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Exploring Pubs in Heanor, Ilkeston, Loscoe, and Langley Mill
A day spent visiting various pubs in Ilkeston, Heanor, Loscoe and Langley Mill starting at The Burnt Pig, a popular micropub. I explore several other venues, including The Crafty One, Stanton Cask, Beestonia Brewing Company, and Marlpool Ale House, highlighting their distinctive atmospheres, local cask beers, and warm welcomes. Each pub features a selection of cask artisans, unique brews, and cosy environments. The tour includes newer establishments like The Crafty Tap and Dead Man’s Tankard, alongside those with historical significance. Conclusively, it reflects a vibrant beer culture in the area with friendly community vibes.
The Burnt Pig
After hopping off the train at Ilkeston Railway Station (where trains from Leeds to Nottingham make a stop), it’s about a 25-minute walk uphill to reach the town centre. My first stop of the day is The Burnt Pig. This place opened its doors in May 2015, but it’s now under new management. It’s a super popular micropub that kicks off at 11am on Saturdays, making it a perfect starting point. The pub is spread across three rooms, with a cosy log burner in the middle one.
Every time I’ve been here, I’ve received a warm welcome that makes you feel right at home. A great cosy environment and nice to warm up from the cool weather this morning.
They’ve got an awesome selection of beers on tap, including six cask options and a variety of keg beers. Plus, there’s a big choice of ciders. Don’t forget to check out the fridge stocked with local goodies like cheese, pork pies, and sausage rolls. There’s plenty to pick from! Today, I picked two beers to enjoy: first up was “Burton Ale,” a cool collab between Thornbridge Brewery and The Kernel Brewery, crafted with the Burton Union method. Then I moved on to “Ecky Hopped” from Drone Valley Brewery, which is a tasty Best Bitter made with fresh Fuggle hops from Eckington.
The Crafty One
Just a short stroll around the corner takes me to my next stop, The Crafty One. This place opened its doors in December 2016, taking over an old shop and turning it into a super modern craft beer bar. As soon as you walk in, the minimalist vibe with high-top tables and cosy seating makes it feel really welcoming. The layout is perfect for mingling with other patrons while still keeping things intimate for enjoying your drinks.
The bar has an awesome selection of kegs, plus two cask beers and a bunch of other choices, including a big variety of cans that you can either sip on there or take home. They feature several local brewers, which is a great way to support the community. I decided to grab a tasty sour called “Grape Expectations” from local brewery Bang The Elephant. It’s a fruity and delicious sour that really hits the spot.
Stanton Cask
Strolling down the High Street to the far end of Ilkeston, I find myself at The Stanton Cask, my third call today. This spot used to be The Ilson Tap but reopened in June 2023 after a little break. The building has quite the history, originally part of a row of cottages before it turned into a grocery store and then a beer house back in the 1840s. This change was pretty common back then, as many homes were converted into pubs to meet the growing thirst for drinking spots.
The name “Stanton Cask” pays homage to Stanton Ironworks, where the modern ironworking scene kicked off in 1846 when Benjamin Smith and his son Josiah set up three blast furnaces by the Nutbrook Canal. This was the start of what would grow into one of the biggest iron manufacturing businesses around, known for making iron and steel products like pipes and construction components. They also had a cool offshoot called “Stanton Cask”, which focused on crafting metal casks and containers.
Inside, the vibe is super warm and inviting, decked out in lovely autumn hues and featuring some great old photos of the Ironworks. The bar boasts a selection of four cask beers, all sourced from local breweries. I checked out another local brewery, Urban Chicken, and tried their “My Head is a Jungle.” It’s an awesome Chocolate Milk Stout packed with incredible flavours.
Beestonia Brewing Company
I made an extra stop on my route today, taking a taxi down to the Hallam Fields area in Ilkeston. My destination was Beestonia Brewing Company, which is just a short stroll from Hallam Fields Lock on the Erewash Canal and close to Trowell Marsh Nature Reserve. This brewery tap just opened in May 2024, so it’s still fresh on the scene.
Inside, there’s a cosy seating area surrounded by the brewing equipment, which really enhances the brewery vibe. I got a warm welcome from Dave, the owner, and we had a great chat. The bar offers 5 cask ales—3 brewed in-house and 2 from guest breweries—plus a selection of keg beers. I tried out a couple of their cask beers. First up was “Pale Rider,” which is a smooth and tasty pale ale. Then I had the “APA,” which had a beautiful golden hue and some awesome hoppy notes.
Marlpool Brewing Company / Marlpool Ale House
I’m back on my planned route to Marlpool Ale House, the home of The Marlpool Brewing Co. It’s one of those cosy, welcoming spots where you can easily strike up a conversation with both friends and new faces. You really get the vibe that you’ve been a regular for ages. In fact, they remembered us from our visit nearly a year ago!
This place opened its doors in September 2010 and is known as the fourth micropub in the UK and the first one in Derbyshire. It’s set in an old butcher’s shop on a quiet street, which gives it a unique character. The bar counter is pretty special too; it was salvaged from a former Methodist chapel. The walls and shelves are filled with all sorts of brewing and beer memorabilia. Inside, there are several cosy rooms that lead out to a small beer garden in the back.
Marlpool Ale House also has its own brewery right behind it, which used to be a slaughterhouse for the butchers. The brewing gear was sourced from Funfair Brewing Co, and they brewed their first batch in June 2010. Their beers are known for their quirky names like “Scratty Ratty” and “Otters Pocket,” which have really caught on with the locals. Today, they had 6 cask beers on tap—4 of their own and 2 from other breweries. I tried the “Harveys Pale,” which is a really tasty golden pale ale, and the “Otters Pocket,” a super light and refreshing amber ale that’s easy to drink.
The Crafty Tap
Just a quick stroll or a short bus ride into Heanor, and my first stop is The Crafty Tap. This place just opened in August 2023, taking over an old shop space and looking out over Heanor Market Place. The pub’s interior has a sleek, modern vibe that makes it super inviting for folks to kick back and enjoy their drinks. There’s a big long table right in the middle that’s perfect for mingling and really adds to the pub’s friendly atmosphere.
They’ve also added a beer garden since my last visit, which looks fantastic and gives plenty of extra room for those sunny days. The welcome here is always warm and friendly.
As for drinks, they’ve got an awesome selection, including one cask ale, six keg beers, and a wide variety of ciders. There’s something for everyone, plus they offer a bunch of cans for you to enjoy on-site or take away. I decided to try “Pixel Juice” from Twisted Barrel Brewery, which is located in Coventry. It’s a smooth, flavourful, and refreshing pale ale.
The Angry Bee
A quick stroll around the corner takes me to my next stop in Heanor, The Angry Bee. This place opened its doors in August 2016, making it the second pub to launch that year, with the Redemption Ale House being the first. As soon as you walk in, you’re welcomed by a warm and inviting vibe that mixes modern style with a touch of nostalgia.
The interior features ‘brick’ wallpaper, a mix of quirky ornaments, an old street sign, and some cool contemporary murals, all coming together to give the place its own unique charm. There’s also outdoor seating out front for those nice days, although today’s a bit chilly for that. Inside, the back area feels like a cosy living room, complete with leather chairs, vintage clocks, lamps, and wallpaper that looks like a bookcase.
Today, the bar’s got four cask ales on tap, and I went for one from the local Leadmill Brewery in Heanor. It’s called “Slumdog,” and it’s a tasty strong pale ale packed with awesome flavours.
Redemption Ale House
The next stop was The Redemption Ale House, a cosy micropub that opened its doors in 2016, making it one of the first two to launch that year. The owners really nailed the vibe, creating a welcoming space that encourages people to mingle. Housed in a two-story building that used to be a butcher’s shop, the pub has a ground floor that can fit a good number of patrons, featuring tiled floors and wood panelling that give it a warm feel. The upper level offers a smaller area for a more intimate setting.
I loved checking out the temperature-controlled cool room behind the bar; it really adds to the pub’s charm. They have a great selection of 8 cask ales along with an impressive variety of keg beers and ciders. I decided to try “Cloud Chains” from Pentrich Brewing Co., a fantastic hazy and super juicy pale ale hopped with Simcoe and Idaho 7. It was absolutely delicious!
Hop Wright Inn
I headed over to my next stop in Heanor, the Hop Wright Inn . It used to be called The Crooked Cask until it got a new owner and name in early 2023. This place first opened its doors in December 2018 and has had a few different uses over the years, including being a Building Society, which is why there’s a safe right across from the bar. It’s such a bright and welcoming pub with a really warm vibe. Besides the main bar area, there’s another room in the back and a lovely beer garden out back, complete with a log burner that makes it super cosy.
Today, they’ve got an awesome selection of 6 cask ales on tap, featuring a variety from 5 different breweries and a mix of styles. I went with “Bad Boy” from Leatherbritches Brewery for my beer today. It’s a tasty brown ale that’s sweet and hoppy, loaded with flavour.
Dead Man’s Tankard
My last stop in Heanor was at Dead Man’s Tankard. It opened towards the end of 2023 and is situated in a Victorian Terrace, having been transformed from a small antiques shop called Vintiqables. The vibe here is super warm and inviting, making it a really cosy spot. Michael aimed to create a “home away from home” for both locals and visitors, and I think he’s nailed it.
The bar has an awesome selection of ales, featuring four hand-pulled cask options from various breweries. I even ran into two of my followers Wayne and Emma while I was there, and I snapped a photo with Michael! I went with “Solar Flare” from Tindall Brewery in Norfolk. It’s a tasty hoppy pale ale packed with Citra and Olicana hops.
The Tip Inn
Just a quick bus ride on the H1 from Heanor Market Place to Grandfield Street, then a short stroll to my next stop in Loscoe, The Tip Inn. This place was taken over by Alter Ego Brewing Co back in January 2020. It’s a spacious micropub with two rooms and a nice beer garden out back. The vibe here is super friendly, and it seems to be a local favourite. There’s also a cosy seating area right at the front.
They’ve got a solid selection of 5 cask ales and 6 keg beers, so you won’t run out of options. Plus, there are fridges stocked with cans and bottles for you to enjoy on-site or take away. Plenty to choose from! I tried the “Blonde Protagonist” from Alter Ego Brewing Co. It’s a super tasty and hoppy blonde ale made with Cascade hops.
If you’ve got some time and it’s open, swing by Mrs Sea’s – Fish and Chip Shop across the street. The food is absolutely delicious, freshly cooked, and totally worth it!
The Bunny Hop Ale House
I hopped back on the bus, heading to my last stop of the day in Langley Mill. I took the Rainbow 1 all the way there. The Bunny Hop Ale House is the place to be! It first opened in July 2016 but closed in October, only to reopen in November 2023 with the same owners. The bar has a cosy vibe reminiscent of the 1940s and 1950s, complete with an upstairs area and a beer garden out back.
Today, they had a solid selection of four cask beers on tap, plus a bunch of ciders and keg options. It’s just a quick walk from Langley Mill Railway Station, making it super convenient to pop in before catching a train. I went with a beer from Blue Monkey Brewery in Nottingham. It’s called “BG Sips,” and it’s an awesome pale ale that’s super hoppy, packed with amazing tropical fruit scents.
Micropub Adventures 