04/11/23 – Ilkeston, Heanor, Ripley and Langley Mill

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Another day out with a Northern £10 Newspaper offer ticket. Started at Ilkeston visiting The Burnt Pig, Gladstonian, Craft One and Stanton Cask, before heading up to the Marlpool Ale House from Mar;pool Brewery, up to Heanor for Crafty Tap, Angry Bee, Redemption Ale House and Hop Wright Inn. The bus up again to The Tip Inn at Loscoe and Tom Said and Ripley’s Little Alehouse in Ripley. Final call of the day was to the reopening of The Bunny Hop in Langley Mill.

The Burnt Pig

After getting off the train at Ilkeston Railway Station (trains from Leeds to Nottingham stop here), a steady 25 minutes walk up to the top of town (this is slightly uphill). “The Burnt Pig” is my first calling point of the day. This opened in May 2015 but is under different ownership to when it opened. A very popular micropub which opens at 11am on a Saturday so a great place to start. Split over 3 rooms with a log burner in the middle room aswell.

A great range of beers on the bar, both cask and keg. I started with “Piggy in the Meadow” from Kettering based Potbelly Brewery. A tasty pale ale made with Meadows Honey. I went onto “Sidekick” from Alfreton based Alter Ego Brewing Co. A great session IPA, really easy drinking and hoppy.

A fridge packed full of cheese, pork pies, sausage rolls and more made locally can be found here aswell. Lots to choose from.

Gladstonian

A short walk around the corner brings me to “Gladstonian”, a small Microbar which has been open a number of years. This used to be a bridal shop and has been taken back to brick and is really nicely done out inside. A really warm welcome from the couple running the bar.

A choice of 2 real ales and a cider on hand pulls. Went with a very local beer from RDM Brewing Co based in Ilkeston and was started in 2022. “Citra Pale Ale”, a really light easy drinking pale ale. Nice to see a beer really local.

The Crafty One

Over the road and a slight walk back on myself brings me to my third call in Ilkeston to “The Crafty One”, a craft bar which serves both cask and keg beers, alongside a large can and bottle selection. This opened in December 2016. A great looking bar with an industrial feel inside., and the shop shelving made from scaffolding poles.

A great selection of 8 keg beers, alongside 2 cask ales and a number of ciders. I went with a local beer on keg, “Sweet and Sour Chicken”, a sour beer from Ilkeston based Urban Chicken Ale and Langley Mill based Bang the Elephant Brewing Co. A lovely refreshing and tart pineapple sour.

Let It Be-Gin

A walk down to the opposite end of town next, if youre into Gins and other spirits youll pass “Let It Be-Gin”, a great independent shop selling a variety of gin, rum and other spirits. Really worth dropping into.

Stanton Cask

Further down the road at the end of the main high street is my next calling point of the day “Stanton Cask”. This was formerly known as the Ilson Tap, and reopened in June 2023 as “Stanton Cask”. Housed in a great Victorian building on a corner. Really stands out and looked to be very popular inside.

A selection of 4 cask beers on the bar, 3 being local breweries with 1 from further afield. I went with “Campbell’s” from local Ilkeston based Red Dog Ales. A delicious Red Ale, a style you dont see around too often so always try to go for one when I see one.

Marpool Ale House

A short jump on bus 33 or 34 from over the other side of the roundabout takes me up to my next calling point “Marlpool Ale House”. Somewhere that could well be described as a cosy and friendly bar where you can chat to both friends and strangers”. This certainly rings true with this place. You get the feeling that youve been a regular for years.

This is one of the smallest pubs in Derbyshire and was formerly a butchers shop. The brewery “Marlpool Brewing Co” is based outside at the rear of the pub. The bar is an old Methodist Chapel pulpit which looks really fantastic in the small pub, alongside shelves packed full of brewing and beer memorabilia.

A choice of 6 cask ales on the bar today, with 2 of them being from the on site brewery. Had to go with one of their own beers – “Scratty Ratty”, a really easy drinking and session pale ale, packed full of flavour. A really nice pint.

The Crafty Tap

Back on the bus again with either 33 or 34 heading towards Heanor, only a very short journey getting off at the Market Place. My first call is to “The Crafty Tap”, a recent addition to Heanor’s beer scene having only opened in August this year, in a former shop unit.

A great modern and minimal feel pub with a long table through the middle of the pub, wall seating and some comfy chairs next to the window. Great talking to a couple of the regulars in here aswell.

A brilliant selection of beers available here, 2 cask ales alongside 6 keg beers and large selection of ciders. Having not had a cask ale from Nottingham based Neon Raptor Brewing Co before, I went with this. “Forecast”, a lovely citrus American Pale Ale.

The Angry Bee

A short walk around the corner brings me to my next call in Heanor “The Angry Bee”. This opened in August 2016 and has two rooms which are connected by a connecting passage. Seating outside here at the front aswell (for the better weather rather than the drizzle today). A really cosy look inside with comfy seats and wooden tables.

A selection of 4 cask ales on the bar here today including two of the beers from Heanor based Leadmill Brewery. I went with one of their beers “Blue Morpho”, a delicious pale ale with a tropical hint.

The Redemption Alehouse

Another walk around the corner brings me to “The Redemption Alehouse”. A popular micropub set over 2 floors. A very bustling pub when I walked in. Great to see the temperature controlled cool room behind the bar, really adds to the feel of the pub. A really cosy feel to this place.

A great choice of 8 cask ales ranging in styles so something for everyone, alongside a selection of keg beers. I went with another beer from local Heanor based Leadmill Brewery. “American Girl”, a strong IPA at 5.6%, packed full of flavour.

Hop Wright Inn

Over the road for my last call in Heanor, which is to “Hop Wright Inn”. This was formerly known as The Crooked Cask but changed ownership and name in early 2023. It has seen several former uses including being a Building Society which explains the safe that is opposite the bar. A really bright and friendly pub.

Aswell as another room behind the main bar room, it also has a great beer garden to the rear of the pub which has a log burner installed.

A selection of 4 cask ales on the bar today. My choice was “Parish Special Bitter” from The Parish Brewery, which are based in a 400 year old converted stable block in Burrough on the Hill in rural East Leicestershire. A really delicious traditional bitter.

The Tip Inn

A short ride on the H1 bus from Heanor Market Place to Grandfield Street, and a very short walk to my next calling point in Loscoe, “The Tip Inn”. It was taken over in January 2020 by Alter Ego Brewery. A large micropub with two rooms, alongside a beer garden at the rear. Really warm welcome in here and looked a popular pub. A lovely seating area outside at the front of the pub aswell.

A selection of 5 cask ales and 6 keg beers to choose from so lots of choice, aswell as fridges to the side of the pub with cans and bottles to drink in or takeaway. Went with a beer from Alfreton based Alter Ego Brewery. “Mr Brown”, a great tasting traditional English Bitter.

Tom Said

Jumped on the Rainbow 1 bus from over the road from The TIp Inn to take me into nearby Ripley. My first call of two here was to “Tom Said”, located in the former Ripley Dry Cleaners shop. A really popular venue housed in one main room. Love the cricket bats on the front of the bar aswell.

A range of both cask and keg beers, with choices of cans and bottles also. 5 keg and 2 cask beers on today. I went with a sour beer from Sunderland based Vaux Brewery. “Raspberry Bramble”, a tart and fruity smoothie sour, packed full of flavour and very refreshing.

Ripley’s Little Alehouse

Located a short walk away is “Ripley’s Little Alehouse” formerly known as the Bear and Monkey. A industrial themed quirky micropub, with some comfy seating around the small pub.

3 real ales on the bar today, 2 being from Sheffield based Little Critters brewery and the third from Derby Brewing Company. I went with “Blood Moon” from Derby Brewing Company, a New Zealand hopped Red Ale, really tasty with lots of flavour. Love this style of beer!

The Bunny Hop

Back on the bus again, this time onto my final calling point of the day in Langley Mill. I got the Rainbow 1 bus all the way through. “The Bunny Hop”. This originally opened in July 2016 but had recently closed in October and was its reopening night tonight under original ownership. A very busy opening night at that. A very welcoming bar in a 1940s/1950s style with an upstairs and a beer garden to the rear.

3 cask beers on the bar today, one from Nottingham based Castle Rock Brewery and the other 2 being from Fuggle Bunny Brewery who are based in Sheffield. I went with “Chapter 1 – New Beginnings” from Fuggle Bunny Brewery. A light and tasty amber bitter.

I visited Langley Mill back in October and The Railway Tavern is around the corner. If you are starting here check out this blog. CLICK HERE