Derby Pub of the Year 2023

Overall Winner: Falstaff

City Finalists: Furnace Inn and Smithfield.

Country Winner: Spirit Vaults in Melbourne
Country Finalists: Spread Eagle in Etwall and Royal Oak in Ockbrook.

Derby Pub of the Year 2022

Overall Winner: Smithfield
City Finalists: Alexandra Hotel and Furnace Inn

Country Winner:Royal Oak in Ockbrook
Country Finalists: Spirit Vaults in Melbourne and Town Street Tap in Duffield.

Derby Pub of the Year 2021

Overall Winner: Smithfield
City Finalists: Brunswick Inn and Furnace Inn

Country Winner:Royal Oak in Ockbrook
Country Finalists: Spread Eagle in Etwall and Town Street Tap in Duffield.

Derby Pub of the Year 2020

Overall Winner: Smithfield

City Winner: Smithfield
City Finalists: Brunswick Inn and Falstaff

Country Winner:Royal Oak, Ockbrook
Country Finalists: Chip & Pin, Melbourne and Town Street Tap, Duffield.

Club of the Year 2020

Winner:Victory Club, Allenton
Finalists: Allestree Club, Allestree and Jubilee Club, Chaddesden.

East Midlands Pub of the Year 2019

2019 is a special year for Derby, with one of our pubs now through to the last 16 in this competition.

Smithfield, Meadow Road, Derby.

South Derbyshire Pub of the Year 2019

Smithfield, Meadow Road, Derby.

Derby Pub of the Year 2019

Overall Winner: Smithfield

City Winner: Smithfield
City Finalists: Alexandra Hotel and Furnace Inn

Country Winner:Chip & Pin, Melbourne
Country Finalists: Royal Oak, Ockbrook and Town Street Tap, Duffield.

Derby Pub of the Year 2018

Overall Winner: Smithfield

City Winner: Smithfield
City Finalists: Alexandra Hotel and Rowditch

Country Winner: Town Street Tap, Duffield
Country Finalists: Royal Oak, Ockbrook and Cip & Pin, Melbourne

Derby Pub of the Year 2017

Overall Winner: Brunswick Inn

City Winner: Brunswick Inn
City Finalists: Falstaff and Alexandra Hotel

Country Winner: Royal Oak, Ockbrook
Country Finalists: Town Street Tap, Duffield and Cip & Pin, Melbourne

Derby Pub of the Year 2016

The Derby Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has selected its Pubs of the Year for 2016.

The City Pub of the Year is the Brunswick Inn on Railway Terrace with the finalists being the Alexandra Hotel, the Furnace, the Old Bell and the Golden Eagle.

The Country Pub of the Year is the Royal Oak in Ockbrook with the finalists being the Chip & Pin in Melbourne and the Boot in Repton.

The Brunswick Inn, an Everards Project William pub, has shown a persistent growth under the stewardship of Alan and Phillippe, both CAMRA members. This is reflected in not only its return into the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, but now winning the Derby CAMRA City Pub of the Year. The pub has continued to feature Brunswick beers brewed on site by James, but has successfully complemented this with an ever changing array of guest ales from, sometimes, obscure parts of the country to give a staggering total of 16 real ales. If that is not enough, there are also 16 ciders on offer.

The competition as always was keenly fought with a shortlist of 5 pubs (Alexandra Hotel, Brunswick Inn, Furnace Inn, Old Bell and the Golden Eagle) being drawn up by votes from the entire Derby Branch Membership. A team of independent judges then visited each pub and marked the finalists over a 5 week period, visiting unannounced on different days of the week and at different times of the day. Each pub was judged in the following categories: - quality of the beer; atmosphere, style & decor of the pub; service and welcome; community focus; sympathy with CAMRA aims and whether it was a good value visit or not.

Derby CAMRA are proud to note that Derby is particularly gifted with many fine establishments that more than stand out in the judging categories making the competition particularly tough. The Brunswick Inn and Royal Oak are more than worthy winners where good beer and atmosphere are guaranteed.

Derby Pub of the Year 2015

The Derby Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has selected its Pubs of the Year for 2015.

The City Pub of the Year is the Alexandra Hotel on Siddals Road with the runner-up being Furnace Inn on Duke Street in Derby.

The Country Pub of the Year is the Royal Oak in Ockbrook with the runner-up being the Royal Oak in Wirksworth.

It is the first time the Alexandra Hotel has won it under licensees, Anna & Ralf Edge (pictured receiving their awards) while the Royal Oak has been a previous winner.  
The competition as always was keenly fought with a shortlist of 7 pubs (Alexandra Hotel, Brunswick Inn, Furnace Inn and the Golden Eagle in Derby and the Cross Keys in Ockbrook, Royal Oak in Ockbrook and Royal Oak in Wirksworth) being drawn up by votes from the entire Derby Branch Membership. A team of 17 independent judges then visited each pub and marked the finalists over a 5 week period, visiting unannounced on different days of the week and at different times of the day. Each pub was judged in the following categories: - quality of the beer; atmosphere, style & decor of the pub; service and welcome; community focus; sympathy with CAMRA aims and whether it was a good value visit or not.
Derby CAMRA Chairman, Gareth Stead said, "That the competition had been particularly tough this year as all the pubs were very good but both the Alexandra Hotel and Royal Oak are more than worthy winners where good beer and atmosphere are guaranteed."
He continued, "The Alex was the original birthplace of Derby CAMRA and its transformation in recent years back to great real ale local has been nothing short of remarkable and credit must be given to licensees, Anna & Ralf Edge for the tremendous amount of work they have put in to achieving this."
He also added that, "The Royal Oak in Ockbrook is simply a great village local right at the heart of community life which has been in the Good Beer Guide for 39 years due to the quality of its ales."
The Alexandra Hotel has also been crowned Derby CAMRA Pub of the Year 2015 by virtue of having the highest overall mark and it will now go forward into the Derbyshire Pub of the Year competition. Here it will compete with the winners of other local CAMRA Branches awards from Amber Valley, Ashbourne, Chesterfield, Erewash Valley, High Peak, Matlock & Dales, Mansfield, and Sheffield.

Derby Pub of the Year 2014

The Derby Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has selected its Pubs of the Year for 2014.

The City Pub of the Year is the Furnace Inn on Duke Street in Derby with the runner-up being the Little Chester Ale House on Chester Green.

The Country Pub of the Year is the Pattenmakers Arms in Duffield with the runner-up being the Royal Oak in Ockbrook.

After finishing runners-up in 2013 both the Furnace Inn and the Pattenmakers Arms have gone one step further this year to take the top awards for the first time. Both will be presented with certificates at special presentation socials during March.
The competition as always was keenly fought with a shortlist of 7 pubs (Bell & Castle, Furnace Inn and Little Chester Ale House in Derby and the Pattenmakers Arms in Duffield, Queens Head in Little Eaton, Royal Oak in Ockbrook and Royal Oak in Wirksworth) being drawn up by votes from the entire Derby Branch Membership. A team of 16 independent judges then visited each pub and marked the finalists over a 7 week period, visiting unannounced on different days of the week and at different times of the day. Each pub was judged in the following categories: - quality of the beer; atmosphere, style & decor of the pub; service and welcome; community focus; sympathy with CAMRA aims and whether it was a good value visit or not.
Derby CAMRA Chairman, Gareth Stead said, "That the competition had been particularly tough this year as all the pubs were very good but both the Furnace Inn and Pattenmakers Arms are more than worthy winners where good beer and atmosphere are guaranteed."
He continued, "The transformation of the Furnace Inn over the last 2 years from back street local to real ale paradise has been nothing short of remarkable and credit must be given to owner, Pedro Menon and manager, Luke Elston for the tremendous amount of work they have put in to achieving this."
He also added that, "The Pattenmakers Arms in Duffield is simply a great village local right at the heart of community which has been in the Good Beer Guide for a number of years now due to the quality of its ales."

The Furnace Inn has also been crowned Derby CAMRA Pub of the Year 2014 by virtue of having the highest overall mark and it will now go forward into the Derbyshire Pub of the Year competition. Here it will compete with the winners of other local CAMRA Branches awards from Amber Valley, Ashbourne, Chesterfield, Erewash Valley, High Peak, Matlock & Dales, Mansfield, and Sheffield.

Derby Pub of the Year 2013

 The City Pub of the Year is the Exeter Arms on Exeter Place in Derby with the runner-up being the Furnace Inn on Duke Street.

The Country Pub of the Year is the Royal Oak in Ockbrook with the runner-up being the Pattenmakers Arms in Duffield. 

The Exeter Arms takes the City title for the first time while the Royal Oak wins the Country award for the third year running. Both were presented with their certificates at the Derby CAMRA Winter Beer Festival trade session in the Roundhouse. 

The competition as always was keenly fought with a shortlist of 7 pubs (Alexandra Hotel, Exeter Arms, Five Lamps, Furnace Inn, Pattenmakers in Duffield, Royal Oak in Ockbrook and Royal Oak in Wirksworth) being drawn up by votes from the entire Derby Branch Membership. A team of 17independent judges then visited each pub and marked the finalists over an 8 week period, visiting unannounced on different days of the week and at different times of the day. Each pub was judged in the following categories:

Quality of the beer; atmosphere, style & décor of the pub; service and welcome; community focus; sympathy with CAMRA aims and whether it was a good value visit or not. 
Derby CAMRA Chairman, Gareth Stead said, "That the competition had been particularly tough this year as all the pubs were very good but both the Exeter Arms and Royal Oak are more than worthy winners where good beer and atmosphere are guaranteed." He continued, "The transformation of the Exeter Arms over the last year or so has been nothing short of remarkable and credit must be given to Martin Roper & Denise Sage and Derby's Dancing Duck Brewery for bringing this amazing pub back to life again." He also added that, "The Royal Oak in Ockbrook is simply a great village local right at the heart of community life which has been in the Good Beer Guide for 37 years due to the quality of its ales." The Exeter Arms has also been crowned Derby CAMRA Pub of the Year 2013 by virtue of having the highest overall mark and it will now go forward into the Derbyshire Pub of the Year competition. Here it will compete with the winners of other local CAMRA Branches awards from Amber Valley, Ashbourne, Chesterfield, Erewash Valley, High Peak, Matlock & Dales, Mansfield, and Sheffield. 

Derby Pub of the Year 2012

Derby CAMRA has selected its Pubs of the Year for 2012.

The City Pub of the Year is the Five Lamps on Duffield Road in Derby with the runners-up being the Alexandra Hotel on Siddals Road and Rowditch Inn on Uttoxeter New Road.

The Country Pub of the Year is the Royal Oak in Ockbrook with the runners-up being the Royal Oak in Wirksworth and the Barley Mow in Kirk Ireton.

The Five Lamps has also been crowned Derby CAMRA Pub of the Year 2012 by virtue of having the highest overall mark and it will now go forward into the Derbyshire Pub of the Year competition. Here it will compete with the winners of other local CAMRA Branches awards from Amber Valley, Burton, Chesterfield, Erewash Valley, High Peak, Matlock & Dales, Mansfield, and Sheffield. The winner of the Derbyshire round will be announced in June after a similar judging process has taken place.

The Five Lamps takes the City title for the first time while the Royal Oak wins the Country award for the second year running. Both were presented with their certificates at special celebration evenings held at the pubs (see photos).

The competition as always was keenly fought with the shortlist of six pubs being drawn up by votes from the entire Derby Branch Membership. A team of over 15 independent judges then visited each pub and marked the finalists over a six week period, visiting unannounced on different days of the week and at different times of the day. Each pub was judged in the following categories: - quality of the beer; atmosphere, style & decor of the pub; service and welcome; clientele mix; sympathy with CAMRA aims and whether it was a good value visit or not.

Derby CAMRA Chairman, Gareth Stead said, "That the competition had been particularly tough this year as all the pubs were very good but both the Five Lamps and Royal Oak are more than worthy winners where good beer and atmosphere are guaranteed." He continued, "The transformation of the Five Lamps over the last two years has been nothing short of remarkable and credit must be given to Graham & Janette Browettand their staff for bringing this pub back to life again." He also added that, "The Royal Oak is simply an amazing village local right at the heart of community life which has been in the Good Beer Guide for 36 years due to the quality of its ales."

Derby Pub of the Year 2011

Overall Winner: Old Silk Mill

City Winner: Old Silk Mill, Full Street, Derby.
City Finalists: Babington Arms on Babington Lane and Horse & Groom on Elms Street.

Country Winner: Royal Oak, Ockbrook.
Country Finalists: Barley Mow in Kirk Ireton and the Old Talbot in Hilton.