Derby                    25th Feb 2011

Up for it were:

Yup, Mid week Tone, Pedro, Richee, Granpop Bill, Keithee’s up for it, Jaycee, Scottee free,  Corky and Sean of the County Wounties.  Sadly Keithee dropped out with man flu symptoms.

Sean of the CW, unrecognisable after dropping a few pounds, met us at Stoke station, having caught the train up from Stafford.  The 12.33 train was bang on time again, as have most of the trains we've caught in recent years, to be fair.  With groupsaver tickets purchased, working out to £4.50 each we hopped aboard.  Excellent value !!

Our first port of call before the Derby Beer Festival was the infamous Brunswick Inn for lunch and a refreshing pint.  Jaycee opted for the Triple Hop as there was no foxes nob available.  It was White feather for me which was excellent.

The bar meals were spot on. Jaycee ordered sausage, egg and chips.  He was served with eggy, eggy, eggy and eggy with sausage and chips according to Richee.

Just around the corner we called into the Alexandra Hotel which we hadn't been to before.  We tried the Nottingham Gold but were not impressed.  It was almost empty too with little atmosphere.  'You should try the beer festival', someone suggested.  Surprise, surprise, that was exactly where we were heading .

Pedro picked up a few more leaflets for future doos and passed them on to Yuppy. Thanks.  Now, what did I do with them?

The Roundhouse, home of Derby's beer festival this year, was just across the road and around the other side of the station.

As we approached it, Tone confirmed it was definitely a round house, cus he is a Structural Engineer.

Scottee pointed out the security signs around it advertising 'constant security', from 8 till 5. 'How does that work then yoooooth?  What happens after 5?'

CAMRA's membership total grew by a further 2, as Granpop Bill and Corky gave in to temptation and the offer of free gifts.

One of the stands in the roundhouse was taken up by The Dancing Duck Brewery.  And amazingly their 'Ay up' brew was available.

Granpop Bill, experienced in playing with trains, explained that the large pits below our feet were used to drop ash into from the engines.

Corky assumed they were beer cellars.

It had been a successful venture to the Derby Roundhouse and a venue which we would definitely return to next year.  A shortcut through the station took us back on to the main drag and 2 minutes up Midland Road we dived into the Shalimar which we'd booked for 6.15.

Pedro's meal, a biriani with egg and pineapples, did look appetising.  But, just the one egg, not eggy, eggy, eggy and eggy.  However, the meals were served lukewarm, and in addition, despite the brandies and sambuccas, the final bill proved to be very expensive.

Mid week Tone sorted the bill out in Keithee's absence and managed to get a £1 reduction after some discussions with the owner.

So, we definitely wouldn't return to the Shalimar but it was a mighty thumbs up for the Roundhouse. See you next year.

Yuppers

(enjoy yer round house)