Post by Norah on May 15, 2016 11:04:15 GMT
I declare an interest here as I have been known to frequent the establishment 
Raising a pint to a brilliant first year at the Derby Inn
By Burton Mail | Posted: May 14, 2016
By Colston Crawford
LANDLORDS at the Derby Inn in Derby Road, Lee and Rachael Betts are celebrating a year in charge of the pub after saving it from closure back in April 2015.
CUSTOMERS and staff of a traditional Burton pub which almost closed for good are celebrating a year since it was saved.
In April last year, the Derby Inn, in Derby Street, was on its last legs, with its most recent licensees having left suddenly, leaving owners Admiral Taverns struggling to find new people prepared to take it on.
However, George Lambert and Walter Scott, of Wentwell Brewery, in Derby, saw something in the run-down local and negotiated a lease with the owners.
They installed Lee and Rachael Betts to run it and, after a thorough makeover, the pub reopened in May.
The Betts have built trade steadily since then, attracting old regulars back, making the pub a popular pre and post-match drop-in for football fans and launching popular monthly music nights on Fridays.
A special beer brewed to celebrate Burton Albion winning League Two last season, Champions Bitter, has proved a big hit and the club's Community Trust is set to benefit to the tune of about £400, with 10p from every pint set aside as a donation.
Perhaps most importantly for beer fans in Burton, the Derby Inn has been part of a recent spate of pubs opening and serving beers from independent breweries which are not often seen in the town – The Dog, The Crossing, the Middle Earth Tavern and the Fuggle & Nugget have all been part of that.
Rachael Betts admits that it has not been all plain sailing but, now, they cannot imagine their lives without the pub.
"For the first three months we wondered if we had done the right thing," she said.
"It was a big step. But we're glad we did it now.
"It took a while, because a lot of people who had come in before still had the old image of the pub. But the football fans have been fantastic and the music nights have been very well supported."
Some years ago, the Derby Inn enjoyed a great reputation for the quality of its Marston's Pedigree, under the popular tenancy of Tony Foster, who passed away early this year.
The Betts says they were happy that Mr Foster had returned to his former pub and approved of what had been done – but Pedigree is not served these days.
"Twelve months down the line, it has become a rarity now to be asked for Pedigree," said Rachael.
"But Wentwell's Barrel Organ Blues has really taken over and is a brilliant pint, while Champions Bitter is popular too."
Read more: www.burtonmail.co.uk/Raising-pint-brilliant-year-Derby-Inn/story-29270146-detail/story.html#ixzz48immZTBu
Follow us: @burtonmailnews on Twitter | BurtonNews on Facebook
Raising a pint to a brilliant first year at the Derby Inn
By Burton Mail | Posted: May 14, 2016
By Colston Crawford
LANDLORDS at the Derby Inn in Derby Road, Lee and Rachael Betts are celebrating a year in charge of the pub after saving it from closure back in April 2015.
CUSTOMERS and staff of a traditional Burton pub which almost closed for good are celebrating a year since it was saved.
In April last year, the Derby Inn, in Derby Street, was on its last legs, with its most recent licensees having left suddenly, leaving owners Admiral Taverns struggling to find new people prepared to take it on.
However, George Lambert and Walter Scott, of Wentwell Brewery, in Derby, saw something in the run-down local and negotiated a lease with the owners.
They installed Lee and Rachael Betts to run it and, after a thorough makeover, the pub reopened in May.
The Betts have built trade steadily since then, attracting old regulars back, making the pub a popular pre and post-match drop-in for football fans and launching popular monthly music nights on Fridays.
A special beer brewed to celebrate Burton Albion winning League Two last season, Champions Bitter, has proved a big hit and the club's Community Trust is set to benefit to the tune of about £400, with 10p from every pint set aside as a donation.
Perhaps most importantly for beer fans in Burton, the Derby Inn has been part of a recent spate of pubs opening and serving beers from independent breweries which are not often seen in the town – The Dog, The Crossing, the Middle Earth Tavern and the Fuggle & Nugget have all been part of that.
Rachael Betts admits that it has not been all plain sailing but, now, they cannot imagine their lives without the pub.
"For the first three months we wondered if we had done the right thing," she said.
"It was a big step. But we're glad we did it now.
"It took a while, because a lot of people who had come in before still had the old image of the pub. But the football fans have been fantastic and the music nights have been very well supported."
Some years ago, the Derby Inn enjoyed a great reputation for the quality of its Marston's Pedigree, under the popular tenancy of Tony Foster, who passed away early this year.
The Betts says they were happy that Mr Foster had returned to his former pub and approved of what had been done – but Pedigree is not served these days.
"Twelve months down the line, it has become a rarity now to be asked for Pedigree," said Rachael.
"But Wentwell's Barrel Organ Blues has really taken over and is a brilliant pint, while Champions Bitter is popular too."
Read more: www.burtonmail.co.uk/Raising-pint-brilliant-year-Derby-Inn/story-29270146-detail/story.html#ixzz48immZTBu
Follow us: @burtonmailnews on Twitter | BurtonNews on Facebook