Headquarters around these parts, in the deep dark past. It's even got a fishing lake. No I don't own it, neither do I have shares in the place... You will not be disappointed. If you go for a meal, the earlier the better and you can forget it after 21:30hrs.
• Birds Confectionery. I'm not sure if Birds started out in Derby but there are lots of Birds Confectionery shops around and I don't see them elsewhere.
• The Normanton mile for curry, balti in Normanton Road.
• For Indian food the Abid in Curzon Street is excellent. Go before 23:00 for a quieter meal it gets a bit loudish after that!
• The Antibo is a new informal type, Italian restaurant in Midland Road with bags of atmosphere (real Italian waiters, Italian music and a rather nice front of house-Australian lady!) and reasonable prices. Pizzas and pasta are especially good.
• For a top class International cuisine The Midland Hotel is hard to beat.

Pubs

• The Bell on Sadlergate does reasonable cocktails - half price after 10.30! I recommend the Multiple Orgasm!
• the bell, sadlers for the best cocktails around, jackie stamps is ok, 2 for 1 at the mo but i dont like the atmosphere much (or the bouncers).
• The venue is now called Gossips ( and no im not a gay bar ) as this is what people are thinking. We have only had the pub for a month, and we did purchase it from a gay couple. Gossips is set as a fun bar on Gower street just off Greenlane. On Mondays we have live bands from local bands to famous bands. bottles are £1.00, red stripe £1.50 a can, red bull and vodka £1.50 a glass, and doubles are £2.00 inc mixer. Admission is £2.00. Tuesday we have a Salsa class 7.30pm to 8.15pm beginners 8.15pm to 9.00pm intermediate 9.00 to 1.00am solid salsa disco addmission £2.00. Wednesday we have 'Titty Twister' this is a gentlemans evening with strippers lap dancers and bar dancers, bottles £1.00 red bull and vodka £1.50 pints normal £2.00 addmission £2.00 starts at 8.00pm till 1.00am. Thursday is avalible for private hire. Fridays are party nights we have a different theamed night every week, such as tequila night, vicar and tart night, phone chat up, medievel, and lots more. free admission all night £1.00 bottles vodka and red bull £1.50 and our flyer team go round the town with tickets for cheap pints and 70p shots. Saturday is spin the wheel on the wheel we have 70p shots, £1.00 pints, hooch £1.20, red stripe £1.00, black russians £1.00, vodka £1.00 a shot, and many many more, again free addmission party chart 60s 70s 80s music and lots of fun and dancing bar crew. And sundays are a day of rest. Thank you for your time if you would like to contact me be it for any reason please do. Ask for Lee Holland 01332 332942 fax 371772 email leeholl@gossips.fsnet.co.uk
• FOR A DECENT PINT AND OLD ATMOSPHERE,TRY THE DOLPHIN PH(CORNER OF QUEEN ST/FULL ST) REGULAR BANDS AND A GREAT LOG FIRE!
• Th late bar has a good happy hour and the Crompton has a good alternative(?) atmosphere!!
• Crusties in The Bless? I don't think so! My sister works behind the bar there, so a plug was a must. Watch some of the beer though, expensive and erm....(libel?)
• The Abbey Pub in Darley Abbey, good beer, good food friendly landlord, Simon, worth a visit.
• Brunswick Inn near the railway station. A micro brewery making many of its own beers - including Recession Ale, about £1.10 at the last check.
• Don't forget the Brunswick near the station, owned by the local CAMRA and have their own micro-brewery on-site (NOT a Firkin pub!). 20+ guest ales and a good range of their own, my recommendation - try Brunswick's 2nd Brew.
• flowerpot, frairgate, smithfield, brunswick, silk mill- fantastic real ales
• WITH PUBS OPENING AT THE RATE OF 1 EVERY 4 MONTHS IT CHANGES REGULARY THIS COULD BE BAD AS THERE ARE NOW LOTS OF PUBS WITH LESS PEOPLE IN HENCE LESS ATMOSPHERE DEAD DURING THE WEEK CHECK OUT THE STANDING ORDER ON A TUESDAY NIGHT MASSIVE INTERIOR NO MUSIC NO PEOPLE
• skaters have now been banned from the BLESSINGTON CARRIAGE after things got a little over "enthusiastic" on new years eve, try the Vaults, the Crompton(on a friday night.) or The Late Bar to meet skatey types.
• Boom is OK for a late drink and a bit of a boogie - unfortunatey full of lots of dodgy blokes from Spondon. Ask for Jo Mellor if you fancy a snog
• The Blessington Carriage just out of the city centre has a pretty good scene, for skaters and punks and dodgy crusty types, on a Friday night.
• The drinks are getting very expensive in Derby. Credit to the barman in Rhode Island Exchange who, upon ordering drinks makes comments like "Do you realise that the glass of wine you have just asked for costs £2.50, and the bottle of Cider you have just asked for also costs £2.50"! Come on it is not London here! Roll on the Working Mens Clubs with their cheap bars!
• Sod all. But Come to the Rowdich or Travellers Rest and buy me a pint. Paul.
• Sadlergate pubs for students/younger peeps. Includes The Bell and The Vines. The Brunswick near the station for ale drinkers. Molly Magoos next to Pink Coconut. The Coliseum on London Rd. Plenty of pubs on Friargate and Irongate.
• For ravers: Berlins (big loud and good!) Flamingo and Firkin (also big loud etc. but with a typical 'Firkin' atmosphere, Lloyd's (small and loud), Seymour's (good and you can sit outside), The Lord Nelson and The Buck in the Park are also good. Real ale chaps will also like the Alexandra Hotel (The Alex) near the station and the Dolphin in Irongate plus the new Weatherspoon's pub.

Cafes and Coffee Shops

• cruso cafe (think that the name) its a small one in the eagle centre, best hot chocolate and milkshakes out. the manager is a bit scary though. he gives you deadeyes if you havent got the right change.
• Wild Thyme Cafe, tiny cafe with veggie/vegan food,great permaculture garden. writers group 2nd and 4th thursday of the month.Find it at the Rainbow Centre, 88, Abbey Street.
• Cassa (on Iron Gate) have the Hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream!

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Last updated: 2008-01-02