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ONE PUB ONLY?
Colston Crawford lives in Burton so his recommendation holds sway here
"My "one pub only" choice would be the Derby Inn but I'm biased, as I've been going for 30 years and meet a bunch from yours and my age group in there to analyse the game afterwards. I report Burton for the Derby Telegraph newspaper, so they're already well underway by the time I've talked to the manager and got away after games. Then I'm forced to justify my man of the match choice and they try to sway me to their view. All good fun. But in fairness, more fans would say the Great Northern, for its beer choice, atmosphere and proximity to the ground."
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Derbyshire, Coopers then taxi to ground for me, saving space for Derby and Alfred for the walk back post match
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Burton Bridge Brewery
|  | | The Dafts website www.dafts.co.uk recommends | | The Wetmore Whistle.
93 Wetmore Rd Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1SH.Tel 01283 515762 W www.thewetmorewhistle.com/
G Ben Brittell
F Cafe in morning 8 -12, then 12 - 3 for straightforward pub grub. Sat all day breakfast
Outside beer garden
CP BM D No pub games or TV
Mon Closed
Tue -Thu 12:00pm - 3:00pm 5:00pm - 11:00pm Fri 12:00pm - 11:00pm Sat 12:00pm - 1:00am Sun 12:00pm - 11:00pm
BWV 11.11.09 Bateman XXXB, Castle Rock Blue Monkey original, Harvest Pale Ale, Wildlife Warbler, Marstons Pedigree, Westons Old Rosie Cider
The Wetmore Whistle is an interesting mix of wooden floored modern bar and traditional tin plate cafe. On our visit it was the open fire next to the large window that proved the attraction for a leg weary crew of beer researchers. The food was ordered from the little shop next door that also did proper shop things like aspirin and baccy. The location is good for the match if not neccesaily the town centre. The friendliness was instant making the pub a definite for a return visit.
Live music is a regular feature.
Stedders Nov 2009
Ken Taylor, a Rochdale fan comments, "Wetmore whistle, excellent pub live music"
"The Wetmore Whistle seemed like a brilliant idea when the former Crown and Anchor was reopened in 2005. The replacement of much older housing with industrial estates and a new road configuration in the Wetmore area of the town had left the old pub short of trade and the new Tynemill venture was up and running in a blaze of local publicity with a competition to come up with the punny new name. Music nights can be busy and, indeed, the pub is described as a music venue on its website. However, now that the hype has died down, the Wetmore can be very quiet - worryingly so, you would think, for the owners - at other times, despite an excellent range of beer. The idea of a "greasy spoon" style cafe opening in the morning at the back of the pub is another good one and if that sort of food's your thing you won't be disappointed by the quality of it. Perhaps not quite close enough to the ground on foot to attract a lot of football fans on match days."
Colston Crawford | 
| Burton Bridge Brewery
24 Bridge Street Burton upon Trent DE14 1SY Tel 01283 536596 W www.burtonbridgebrewery.co.uk/Pubs/BridgeInn/BridgeInn.shtml
G Carl Stout
Courtyard for smoking, SP (Car park nearby), No TV< BM or Pub games, D
O Mon - Thu 11:30 - 2:15 5:00 - 11:00 Fri / Sat 11.30 - 11.30, Sun 12:00 - 3:00 7:00 - 11
BWV 11.11.09 Burton Bridge Bridge Bitter, Burton Porter, Gold Medal Ale, Golden Delicious, Sovereign Gold
The Brewery certainly lived up to expectation on our lunchtime visit. Being Armistice day it was full of those who had come on from their morning remembrance and a jolly good time appeared to be in order for the occasion and pub. Carl was obviously busy at this time but the care for this famous hostelry shone through via excellent pints and the simple comfort of the roadside snug. There are two such front rooms and a larger lounge to the rear, all being in the simple old style rather than tarted up as might be the temptation when a pub has such a chowcase reputation. The brewery is directly behind the pub and those of us who like to see others working can delight in such from the side smoking area. One might argue that pubs such as this cemented the success of the real ale revolution of the 80's. It is an unmissable pub and worth the walk to town to do so.
Stedders Nov 2009
"The Burton Bridge Brewery was an old Bass pub called the Fox and Goose until the early 80s and while it is obviously near the bridge over the River Trent, it used to be nearer: two arches of an older bridge are buried adjacent under the road. Former Ind Coope engineers Geoff Mumford and Bruce Wilkinson reopened it in 1981 as a pub and brewery and it was the first to break the Bass/Allied/Marston's/Everards monopoly of the town. Microbreweries are common now: back then, such a venture was almost unheard od, not least right under the noses of the biggest brewers in the country. Nearly 30 years on, Burton Bridge is more than just a microbrewery but the Bridge Brewery remains a comfortable, traditional local. It's a touch out of the way for the football visitor, unless you have plenty of time and, as detailed elsewhere, other BB houses offer you the beers nearer the ground. But this is where they started and it's worth making the effort."
Colston Crawford
|  | Devonshire Arms
Station St, DE14 1BT Tel 01283 562392 W www.burtonbridgebrewery.co.uk/Pubs/DevonshireArms/Devonshire.shtml
G Tracey and Kevin Richards
F Mon - Thurs 12:00 - 2 Tue - Sat
Garden smoking, CP BM P D
O Mon 5 - 11 Tue - Thurs 11 - 2.30 5:00 - 11:00 Fri - Sat 11:30 - 11.30 Sun 12:00 - 3, 7 -11
BWV 11.11.09 Burton Bridge Bitter, Golden Delicious, Porter, Stairway to Heaven
This is a perfect first pint pub. From station to the door takes two minutes and immediately we were welcomed by the delightfully chatty bar lady Tracey. She is in the old school of barmaids and all the better to encourage our thirst quenching pint of Golden Delicious. Landlady Tracey then joined us and her enthusiasm for the new venture that is theirs pub shone through. The pub is a picture both inside and out. The garden tubs apeear to have come inside to the newly decorated , or should I say cultivated lounge. While the front bar was our choice, the other room all had something a bit special. The highly polished piano in a small room to the rear would surely prompt a sing song or two if you brought a player along. The pub attracts a good mix of young and old, with team sports being to the fore through darts, cribbage and sunday morning football. There is a real temptation to stay on but needs of the researcher is sometimes a burden and we decided to cross the road to the Coopers.
Stedders
"The Devonshire Arms is a large and rather splendid town pub in the shadow of the big old breweries of the town and a short stroll from the railway station. Somewhat ironically, given that it is now part of the Burton Bridge Brewery portfolio, its licensees appear to have brewed their own at various times in a history as a pub dating back to the 1850s. There is nothing spectacularly diverting about the Devonshire, but if your crawl takes you mainly to this side of town (as it will if taking in the nearby Cooper's Tavern) then the Devonshire might be the most convenient place to sample the town's own Burton Bridge beers in spacious comfort."
Colston Crawford |  | Great Northern
Wetmore Road Burton upon Trent StaffsTel 01283 509531
W www.burtonbridgebrewery.co.uk/Pubs/GreatNorthern/Northern.shtml
O Mon - Thurs 5:30 - 11:30 Fri 5:30 - Midnight Sat 12:00 - Midnight Sun 12:00 - 4:00 7:00 - 11:00
Colston Crawford descricbes it as:-
"The Great Northern can be seen from the ground, just over the bridge opposite on Wetmore Road and attracts a lot of fans on match days. A cheery atmosphere, though. Like the Devonshire and the Burton Bridge itself, it's one of the small but growing Burton Bridge Brewery stable."
Ken Taylor reports
"May be worth looking at Great Northern also on Wetmore Road but closer to ground, we were looking for pub with TV and found it on way back to car.Friendly local supporters well kept Burton Bridge bitter and cheap food."
|  | The Derby Inn,
17 Derby Road, Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1RU Tel 01283 543674
G Tony Foster
No food
SP TV Pub games
O Mon - Wed 11.30 - 3 5.30 - 11, Thu - Sat 11.30 - 11, Sun 12 - 3.30, 7 - 10.30
BWV 11.11.09 Marston Pedigree
Crawford did us a very big favour in convincing Dave to stay open for our visit. He promised the best Pedigree one might find and true to his word it was sublimely special. Tony is the stuff or pub legend. The pub is truly his home and the quirkiness of what we have lost in the modern pub is brought home by just a short stay here. The pub has two small rooms and a back yard with outside loo's of the "60's Primary school" style. Indeed, one needs a key from behind the bar to venture forth. Sitting on a stool near the bar is something to be treasured because the footie conversation is informed and amusing. Moreover, finding a seat without either a pile of programmes, newspapers, shopping or racing memeorabilia is a bit of a success in itself. The pub has been repainted inside, I deliberately do not use the word refurbished because to do so would be a travesty. The Derby is a must find pub, it will not be busy but will, I guarantee, be popular and very friendly. Cheers Crawford and of course Tony,.
Colston Crawford describes it as:-
"The Derby Inn, on Derby Road, halfway between Horninglow Road and Princess Way, and 10 minutes' walk from the ground, is a classic old-fashioned "small house as pub". Marston's are no longer very interested in it (they'll never be able to turn it into a food pub) but the licensee, Tony, has been in place since I first started following Burton in 1979 and it serves, by repute the best pint of Pedigree in the town, which is saying something. One for discerning fans seeking a quieter pint. When Tony finally retires, and he threatens to every year, Marston's will probably sell it, which will be a shame." | 
| The Coopers Tavern
43 Cross Street, Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1EG Tel 01283 53255
G Mary Bagley
Sunday lunches only You can bring in food from the nearby cafe
O Mon - Tue 5 -11 Wed - Thu 12 - 2.30, 5 - 11, Fri - Sun 12 - 12
Smoking areas, SP BM D
BWV 11.9.09 Bass ale, Castle Rock Harvest Pale Ale, HopBack Crop Circle, Oakham Bishop's Farewell, Potbelly Pigwash Thornbridge Jaipur IPA. Ciders Broadoak Perry, Heart of Hampshire Dry Scrumpy, Hecks Cider, Farmhouse Cider
The pub has two entrances from parallel side roads. The bar is almost hidden away to the rear and what a gem of disguise this proves to be. Mary will welcome you into her trap and leaving again will be very very difficult.This fly stepped into the tiny parlour and found a sweetshop of beers and cider,where, ranged along the bar, are hampumps opposite racks of jacketed ales and ciders. This is a "must do pub" for the beer tourist.
We parked ourselves at a barrel in the Bar and soon Dave and Colston joined us for the rest of the day. In a new town you need some inside info' and they were to prove great company both on the choice but the local snippets that give you the fuller picture. The conversation inevitably spread as first Mary joined us , then Frank Wood, he of local cider brewing notority. His ciders are served here when available. Mary was proud to show off her Cider Pub of the year awards and talked with some deserved pride of the history and traditions of the quirky back street local. You feel she has put much back to the pub, i.e restored the hearty of the place by picking out the individual differences that make one pub so special in comparison to its neighbours. It was once part of the Castle Rock stable but now in her safe hands the pub should be one that locals are proud to say is remarkably independent.
Colston Crawford descricbes it as:-
"The Cooper's Tavern is a small converted terraced house just round the corner from the Devonshire and in the shadow of the old Bass (now, sadly, Coors brewery). This unique pub, now a free house, has the beers on a stillage and served by gravity in the kitchen, where you can also sit around tables made from barrels. No serious beer connoisseur should miss it when in Burton if they have time." |  | The Beech
Derby Road, Stretton DE13 0DL Tel 01283 561811
Again from Colston
"The Beech, further on up Derby Road leaving the ground towards Derby, is a Marston's pub that has always been very popular on matchdays, being five minutes' walk away. Popular with visiting supporters, too. A large pub with lots of room for standing outside on a good day."
Marston Beers here. | PHOTO TO FOLLOW
| The Alfred
51 Derby St, DE14 2LD T 01283 562178 www.bbb-thealfred.co.uk
G Phil Summerfield and Jennifer Collett
F good quality straightforward pub meals including steaks Not Tue or Sun. Other days 12 - 1.45, 6 - 8.30
HG CP TV BM D
O Mon - Tue 11 -- 2, 4.30 - 11, Fri - Sat 11 - 11, Sun 11 - 5
BWV 11.11.09 Castle Rock Bridge Bitter, Bramble Stout, Festival, Golden Delicious, Porter, Stairway to Heaven, Nottingham Dreadnought
Our visit to the Alfred was a very pleasant and unexpected addition to our original plan. Located just along the road from the Derby it provides a second reason to walk back along Derby Street from the ground after a game. Another pub in the Tynemill stable, the beers were particularly well kept and we settled for a final few rather than trek on before trains home. It is an ale drinkers pub in the modern traditional sense. Phil has arrived from the Oak and Ivy pub in town taking the best traditions of that pub with him. It does have the wooden floors that mark out their refurbishments but also retains some of the house style of the street terrace local. It is split level with deceptively large rooms , two to one side of the bar with screens to seperate them off. It is a comfortable place, lit to welcome you on long winters nights and only five minutes from the station. We parted from here vowing to meet again soon and the Alfred was perfect for the final pints. Burton is a far better town that one initially imagines, there ceratinly is life after the big boys have gone and The Alfred is a good example of how real ale is king in this town despite what the lager boys might believe.
Stedders 2009 |  | | LOCAL CAMRA | PIRELLI STADIUM |  | 
Mick Escott, Colston Crawford, Dave Evans and Stedders in the Burton Bridge Brewery
| Mick has wriiten on the day:-
Remembrance Day, and a fine sunny one in Staffordshire. The journey was a trifle cumbersome, as we were staying with my friend Tim in Lichfield. No problem from there by car – Burton-upon-Trent is straight up the A38 – but we chose Cross Country Trains in view of the forthcoming ingestion (there were seven pubs on the Stedders’ list). From Birmingham or Nottingham it’s no problem, a fast and direct service. At worst we would have two changes: Lichfield City / Lichfield Trent Valley / Tamworth. In fact a taxi removed the initial hurdle and we enjoyed the strange right angular arrangement of the railway lines while waiting at both Trent Valley and Tamworth, emerging promptly at 11.38 at Burton.
The trek began, with the Devonshire on the town centre side of the station. Kevin and Tracey were the gaffers, of local origin, with another Kevin involved in such phenomena as the Devvy Donkeys (aka tips for Southwell Races), not to omit the splendidly garrulous Tracey behind the bar, who served us with Burton Bridge brew Golden Delicious, a lot more tasty than the eponymous apples. The Devonshire’s policy is not to sell food in the evenings but furnish the punters with free, cold so as not to offend the nostrils, snacks. Barmaid Tracey even gave us a pub tip in North Devon. Stedders did his customary cigar check of the garden and off we sauntered just round the corner to espy a sign directing us down a back brick alley to the Coopers Arms. Barrels abounded in the bar and you’re welcome to bring in your own food. A bunch of chaps were in the front room with pork pies accompanying their pints. It was then that our companions for the rest of the day joined us. Both are keen Brewers supporters, Colston the Derby Telegraph sports editor and Dave omniscient on many fronts, certainly helping with the day’s route, also providing much relevant information. The other benefit was that Colston had brought his car, thus reducing the amount of legwork. The Coopers was good, and we enjoyed some (local) Castle Rock. Innkeepers were listed on a wooden board in the manner of vicars in a church. They started with ‘Wallace’ in 1823 right through to Mary Bagley, incumbent since 2006. Parking isn’t easy – the station and Sainsbury’s were recommended but this pub would be a treat especially if combined with the neighbouring Devonshire.
Next was the Bridge, as in ‘Burton Bridge’, different again, spacious, bright and friendly and at a distance from the others, with friendly barman Carl serving from the central bar – this is one of several changes in the layout over the years. An ancient retainer bullied us into buying raffle tickets as we were completing our pints. When asked ‘When’s it happening?’ she retorted ‘Now’. A Staffordshire measure of time we surmised, but it did take place before our egress. Number 318 was called. It was raised aloft with a cheer by Colston. He would be enjoying that bottle of red wine, but perhaps not later the same day after the impressive gallonage to be consumed.
So we continued up the eastern route towards the football place, more tortuous by car than on foot, especially with the diversion for Stedders to use Yorkshire Bank for some purple notes. The Great Northern was closest to the stadium, out of sight over the ring road, but closed. We retraced a bit of ground back to the Wetmore Whistle, in something of a desert, in fact Wetmore was an area of industry and terraced housing. In its present form is a modern establishment run by landlord Ben partly as café, and offering intriguing food. I opted for the Eggy Crumpets only to be disappointed – I was looking at the ‘Brekkie’ menu. Stedders and I stopped the gap with sausage baps. It was now after 2pm. Mine was washed down by Marston’s Pedigree, which did seem to taste better within spitting distance of its brewery than the stuff I ceased to drink some time ago in other parts of the country.
| And then to two long-awaited edifices: the Pirelli Stadium and the Derby Inn. This involved crossing the great divide onto the route south from the stadium, ultimately to the station. I look forward to a chance to enjoy the Pirelli from within, and together with that would certainly be the Derby, really the home, i.e. castle of guv’nor Tony, who was most hospitable in acquiescing in Colston’s telephoned request to stay open until mid-afternoon. It was well after 3pm when we arrived. In these parts afternoon opening is a rarity. We were lucky to have an unbroken crawl all day. As Dave said the Derby is a ‘step back in time’. It’s all ‘Derby’ here – the pub, the road and the Rams scarf proudly displayed behind the bar. May it have continue as pub as well as private house – it’s a treasure and it’s Marston’s. I hope it’s still going for my next visit.
And further back into town there awaited the Alfred, run by Jennifer and Phil. A good thing: it has a separate family room. We stayed here for two, so good was it, rather than move on somewhere else before the 1830 train. And, arriving at Tamworth with a pint’s worth of time before the final leg, we dropped into the Albert round the corner for a quick one. And that could be done on the way to Burton Albion.
Recommendations? The range of pubs was very wide and covered a substantial area, though Burton is not a big town. The Derby is essential as it may not be with us as its days may be numbered, and it is close to the ground. For variety go for the Bridge and the Coopers.
Cheers.. |
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