Hop On, Hop Off: EMR celebrates Beer Day Britain by sharing pub crawl near stations
● EMR is celebrating some of the great pubs and breweries near its stations on the Midland Mainline
● It comes as the nation marks Beer Day Britain
● Raise a glass with EMR, support your local and say cheers to beer
East Midlands Railway (EMR) is shining a light on the many great pubs and breweries across our network as part of Beer Day Britain.
The event, which was created by award-winning beer sommelier Jane Peyton, is celebrated every year on the 15th of June for beer lovers and retailers to celebrate everything from lagers and ales to craft beers and stouts.
To mark this day, EMR has put together a list of great places to grab a pint near some of its Intercity stations, including Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham, and Leicester.
Sheffield Station
The Sheffield Tap (Platform 1B, Sheffield Station, Sheaf Street)
This one is as close as you can get to rolling off a train and enjoying a pint of beer. With 14 different keg beers and a microbrewery on-site offering freshly brewed beer, it is the perfect pub to raise a glass in.
The Rutland Arms (86 Brown Street)
Just a five-minute amble from Sheffield Station stands this bright yellow building offering around 20 cask and keg taps as well as specialist bottles and cans. Also on offer here are vegan and gluten-free beers with a variety of local products and more independent brands.
The Head of Steam (103-107 Norfolk Street)
Situated close to the Crucible and Lyceum Theatres is this establishment offering a wide selection of cask ales from across Derbyshire and Yorkshire. Those who prefer lagers or IPAs are also in luck with plenty of brews to choose from.
Derby Station
The Brunswick Inn (1 Railway Terrace)
Originally a purpose-built commercial inn, the Brunswick is just a 10-minute walk along Railway Terrace from Derby Station. This pub in a traditional brick building offers beers from its brewery, the Brunswick Brewery Company, alongside a selection of ales. Over the years the Brunswick Brewing Company has established itself up and down the country and has collected many awards for its ale, from local festival awards to national recognition.
The Alexandra Hotel (203 Siddals Road)
Derby CAMRA started here back in 1974 and it is safe to say it remains a real ale-focused pub today. As well as six cask beers and keg choices, the Alex offers three Castle Rock Brewery beers and a selection of bottles, cans, and ciders just a short walk from Derby Station. Its unique interior is full of an eclectic mix of railway memorabilia, and outside, a class 37 locomotive cab resides in the car park.
The Smithfield Alehouse (Meadow Road)
Follow the River Derwent along from Derby Station towards Meadow Road to get to the cracking Smithfield Alehouse. It's no wonder that it has scooped Derby CAMRA’s Pub of the Year seven times! Established in 1840, the Smithfield always has a great selection of reasonably priced local cask beers.
Nottingham Station
Barley Twist (91 Carrington Street)
Spread over two floors and just a two-minute walk along Carrington Street over the Nottingham Canal stands the Barley Twist outlet. It offers two cask beer lines and 10 craft keg lines as well as a full menu of lager, cider, wine, spirits, and soft drinks.
The Vat and Fiddle (12 Queensbridge Road)
Exit Nottingham Station onto Queen’s Road and Sheriffs Way and head towards the iconic blue tower of the Castle Rock Brewery. Here stands this 1930s art deco-style building. It offers 13 cask beer lines as well as six craft keg lines with lager and cider also in keg.
The Kilpin Beer Café (10 Bridlesmith Walk)
A 10-minute stroll into the centre of Nottingham is this friendly and welcoming pub. Standing in a restored brick building with modern decor, The Kilpin offers brews from Budvar and Thornbridge for those who fancy seeing a little of the city centre while enjoying Beer Day.
Leicester Station
The Real Ale Classroom (34 Rutland Street)
Where better to start in Leicester than with the city’s first micropub, opened back in 2015 to serve great craft ale. A previous winner of the 'Best Pub Experience' in 2017, this pub is just a 10-minute walk from Leicester Station just off Rutland Street.
The King’s Head (36 King Street)
A traditional pub with a fireplace, exposed wood beams, and an old-world vibe offering beers and ales, some brewed by Black Country Ales. Real ale galore, it is just an 11-minute walk from Leicester Station with 12 pumps providing a vast selection for beer lovers.
The Rutland and Derby Arms (21 Millstone Lane)
This self-styled vibrant city pub offers local craft beer just a short stroll from Leicester’s cathedral quarter and a 15-minute walk into the city centre from the station. There is an extensive range of cask ales and ciders, continental lagers, and craft brews available.