Catching the service 70 from near the Halfway Supertram terminus there followed a quite enjoyable journey through Eckington, Renishaw, Staveley and Brimington before arriving in Chesterfield at about 10.45. A quick change of buses was needed for the 20-or-so minute ride to the Arkwright Arms at Sutton cum Duckmanton (a CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2017 entry). Here, all 18 hand pumps were in use for their Bank Holiday Beer Festival, which this year was featuring Derbyshire breweries. I sampled halves from Dancing Duck, Whim, Amber Ales and Landlocked breweries, but the pick was a very black, smooth and easy drinking Ashover Brewery 10th Anniversary Raspberry Stout at 8.5%. Buses to and from this large and imposing Tudor-fronted free house are frequent and convenient.
Back in Chesterfield and a walk through the Market Place to the somewhat smaller micro bar by the name of the Chesterfield Alehouse (GBG 2017 entry). This weekend the 6 hand pumps were dispensing beers from Brinkburn Street and Three Kings breweries. I sample Canny Sculler 11 (3.8%) from the former and Billy Mill (4.0%) and Silver Darling (5.6%) from the latter. A short journey then, courtesy of service 50, to Whittington Moor and the Beer Parlour (another GBG 2017 entry). Although only just having opened at 4pm, there was already a steady trade and from the 8 cask ales available I sampled King Clipstone King John EPA (4.4%) and Jolly Collier Porter (5.0%). The porter was another good example of the style with dark beers certainly taking the edge so far today.
Just around the corner is the Derby Tup, now operated by Pigeon Fishers Brewery and I sampled their own House Pale at 3.8%, which was a nice contrast to the previous porter, before getting on board another service 50 to Mosborough. First stop was the George & Dragon which offered three ales, from which I chose Timothy Taylor’s Golden Best (3.5%). Next up was the Alma. They offer one cask ale which recently was Bombardier, but today it was Sharp’s Doom Bar (4.0%). The third Mosborough pub visited was the Queen Hotel, whose sole cask offering was Marston’s EPA (3.6%). Last up in Mosborough was the British Oak, which is now a True North Brewery run pub. My choice was Dark Star American Pale Ale (4.7%).
Another journey on Service 50 followed by a short tram ride and a short walk took me to the New Inn in Gleadless. From a range of 8 cask ales I chose Welbeck Abbey’s Sleeping Beauty (5.3%), which was clean, crisp and dry and a fitting way to end the day.
Andrew Morton

A Grand Bank Holiday Day Out
Being a Bank Holiday weekend, a more local day out was planned with the intention of doing a few pubs around the Chesterfield area and then stopping off in Mosborough on the way home. With the exception of the last port of call, all were visited by using a Stagecoach Explorer ticket costing £6.30 from the driver of the first bus caught.