Meadow Road
Derby
DE1 2BH
01332 986601
haveabeer@smithfieldderby.co.uk
Traditional Town Pub
It’s worth the detour from the rail station or the short walk from city centre to visit the Smithfield in Derby. It’s an independent freehouse with an imposing semi circular frontage and the edge of the River Derwent (photo 1).
Draught Bass is always on along with 9 changing cask beers, usually from small breweries sourced from all across the UK. Cask ale is their thing but there’s a small selection of craft beers as well. It has been Derby Camra’s pub of the year in recent years.
There’s a small front room to the left and a larger main bar to the right, both with walls covered in brewery memorabilia (photos 2, 3 & 4). The large red Bass sign in the main bar was once attached to a pub’s exterior wall. For sunny days there’s a pleasant covered terrace outside overlooking the river.
There are frequent live acts at weekends with a mix of rock, heavy metal, indie and (less frequently) pop.
The Smithfield isn’t far from two other top real ale pubs, the Alexandra and the Brunswick. From either pub take the footpath along the river and cross over two footbridges to reach Meadow Lane. Turn left and the Smithfield is about 300 metres ahead.
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