Survey Trips

With around 90 Real Ale pubs, and the possibility of that number being added to, the Amber Valley Branch of CAMRA encompasses a wide area with three main towns – Alfreton, Belper and Ripley – and many villages. It’s important to note that the Amber Valley Borough Council’s area and Amber Valley CAMRA’s area are not the same – the Erewash Valley Branch is responsible for Loscoe, Heanor, Langley Mill, which are all within the Borough Council territory.  Amber Valley CAMRA’s boundaries go from as far west as Idridgehay, near Wirksworth, which we don’t cover, to Jacksdale, just over the border in Nottinghamshire. We go north to South Wingfield and Oakerthorpe, while Milford, Makeney and Holbrook are ours, but Duffield isn’t. We have Kilburn and Horsley Woodhouse, but not Horsley or Smalley, while our boundary with the Erewash Branch is Codnor, for which we are responsible. We also have Alderwasley, Turnditch and Ambergate pubs.

With so many pubs scattered over a wide area, it’s difficult to get to them all, and although do we run social trips and hold meetings at a variety of venues, we can only cover a percentage of the total, so any feedback regarding beer quality and availability of Real Ale is much appreciated, members can submit beer scores to WhatPub.

For details of the previous survey trips please read the various posts on our blog.

Please find below a list of proposed dates for City and Town Pub Walks.

These trips are all undertaken by public transport and confirmation of meeting places and times will be made over social media, closer to the dates, although it is generally a 1pm start.  Non-CAMRA members are always welcome on these trips.  We only tend to walk half a mile at the most between pubs as they are generally city and town centre walks.
 
Once the walks have started, people tend to stop and eat when they feel like it and catch up with us later if we have moved on.  Its up to you when you decide to leave for home – we usually go to 7 or 8 pubs and finish around 6-7pm but some hardy individuals carry on until much later.

Future Walks

The Branch will be holding Saturday Socials via public transport during the year.

Winter socials are currently being planned.

Members and non-members are welcome on all socials.

CAMramble

On Saturday 25 October there will be a beer Ramble – anyone interested should meet at the King William, Milford either at 11am for breakfast or 12pm for the start of the walk.

The route will take in the White Hart, Bargate; Dead Poets and Spotted Cow in Holbrook then to the Hollybush, Makeney.  Both the White Hart and Hollybush have beer festivals on during the visit.

 


Previous Outings

AUGUST 2025

On Saturday 30th August we had a good turnout for a walk around Burton hostelries.  Meeting at the Weighbridge Inn, 11 members then walked on to the Last Heretic where we took advantage of the sunny weather in their rustic beer garden, on offer was Dancing Duck – Brown Clough and Leatherbritches – Amarillo.  We then moved on to the Arches – Outwoods Brewing Co. tap where they had two of their own cask – Lemon Jackets and Ozfest plus Dancing Duck – Down and Little – Tup.  Our next stop was the Coopers Tavern with the usual Joules offerings plus two specials – Batch 1032 and Cameo and guest Bristol – Destiny Found.    A short walk bought us to the Dog which had 9 hand pumps with brews from Salopian, Magpie, Burton Bridge, Black Country Ales (4), Titanic, Enville and Fownd.  Our final port of call was Beeropolis where they had Leatherbritches – Citra Pale and 3Ps – Black Damp.  A well attended and interesting trip.


Saturday 2nd August – Nottingham City Centre South

Several members enjoyed an outing to Nottingham on Saturday 2nd August.  We visited 7 pubs including the VAT & Fiddle, the Brew Tavern, Newshouse, King William IV, the Fox & Grapes and Neon Raptor Taproom.  Many of these were Castle Rock pubs but other offerings included Fierce – Citra and Friends; Black Iris – Let the Devil In; North Riding – Ernest; Black Iris – Snake Eyes; Lenton Lane – Cloudburst; Little – Hush; Cat Asylum – Kellerbier; Ossett – New Zealand; Fell – Crag; Liquid Light – Hole in My Shoe and Torrside – Happy Go Lucky.  Something for all tastes were available with a few fruity darks, hoppy IPAs and sours.


May 2025

Saturday May 10 –  Sheffield – Kelham Island

The walk started at the Sheffield Tap and visited Shakespear’s Cider and Ale House, Fat Cat, Kelham Island Tavern, Harlequin, Wellington

March 2025

Saturday 22 March  – Sheffield

The walk started at the Sheffield Tap and visited Rutland Arms, Vocation & Co, Perch, Red Deer, Bath Hotel, Head of Steam

February 2025

We visited Hucknall on the afternoon of Saturday 22nd February with some of the pubs below visited.

The Railway; Byron’s Rest; Beer Shack; Baker and Bear; The Hideout and the Plough and Harrow

It was great to see that we were joined on our trip by members of Nottingham and Mansfield branches.

December 2024

Saturday 21st December – Belper

Monday 30th December – Annual Nottingham Christmas Social  

November 2024

Saturday 23rd November – Derby

October 2024 

A minibus pub survey trip took place on Saturday 12th October.  14 of us visited 8 outlying pubs in our area, mostly ones which could not be accessed easily by bus.  The pubs included the newly reopened Amber Hotel in Toadhole Furnace, the White Hart Inn at Moorwood Moor and the George at Lower Hartsay.  We also visited 3 establishments in South Wingfield – the Bluebell, Old Yew Tree Inn and the Social Club alongside the Canal Inn at Bullbridge.  We hope to visit other less frequented hostelries on future trips.

August 2024

Our group met in Chesterfield at the Pig and Pump which had 9 cask ales on tap including beers from Abbeydale, Brew61, Ossett, Bristol and Beartown.  We then moved on to the Rutland Arms with 5 ales from Pheasantry, Dancing Duck, Castle Rock and Little Critters before heading out of town to the Brampton Mile. Starting the walk back at the Tap House which had 7 on cask, including Whim, Welbeck, Electric Bear, Farm Yard, Ossett an Kirkstall, we visited the Rose and Crown (with Darwin, Brampton and Bristol), the Anchor (4 including Peak and Ashover) and the Tramway Tavern (mostly Brampton but also had Rudgate, Marble and Derby Brewing on tap) before finishing at the Chesterfield Ale House (5 ales – Neepsend, New Invention, Blue Bee, Nail Maker and Lenton Lane).

July 2024

Meeting at the Steampacket Beer Festival, members moved on to the Eanor Beer & Music Festival, Heanor.  Pubs visited included the Dead Mans Tankard, The Crafty Tap, Angry Bee and Hop Wright Inn.

JUN 2024

Sheffield Heeley

We ran a pub crawl around Heeley in Sheffield on 22 June taking in Broadfield, White Lion, Brothers Arms, Sheaf View and Cremorne

MAY 2024

Nottingham

Meeting at the Vat & Fiddle we enjoyed the rare sunshine to visit some of Nottingham’s beer gardens, taking in the

Brew Tavern; Newshouse; Partizan Tavern; King William IV; Fox & Grapes and the Neon Raptor Taproom

APRIL 2024

Ripley

A local tour of Ripley pubs took place with a small group attending

MARCH 2024

Kirkby, Sutton and Mansfield

We met in the Brown Cow, Mansfield and proceeded to visit the pubs below

  • Stella Taps
  • Old Brewery Bar (Prior’s Well brewery’s new bar opened July 2019)
  • Garrison 
  • Railway Inn 
  • Stag & Pheasant 

FEBURARY 2024

Sheffield  City Centre/Penistone Road –

We visited

  • Gardeners Rest
  • Heist Brew Company 
  • Alder
  • Wellington
  • Harlequin Inn
  • Craft and Dough
  • The Fat Cat

DECEMBER 2023

Nottingham

Our annual Christmas pub crawl around Nottingham took place on 29 December and was well attended, even attracting members from other local branches. We met at the Organ Grinder then took in a few of Nottingham’s pubs including Good Fellow George; Hand & Heart; Crafty Crow; Barrel Drop and Lincolnshire Poacher.

Derby

On Saturday 2nd December a small group visited Derby pubs including the Furnace; Five Lamps; Flowerpot; Smithfield and the Alexandra Hotel

OCTOBER 2023

A visit to Campbell St Beer Festival, Belper at Tylers, and Arkwrights was well attended.

AUGUST 2023
A tour around Beeston pubs including the Crown Inn, the White Lion & Blackshale and the Commercial Inn before finishing at Totally Tapped
 
JULY 2023

An enjoyable trip around the centre of Chesterfield and out to the Brompton Mile including the Pig and Pump; Rutland Arms; Neptune Beer Emporium; Chesterfield Arms; Chesterfield Alehouse

JUNE 2023

We hosted a pub crawl around Heeley in Sheffield on Saturday 17 June visiting 7 pubs, see our Blog for details.


DEC 2022

Friday 30th December  – Annual Nottingham Xmas Social

NOV 2022

Saturday 26th November – Loscoe Heanor Marlpool 

SEPT 2022

10th September – Belper

AUG 2022

Sat 27th August – Ripley

JULY

Kimberley

Roots Emporium

Cricketer’s Rest

Miners Return

Giltbrook

Caught & Bowled

Eastwood

Pick & Davy

Tap & Growler

Gamekeeper’s

Dog & Parrot

JUNE

Sat 25 June – Derby

FEBRUARY

BURTON

Our pub walk which was well attended, visited the pubs below

The Last Heretic

Coopers Tavern

Dog Inn

Old Royal Oak

Beeropolis (formerly Fuggle & Nugget)

National Brewery Centre (Heritage brewery tap)

DECEMBER

Thursday 30th December  – Annual Nottingham Xmas Social

NOVEMBER

Saturday 27th November – Derby

OCTOBER 2021

Saturday 30th October – Chesterfield Town Centre & Brampton Mile

SEPT 2021

Saturday 18th September – Alfreton

AUG 2021

Monday 30th August – Ripley Bank Holiday Saunter

JULY 2021

Saturday 24th July – Belper


Friday 27th December  – Nottingham Xmas crawl 

Taking in

  • Organ Grinder
  • Overdraught
  • Hand In Hart, Derby Rd
  • Barrel Drop, Hurts Yard,
  • 6 Barrel Draughthouse (newly opened) at Clocktower Victoria Centre
  • Lincolnshire Poacher, Mansfield Rd

Saturday 7th December – Burton

Members enjoyed a pub crawl around Burton visiting the venues below.

Weighbridge Inn

The Last Heretic

Coopers Tavern

Dog Inn

Fuggle & Nugget

National Brewery Centre (Heritage brewery tap)

Saturday 23rd November  – Chesterfield & Brampton Mile

16 members enjoyed a winter walk taking in –

Pig and Pump
Rectory
Royal Oak
Chesterfield Alehouse
Junction
Tramway Tavern
Crafty Dog
Tap House
Rose and Crown

Saturday 21st September – Ashfield (Sutton, Kirkby & Mansfield)

Not as well attended as some but more joined as we went around, pubs visited were –

Dog House.
Scruffy Dog
Wrinkly Dog (see the theme here…)
Brown Cow
Old Brewery Bar (Prior’s Well brewery’s new bar which opened in July 2019)
Railway Inn
Garrison

Saturday 31st August – Derby

Around 16 members and guests gathered at the Furnace to commence a stroll around Derby. We then visited –

Flowerpot
Annie’s Burger Shack
Peacock Inn
Smithfield
Alexandra
Brunswick

Monday 26th August – Bank Holiday Monday around Ripley visiting –

Red Lion,
Thorn Tree,
Tom Said,
Cock Inn,
George Inn
Talbot.

Cider Saunter Sat 27 July

A stroll around Nottingham took place to coincide with their cider month on Saturday 27 July 2019. The pubs visited included:

BeerHeadz
VAT & Fiddle
Canalhouse
Crafty Crow
Overdraft
Organ Grinder
Barrel Drop
Keans Head
The Angel
Hockley Rebel

Saturday 22 July Nottingham 

Walkers met in the  VAT & Fiddle and then visited:

BeerHeadz
Canalhouse
Fellows Morton & Clayton
Newshouse
King William IV
Fox & Grapes
Keans Head
Bunkers Hill
The Angel

Saturday 22 June – Sheffield

13 members enjoyed a walk on a lovely sunny day taking in the pubs below.

Sheffield Tap
Broadfield
Crown Inn
White Lion
Brothers Arms (the pub owned by the Everly Pregnant Brothers)
Sheaf View
Cremorne
Albion
Beer Engine
Saturday 25 May – Chesterfield & Whittington Moor

14 members enjoyed a walk on a nice day taking in the pubs below.

Red Lion
Jacey’s Micropub
Beer Parlour
Glass Works (formerly the Spireite)
Neptune
Chesterfield Arms
Chesterfield Alehouse
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