We finished Derbyshires’s GBG entries at the White Hart, the Amber Valley Pub of the Year for the last 2 years, which says something about how long it takes to get in the Beer Guide.
Nominally in Belper, but as you’ll see it’s in Bargate, or possibly Higher Holbrook. Anyway, a stiff uphill walk out of town (both ways), passing this austere Proper Pub on the way.
It’s all micros in the Guide round here now, so a stone brick community pub like the White Hart is a surprise.
Even more surprising is the beer range…
There was (bargain) Oakham Inferno as well, cool and tasty (NBSS 4), but it’s not the beer obscurity that pulls in a full house of mature drinkers on a Saturday evening. It just felt very pubby, in a way that Stockport’s top boozers do. Loads of pointless but lovely village chat over a Tom Petty soundtrack.
It doesn’t look like a classic, despite bench seating, straight glasses and an absence of jam jars.
Couples and groups came in and eyed up our table, or perhaps they were just reading the football scores on the giant screen. I noted the score from Chesterfield was not yet in, clearly a result of having kicked off late to give Duncan time to get there.
I liked it a lot. Mrs RM hated it. She kept tripping over dogs. There were more canines than Carling drinkers in the public. Next door, the lounge was full of young children, cast out of Duffield’s micros. The White Hart catered for all.
Creche to the left of me, kennels to the right, said Mrs RM.
retiredmartin 
One of favourite pub reviews ever. Could walk into this one knowing exactly what’s awaiting. Less can be more.
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“Less can be more” – spot on. Actually I found it quite hard to capture the atmosphere in words
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“Lots going on here”
Ben must have been popular, seeing as he has his own farm and well (and possibly spring). And do those FBs at the top indicate Facebook charging stations? 😉
” a stiff uphill walk out of town (both ways)”
Meaning it didn’t matter if you took Bargate Road or Sandbed Lane. 🙂
“Creche to the left of me, kennels to the right, said Mrs RM.”
Nice segue from Tom Petty to Stealers Wheel. 😉
Cheers
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Five points for the Stealers Wheel reference, Russ. Do you have lots of dogs in your bars ?
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“Do you have lots of dogs in your bars ?”
Normally it’s only if their with someone blind or who needs this newfangled emotional support thingy. 😉
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“newfangled emotional support thingy” What other possible purpose for a dog is there ?. 😉
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” Normally it’s only if their with someone blind….”
I’m going to call this one a reverse Russ ferret.
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You won’t get me picking up foreigners on their appalling English, Prof.
Stones and glass houses etc.
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“I’m going to call this one a reverse Russ ferret.”
I confess, that was ‘fingers ahead of brain’ syndrome. Was going to type something along the lines of their blind support and then changed course midway. (blush)
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We have met in Council and agreed to pardon you, Russ.
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Did you ask if that whippet was heading back up north after winning at Crufts ?
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I don’t think the whippet spoke much Fenland.
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It looks like another proper boozer … another one for my 2018 bucket list 👍
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Beer V Pub? What came first? Which is the more important? Discuss.
Mind you, reading your posts and those of other regular contributors who seem to prefer Marston’s, in all it’s nefarious guises (including the one with the red triangle), it would appear that the pub comes well above the many aspects upon which we may judge our pint of beer.
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