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Having worked for the Youth Hostels Association for some 20-odd years, I've trundled up to headquarters at Matlock a fair few times for events and meetings.
I was often last to arrive due to the hourly Matlock train inevitably departing a minute before my late-running service pulled into Derby. Which is exactly what happened on this visit too.
Post 11am - that'll mean popping to the Victoria and Brunswick.
Of course, back in those working days I didn't have two pints waiting for the next train...you needed at least three to face meetings at HQ.
The trip up the Derwent Valley Line is a railway highlight: passing lovely scenery and stops like Whatstandwell and Cromford which bring back childhood holiday memories for me.
Thirty minutes past noon, I was in Matlock and heading straight to Bodl...
Bod (22 Dale Road, Matlock, DE4 3LT)
Top marks for Bod for actually being in the centre of town, rather than up on the Heights of Abraham or somewhere outlandish. I'd lost enthusiasm for the small Titanic chain after under-estimating the walk out to the Stafford Bod on a cold dark night a couple of years ago.
The Matlock branch is situating in a 1920's single-storey building which was originally built to house Boots the Chemist. The concept is multi-use café/bar, with the punters whilst I was visiting attracted more by toasted ciabatta and Americano than Plum Porter.
There were four cask ales on the bar on my visit, with a couple of unused pumps: 'Plum Porter', 'Captain Smiths', 'Steerage', or 'Iceberg'.
A 'Steerage' for me, the golden ale served on top form.
A trip upstairs to the WCs revealed something a little different to identify the male and female facilities...
It wasn't far from Bod to the next of Matlock's Good Beer Guide listed pubs.
Housed in a dramatic building resplendent with a spot of Mock-Tudor and a turret on the corner...
The Remarkable Hare (77 Dale Road, Matlock, DE4 3LT)
This was previously the Olde English Hotel, the current pub opening in 2016.
Stepping through the door the bar is to the left with a mix of high and low seating, a grand fireplace and enormous stack of logs.
To the right is a lounge with leather button-down bench seating and booths, whilst the back of the building houses a large dining area.
Four cask ales were on offer: two from Yorkshire: North Riding and Tim Taylor's; two local from Shiny and Butt Heads Brew Co.
The trip up the Derwent Valley Line is a railway highlight: passing lovely scenery and stops like Whatstandwell and Cromford which bring back childhood holiday memories for me.
Thirty minutes past noon, I was in Matlock and heading straight to Bodl...
Top marks for Bod for actually being in the centre of town, rather than up on the Heights of Abraham or somewhere outlandish. I'd lost enthusiasm for the small Titanic chain after under-estimating the walk out to the Stafford Bod on a cold dark night a couple of years ago.
The Matlock branch is situating in a 1920's single-storey building which was originally built to house Boots the Chemist. The concept is multi-use café/bar, with the punters whilst I was visiting attracted more by toasted ciabatta and Americano than Plum Porter.
A 'Steerage' for me, the golden ale served on top form.
A trip upstairs to the WCs revealed something a little different to identify the male and female facilities...
Housed in a dramatic building resplendent with a spot of Mock-Tudor and a turret on the corner...
This was previously the Olde English Hotel, the current pub opening in 2016.
Stepping through the door the bar is to the left with a mix of high and low seating, a grand fireplace and enormous stack of logs.
To the right is a lounge with leather button-down bench seating and booths, whilst the back of the building houses a large dining area.
Butt Heads, a Matlock nano-brewery run by a father and son is a new one on me. I ordered their 'Easy Riber' (ah, see what they've done there), with it's cartoon leather-clad bikers on the pump clip. The golden Amarillo and Citra hopped pale ale was a most enjoyable tipple.
There it is...in a wordy pint glass that actually belongs to another Derbyshire brewery...
I took this through to the lounge-like corner room where the sunshine was beaming in the windows. Because if I happened to get into an argument, I was probably better off getting into one with the handful of gentlefolk diners in the lounge than the blokes from the local boxing club by the bar.
Not that I do much to cause trouble, other than snapping random pictures of steampunk table lighting and a dartboard in a completely unusable place.
Finishing my pint at the Remarkable Hare, I spent some time walking up and down the valley towards Matlock Bath before returning and crossing the river to reach The Red Lion.
Traditional pub credentials spoilt by dull modern signage.
The Red Lion (65 Matlock Green, Matlock DE4 3BT)
Just to the south-east of the centre, past the park and football ground, there has been a pub on this spot since the 1700's.
It's obviously had quite a modern overhaul inside - a single open plan room with two distinct sides - functional and comfy enough.
This is the home of another Matlock brewery - Moot Ales - whose IPA, best bitter, mild and golden were all available.
Failing miserably to explore new beers, I skipped all of them (and the guest from Derby's Little Brewery) because I had eyes only for the Bass.
I'm missing a red triangle...
Farmacy (76 Smedley Street, Matlock, DE4 3JJ)
Prior to morphing into a micro, this old shop unit in a grand terrace was operating as a café. It became Stanley's Ale House in 2014, connected to the one-time Bumpmill Brewery. Since 2019 it has been run as the tap for local Aldwark Artisan Ales.
Time for something dark, I reckon...
Other options were the 'Bullet' pale ale, the 'Aldwark IPA', and 'Roan' session ale, plus keg beers and a shelf of takeaway bottles. At least it's an easy downhill walk back to town with your haul of bottled beer.
I didn't manage to get a decent picture of this small two-level bar, mainly due to the glare of the bright April sunshine gleaming through the large windows.
A decent number of customers in, considering the Monday afternoon timing of my visit.
Points deducted for 'Let the Fun Be Gin' sign and for Mumford and Sons on the playlist.
But it's a comfy, friendly place - somewhere else I could have happily settled and tried a few more beers if I wasn't always in such a hurry.
It was just a short hop and a few more strides uphill to reach my final Matlock pub on this visit.
And it's a good'un...
Thorn Tree Inn (48 Jackson Rd, Matlock, DE4 3JQ)
This is a charming stone-built 19th century pub with a trad layout consisting of entrance corridor with small rooms to either side.
A robust line-up of relatively well-known cask on the bar...
Whilst I'd usually stay indoors to appreciate charming no-nonsense pub surroundings, the lure of a bench in the sunshine with this view was irresistible...
Of the five places visited on this day, only this and the Red Lion would have been operating when I used to visit Matlock for work. I recall the accounts office staff taking me to another pub up the hill, The Sycamore. Then finding my own way frequently to the Railway (now gone), and the Wetherspoon's (now gone, the site turned into a smart Ostello Lounge bar).
There are a fair few pubs and breweries within easy reach of Matlock - plenty to necessitate a revisit.
But for the meantime, I finished my Bass and rolled down the hill, leaving it a little too close to comfort to catch the return train to Derby.
Not that I do much to cause trouble, other than snapping random pictures of steampunk table lighting and a dartboard in a completely unusable place.
Traditional pub credentials spoilt by dull modern signage.
Just to the south-east of the centre, past the park and football ground, there has been a pub on this spot since the 1700's.
It's obviously had quite a modern overhaul inside - a single open plan room with two distinct sides - functional and comfy enough.
Failing miserably to explore new beers, I skipped all of them (and the guest from Derby's Little Brewery) because I had eyes only for the Bass.
I'm missing a red triangle...
Incidentally, I sat in the White Horse in Oxford a couple of days ago watching a succession of youngsters ordering Bass. Is it trendy now? Is someone going to start campaigning for the disappearing Pedigree instead and make a list of everywhere it's sighted?
The Red Lion had a nice buzz about it for a Monday afternoon and I suspect the atmosphere would be cracking on a busy evening.
Moving on, I trekked up Lime Tree Road, pausing at my turn-off to look back across the valley at Riber castle and reflect that Matlock does have some very steep hills. Along Smedley Street East I passed the Newsroom micro (closed on Monday) and strode onward to the Farmacy.
The Red Lion had a nice buzz about it for a Monday afternoon and I suspect the atmosphere would be cracking on a busy evening.
Moving on, I trekked up Lime Tree Road, pausing at my turn-off to look back across the valley at Riber castle and reflect that Matlock does have some very steep hills. Along Smedley Street East I passed the Newsroom micro (closed on Monday) and strode onward to the Farmacy.
Prior to morphing into a micro, this old shop unit in a grand terrace was operating as a café. It became Stanley's Ale House in 2014, connected to the one-time Bumpmill Brewery. Since 2019 it has been run as the tap for local Aldwark Artisan Ales.
Time for something dark, I reckon...
I didn't manage to get a decent picture of this small two-level bar, mainly due to the glare of the bright April sunshine gleaming through the large windows.
Points deducted for 'Let the Fun Be Gin' sign and for Mumford and Sons on the playlist.
But it's a comfy, friendly place - somewhere else I could have happily settled and tried a few more beers if I wasn't always in such a hurry.
It was just a short hop and a few more strides uphill to reach my final Matlock pub on this visit.
And it's a good'un...
This is a charming stone-built 19th century pub with a trad layout consisting of entrance corridor with small rooms to either side.
A robust line-up of relatively well-known cask on the bar...
Pint of Bass, please.
Taken straight outside onto the patio raised above the quite lane.
Taken straight outside onto the patio raised above the quite lane.
There are a fair few pubs and breweries within easy reach of Matlock - plenty to necessitate a revisit.
But for the meantime, I finished my Bass and rolled down the hill, leaving it a little too close to comfort to catch the return train to Derby.
I had overnight lodgings booked in Derby, from where the next day was to take me off to Tutbury, which is what I'll waffle about in the next post.
