We recently made use of our bus passes and the X17: an hourly service which runs from Barnsley to Matlock via Sheffield and Chesterfield. My colleague, Paul went for the longer journey, commencing in Barnsley while I joined him at Sheffield Interchange. The full journey takes well over two hours with the leg from Sheffield to Matlock taking around 80-90 minutes (the top deck offers excellent views).
On arrival in Matlock, we descended at the Red Lion bus stop and visited the family-owned pub, the home of Moot Ales, a 10 Bbl. operation which has brewed since 2018. The name pays homage to the history of Matlock: the original meaning of the name was ‘the oak (tree) where a moot was held.’ A moot was an assembly, which symbolises a spirit of community, discussion and coming together.
We sampled two of their beers; Matlock Best (4.3%) and a 5.3% IPA, Giddy Edge.
We then adjourned to two other local outlets: the Remarkable Hare and bod Matlock. The Hare had a good range of cask beers served in a smart front bar. The rear of the building includes a large eating area.
Across the road, bod, is a 2022 conversion of a former furniture shop which provides six cask ales: we went for the legendary Titanic Plum Porter (4.9%). In 2023, the pub was highly commended in the national CAMRA Pub Design Awards (Conversion to Pub Use category).
The return journey was punctuated by a stop in Chesterfield and visits to the Chesterfield Alehouse and the recently re-opened Grade II* listed Ye Royal Oak.
The latter is the oldest pub in Chesterfield. It includes an old sign for Sheffield Brewery, William Stones. This was uncovered in 2025, Stones having purchased the pub, from the Batteson family in 1897.
On return to Sheffield, the X17 passed the Rutland Arms: the provider of my last beer of a long, but enjoyable, day.
