please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Another tick from the 2018 Good Beer Guide. Old school feel inside but opens out to a courtyard with a stage. Live music on a Sunday afternoon for my visit, which was where all the punters were.
As seems to be the norm in Derby - many handpulls on. Unfortunately, I had the worse pint of the night in here - a lifeless Blue Monkey that died a headless death whilst enjoying the band.
Good pub though.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2w1lOlC
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Only 6 ales were available in the front bar. I'd forgotten that there were maybe other ales in different bars. But the selection was still good - Black Iris Stab In The Dark, Blue Monkey Guerrilla, XT1, Newark NPA & Sharps Doom Bar. Cider was Farmer Jims Copper Top and I believe they also had Westons Cider Twist Raspberry on. This was our last pub of the day and our comprehension of the real world was by this time somewhat lacking. Shortly after ordering, we realised we only had 25 minutes until our train and apparently it was a 30 minute walk to the station. Step forward yet another friendly Derby local, who organised us a cab for 7 people. I have to say that the vast majority of people we met in the city were very friendly, something that it always obvious throughout much of the country. Need to come back here one day to see if I can locate the other bars.
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I’ve been to this pub a few times now, but this description relates to my latest visit. I think one problem is that this place is too big for its own good. It looks quite small at the front, but as you go further and further back it gets bigger. There is also a cellar bar – which I haven’t managed to find yet ! Thus although there are quite a few people in the place, each individual part is often nearly empty.
Anyway, this is a drinkers pub – so lets start with the beer. There is an amazing range of 10 – 12 beers on tap, with a good range of types. Including their own Black Iris beers. Note that the full list is on the wall. The beers at the front are not the only ones, with more pumps round the corner, and yet others in the fabled Cellar Bar. In my latest visit I tried Hartshorn Shakademus and Black Iris Great Eastern Transatlantic Porter.
This is also a music venue. The adjoining stage (somewhere nearby !) sees bands playing 3 or 4 nights per week, plus free acoustic concerts on Sundays. A mixture of tribute acts, and groups you remember being much bigger in days of yore (e.g. China Crisis, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, Wishbone Ash). On my latest visit, the sound system was playing loud music featuring mainly heavy metal, but I don’t remember that on my previous visits.
The usual pubby type food is available. I had the scampi basket, which was very nice though the ratio between scampi and chips could have been better. They also do “Gurkha Curry nights” on Tuesdays – can’t wait to try those.
There are lots of old photos on the walls. The ones I recognised are of Derby, so I assume they all were. It would have been nice if they had some descriptions though. Also, photo of Derby School pupils in 1930, and Offilers brewery memorabilia.
7/10 - great pub, but lacking a little atmosphere.
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love this place , always friendly ,great beer and staff
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Back in Derby for the CAMRA winter beer fest and found this pub having a beer fest as well. What a great place. About 20 beers on, including a load of black beers for the fest. Live music also sometimes takes place including such great bands as Panic Room.
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Still one of the best pub experiences in Derby, now with its own brewery and as usual an excellent range of ales at reasonable prices. Nice to sit in the sun outside, as well, and the one way system to and from the toilets is a good idea.
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Immediately felt at home here and dived srtaight into the ale brewed on the premises, Black Iris Sunflower. There was plenty of excellent other choice from 8 hanpulled beers and 3 gravity dispensed. Didn't take long for the locals to start chatting and it was with regret the calling of the train home came.
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Still a fine pub, that is one of Derby's best. Whim Hartington IPA was excellent, and a wide selction of guests including Hobgoblin and Burton Bridge Top Cat stout.
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I think the Flowerpot has had a welcome lick of paint and something of a refurb since my last visit. A quiet atmosphere during the post New Year/Xmas slum won't give the true picture of what is regularly found here, however the ale was on form (we all enjoyed the light hoppy Jarl) and there was a feeling of convivial relaxation. Generally very pleasant and looking forward to revisting.
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A decent pub with a good range on, Abbeydale Chocs Away being my choice and it was in good form. Quite a bit pub, so on a quiet day easy to find somewhere to sit yourself away. There is a rack of casks in the side room that is apparently brought into use at busy times and there is a music venue at the side/rear. Well worth a visit.
PhilR - 15 Dec 2011 18:25 |
A good pub that could be better. Went in at 7pm on a saturday night and in the front bar only five of the 7/8/9ish (not sure - I didn't count) handpumps were on. Now in my local they make damned sure that all of the handpumps (15 of them too!) are on - especially on a saturday night to give customers maximum choice. By 8pm there were only three pumps and we left and went elsewhere for some choice.
That said, the real cider that my wife had was good though and I thoroughly enjoyed my three pints - a porter whose name escapes me now and two Thornbridge Kipling pale ales.
One complaint that my wife had was that were far too many lechy old men around the bar offering advice about beer/cider because she was a woman - she's from the south-west and knows more than enough about apple-based alcoholic drinks I can assure you. Her advice to any of those guys who might look on here is as follows: keep your f**king noses out and look into a woman's eyes when you talk to her and not at her chest.
Anyway, will check in again the next time we're in town.
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Good real ale pub with as good a selection as you'll find anywhere in Derby, although some of the prices can be a bit steep. They also serve very good food (try the sandwich platters) and play host to some very good bands most evenings. What more do you want?
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When in Derby I always make time for a beer or two at this marvellous , slightly out of town pub. The interior is clean and spacious and the bar is crammed with handpumps serving mostly small, local breweries products, The beer produced in-house is simply gorgeous; it would be hard to find better even in somewhere so endowed with boozers as Derby. I recommend the Headless KSA. Light and golden with a wonderful hoppy flavour, love at first swig! The staff are both courteous and friendly and I really cannot recommend the place highly enough. However,if you find it not to your liking, you can always pop down the road to the Australian bar for some tasteless fizz.
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Weird place, sometimes fab, sometimes bloody awful. The beer is usually good in every way, only very rarely does it seem to be less than great. The staff are the other way round however. Only very rarely are they civilised. Pity, because I really like the range of ales.
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Fifth port of call on a recent scooping trip to Derby, and the quietest of the pubs visited on the day.
Fewer ales than usual on offer (only 15) and apart from ourselves there were only the barmaid and two regulars in the place.
Of the fifteen beers available only three were new to us, so we sampled these and moved on fairly swiftly.
On the plus side, the obnoxious staff member I've previously taken issue with was not working on the day and the lass behind the bar was perfectly friendly - a welcome change!
Sadly once again the beer failed to inspire, being rather tired and flat.
A better visit than previous occasions, but I've yet to join the "Pot Can Do No Wrong" crowd I'm afraid - though I'll persevere and hope to be swayed!
Sampled the following:
Whim - Magic Mushroon Mild, 3.8%
Leatherbritches - Rapscallion, 4.4%
Headless - 5 Gates, 5.0%
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Kicked off my pub crawl around Derby here yesterday and what a delight. It's quite a long walk from the train station so we took a taxi, only cost a diver. The place is absolutely massive, one of the biggest pubs I have visited, with several rooms and 2 bars. The main bar consisted of perhaps 12 handpumps, with all sorts of offerings from various breweries and microbreweries. I enjoyed pints of Parson's Nose and First Bloom before sampling one of the beers from the cellar bar, with a further 8 ales available - I plumped for the Bishops Farewell, a favourite beer of mine, and I wasn't disappointed - all of the beers were in excellent condition, and the barman was very friendly. The prices were a little steep which surprised me, pushing �3 for a pint. An excellent pub, I can heartily reccomend a visit - plan to stay for a couple of hours though, its worth it!
Sharp - 13 Mar 2010 11:54 |
Never had a bad night here yet. No problems with the staff or the beer and the live bands have never dissappointed. Any chance you people can open a place like this in Burton? Please!! Only problem is the insistant talkers when the groups are on - I'm begining to suspect they are now going in to do it deliberately, and it's a nightmare getting transport back to dear old Burton on a week night - but thats hardly your fault.
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Never had a problem with ale quality here, and although it may be because I visit lunchtimes when it is not too busy, I have not had problems with staff either. Choice of guest ales reduced now they have their own brewery, but still enjoyed their Headless Over and Stout and Headless Zymosis when I called last month.
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Disagree with the negative comment by AllHailtheAle, I'm not a regular as such but always feel welcome and fully enjoy every beer I try. The place is cosy and nicely busy during evenings but big enough to still find a seat.
You can't go wrong with the 'Pot.
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lovely old boozer with good beer and cider on and some excellent turns on at the pub...reminded me so much of the witchwood at ashton under lyne
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see snakeskin on youtube (bassmanphil3)
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Lots of old guys with long, grey hair frequent this place. Seems to have a lot of ales on offer. A regulars pub. Don't dare order a pint of lager at the bar or the regulars will take the p155 out of you....mind you with haircuts like those who are they to talk. Lol.
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There is certainly no denying the potential of this pub, but the sad fact is that the place suffers from a number of detracting factors.
First there is the issue of the bar staff - and what an issue it is.
The right employees can really make a pub special; people who know how to give friendly, professional service and how to make their guests feel special.
Get the wrong people in to do the job though and the results can be disastrous. The 'Pot is a case in point.
I've visited on a number of occasions, and to date have yet to experience one enjoyable session. The service is consistently surly and abrupt to the point of rudeness, with any enquiry regarding a particular beer or product met with disdain, disinterest or simple ignorance.
I have however noted that this is not true for the regulars, all of whom are greeted with smiles and courteous service - no doubt as they are a source of steady tips to the female staff.
Aside from the staff problems there's also the (not so) small matter of the beer.
Yes, there's a hell of a lot to choose from either on tap or stillage, but therein lies the problem - too many beers on the go at a time. They can't turn them around quickly enough and, as a result, the condition suffers; the beers are usually utterly flat and lifless, and often have turned distinctly vinegary.
It's a real shame to see what should be a stunning example of a pub being let down by such major issues, but such alas is the way of things.
Don't believe the hype.
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This pub cannot be missed by any real ale lover visiting Derby. There is not just the beer available on the handpulls, but the beer list on the bar also shows beers available from the cellar giving plenty to choose from. Being a brewpub is another reason to go as their Headless beers are great too, as is the food. Cannot be faulted. Go round the corner of the bar into the other part of the room and you can see the casks all stillaged up. Great.
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The Flowerpot is Derby CAMRA's pub of the year for 2007 and is situated on the edge of a busy road junction in the City Centre.
The deceptively small frontage belies a much expanded interior inside.
The pub is the home of the Headless Brewery and rows of beer casks can be viewed through an unusual glass screen in a bar at the back.
Immediately on the right as you enter the pub is an area that looks like it could be part of the original pub. Here are some pictures and framed prints , including one detailing Derby County's football fixtures in 1914/15 when such teams as Gloosop, Clapton Orient and Woolwich provided the mouthwatering opposition.
Also look out for an amusing framed caricature in another part of the pub of everybody's idea, apparently, of the archetypal "beer ticker".
Regular live music is featured in another room towards the back of the pub.
The pub is a keen supporter of local micros as well as its own on site beers. The imaginatively named King Street Ale brewed on site was a good tasty pint.
In conclusion, unless you're a big fan of live music, The Flowerpot does not strike me as a particularly memorable or inspiring pub, as a pub in itself, but it is certainly worth making the effort to seek out for its splendid beer range
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A pub that lives two lives. One side of it serves 30 odd different ales, many of which are brewed on the premises (Headless Brewing Company). The other side is a concert hall. Do not let the outside fool you. Step inside and see for yourself.
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Quite dark inside as soon as you step away from the front windows, but not so gloomy that one can't see a vast array of hampumps with all different kinds of interesting brews on offer (including a decent Over and Out Stout from the Headless Brewery out the back of the pub). A real ale drinkers 'must visit' destination.
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I first went in this pub 30 odd years ago when it was just a poky local on the ring road.Since it was opened up after the ex-tyre depot next door was aquired its become a beer and music mecca.I like the fact that it still has a pub atmospere with an incredible always changing selection of ales.You can still sit and haxw a quiet drink even when theres a few hundred crammed in the back bar watching a rock band.Just about the best pub on a Saturday in Derby for us oldsters,anyway
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My first time at this gem of a pub and it hopefully won't be my last. If I wanted friendly banter at the bar with the locals it was there. If I wanted to sit quietly with a book I could. If I wanted great ales, they were there for the asking. And apparently the live music venue adjoining is pretty good by all accounts.
One for my "I wish it was my local" category, I think.
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Called in last month when doing a crawl of Derby pubs. Whatever pubs you select, this one must not be missed. Not just beer on tap but they have an impressive cellar run list up as well. Go round the pub and view the casks through the glass and say you are not impressed. Brilliant.
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You can start and finish a pub crawl in Derby in this pub. I usually call in on a Monday or Tuesday when they don't have much beer on, only the 12 - 15 guest ales plus their own beers from the on site micro brewery. It's a bit quiet then, but they always have a good selection of beer literature around, Derby Drinker, Nottingham Drinker etc. I never miss coming here when in Derby.
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In Venice, they say all streets lead to St Marks Square. In Derby, any mention of beer leads to the Flowerpot. With an uncountable number of ales on offer, it is not hard to see how the pub gets its reputation as the No 1 Ale pub in Derby and probably the UK. It initially appears to be a fairly small pub but it opens up to the rear and is deceptively spacious. That said, it is also fairly plain and featureless and without the ales or the almost equally impressive adjoining music venue, it would be a fairly mundane run of the mill place. Music posters and listings dominate the walls but there are some interesting oddments among them including a display of old classic adverts (Pears Soap, Marmalade, Corn Flower etc), bottle collections and the 1914/15 Derby County fixture list that throws up some interesting forthcoming matches against the likes of Glossop and Leicester Fosse. Note also the old photos of the pub that show it named as the New Flower Pot. The stillage bar reveals numerous casks racked up behind a glass screen with a spaghetti like mass of tubes leading to the numerous beer taps. In contrast, at the end of the bar sits an old Watneys Red Barrel pump. It really is possible to spend an entire weekend here and not have the same beer twice although we did intend to have a lunch here but found the food selction was a little basic and disappointing. As a number crunching alehouse, the Flowerpot is second to none but don�t expect a building of any significant character.
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Huge range of well-kept beers. Doesn't look much from the outside but very impressive once you get in.
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Ale 8/10, Food n/a, Atmosphere 8/10. Overall 8/10.
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Was I in a different pub to everyone else? Very unwelcoming. Barstaff refused to replace my beer that was clearly sour. will neve go back to this pub again. Not impressed.
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It's let down slightly by its location on the inner ring road but once inside it cannot be faulted. If you can only visit one pub in Derby make it this one.
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Magnificent range of ales on when we called in - 9 on handpump and 15 tapped from the cask wall in the rear "cellar" bar. Didn't eat, but the huge portions being consumed by other punters had our eyes on stalks. Very knowledgable and welcoming staff. Can't belive this was our 4th/5th trip to Derby over the last four years or so and this was the first time we had been there - it'll be stop no. 1 next time round.
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Went in there on Saturday -a great range of beers including their own Headless ones. The food is pretty good as well.
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Not as cosy, for me, as it looks, but a classic ale house, and the Pedigree was quite superb.
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Good pub, good beer , this coming from a Forest fan !!
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One of the premier real ale pubs in Derby. There were 11 handpumps on including a number of local brews plus three more available from the cellar. The selection was excellent with a mixture of hoppy ales, session bitters, a dark mild and strong beers plus a couple of ciders. The pub is a traditional old boozer with a basic but comfortable main bar at the front. There's a Derby County FC fixture poster above the fireplace from the 1914-1915 season which includes an advert for the "New Flowerpot". Towards the rear is a "library room" which is used for eating and also a function room and beer garden. The pub is well known locally as a music venue and they also have occasional beer festivals. Good place for a beer and anyone on the trail of real ale in Derby should make the pilgrimage.
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One of the pubs on my list of those I must visit when in Derby. I have never been disappointed with the choice or the quality of the beer.
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beer selection and quality excellent again. Rating remains 10/10. There is a festival at the end of March featuring 160 brand new bers, with live music - I'm goig!
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Great beer - huge choice, friendly bar staff, nice food. There's a good mix of ages amongst the punters which you don't often see. A good place to meet up and have a chat and drink with chums. Not too far from town and other nice pubs. Well worth a short walk from the Market Place. They also have occasional Beer Festivals - the next one 29/3-1/4/07 - 100 new beers. Sounds worth a trip out for.
chick - 22 Jan 2007 11:59 |
I have not been to Derby for 30 years and with pubs like the Flowerpot I have been missing out. This is a fantastic venue for anyone who enjoys real ale. Derby is a place to visit again. The staff here are doing a great job.
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Ties with the Brunswick as best pub in Derby
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Derby is one of the best beer drinking towns in England for both quality and quantity of different brews available, and the Flowerpot is one of it's highlights. I reckon you could get plastered every day for a week or more without having the same beer twice or even needing to get on a bus or train.
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Derby is a hidden gem and much misunderstood. Apart from its other attributes (friendly, manageable size, lots of green spaces, excellent curries) it is a mecca for Real Ale fans - and the Flowerpot is a must for anyone visiting the area. We were in on Saturday and I think there were about 15 ales on - we tried four and all were in perfect condition. A friendly, characterful pub - and they are also a great live music venue.
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Yes to the all of the below. But it's in Derby. DERBY for chrissakes.
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This isn't just a pub, this is an institution! With a huge selection of real ales on tap plus the bonus of live music this is a great way to spend an evening or ten.
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This superb pub has a wall of casks at the back. Usually only 6 are tapped, but tonight most were - they must have had 30 ales on in total. There are several rooms, with a large room with a separate bar at the back for gigs (mostly tribute bands, although they have had Arthur Brown and Midge Ure in the past)
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Phenomenal range of 23 ales available. Three of us sampled seven different brews between us and quality was consistently good. Pub was a bit chaotic towards closing time on a Saturday, although it was just about mild enough to sit outside which eased the crowding somewhat.
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Yeah a good place, always interesting and well kept ales. Quiet on weekday nights, friendly staff. Opening hours now extended on Friday/Saturday nights I think.
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Plenty of ales on offer, Tardis-like rooms and a patio area, renowned for its live music.
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I guess this pub gets its name from the large yellow shrub that grows from an upstairs window-frame! Great selection of beer, however our choice on the day was poor. With over 20 beers to go at it will always be hit and miss unless you know of one particular brand that is moving. Large multiroomed interior belies the pub's size from the roadside.
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great beer and good food in daytime at reasonable prices good bands too great garden much improved flowers in garden too
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The beer is excellent, always a wide range, lovely scrumpy too! The food is the best in Derby, big beer garden that it's lovely to sit in on a nice sunny day...the best pub in Derby!
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Great range of beers. Excellent fairly small venue for seeing live bands. Quite a number of tribute bands play here and due to the low ceiling and dark interior of the band room it's sometimes almost as if it were the band - also helps if you have sampled a number of beers first.
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Wide choice of beers, though too many pale beers. The quality is very occasionally lacking. A good place to start the night though, always find a seat.
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Wide range of beers but beer quality is often lacking.
Music is good though.
Is the carpet still tacky???
Taidg - 22 Oct 2004 19:56 |
Wonderful pub with a warm atmosphere. Provides great live music and a wide range of beers. Makes a good night out.
Rebecca - 7 Oct 2004 14:43 |
A fantastic place with a fantastic range of beers. I visited once whilst attending Derby for the CAMRA beer festival and they had built a "rack" which held (if I remember rightly!) 25 barrels apart from all the handpulls on!! Amazing!!! Live music too. Just go there OK!!!
Andrew Carter - 24 Mar 2004 21:39 |
Live at the other end of the County but if in Derby, this is always a stop off point. Beer range is superb-recommend the Whim Arbor Light that seems to be on reasonably often.
frank - 26 Dec 2003 12:56 |
Excellent ale menu, and you can see all the barrels etc behind the bar, much better than optics! Good live music venue too, folk/indie/rock mostly, although I seem to remember going to a bizarre poetry reading there once in my formative years. Friendly staff are usually happy to recommend a pint to the real ale novice, and while it's a bit off the beaten track, it's close to other hostelries of a similar ilk, i.e., not full of teenagers or big groups about to go clubbing. You can actually sit down and have a conversation the majority of the time. If you happen to like that sort of thing.
VJ - 27 Oct 2003 12:21 |
