Bubbling Over In Stenson

Keep Out Of The Black And In The Red, Nothing In This Game For Two In A Bed.

However, if you win on an episode of TV reality show Four In A Bed then you can justifiably shout it from the rooftops.

I make no excuses for using Jim Bowen’s catchphrase from Bullseye, which is as much of a national treasure as the likes of The Young Ones, Porridge or Minder.

Jim Bowen’s catchphrases were legendary and along with Tony Green they put darts on the pedestal it deserves to be…no one has ever had a triathlon quiz have they!

(They squeezed four into a bed here you know…)

Anyway, one of Jim’s favourites was the phrase “Here’s what you could have won,” to contestants who had blown the big prize and anyone who missed out on a few hours at 279 – The Bubble Inn DE73 7HL as a main prize would have been suitably deflated.

(nice bit of artwork in the pub) 

It’s an absolute classic boozer that is all things to all men (and women) with the gaffer being a former boxer…

(he wasn’t on this undercard though!)

who has spent a stint at HMP whilst also being a TV celeb (of sorts) after his boozer/hotel won an edition of Four In A Bed.

Unfortunately for Russ this is in fact a reality TV show where four contestants compare hotels and workaholic gaffer Connie Eleftheriou emerged victorious.

There’s a great story on The Bubble Inn in the Derby Evening Telegraph https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/special-features/meet-former-bad-lad-behind-645330 and the good news is that he has now bought a second boozer near to Ashbourne.

If it ends up anything like this one then it will be an absolute cracker.

I was there with Mrs BB and two kids late Sunday afternoon and the place was heaving.  It is a gloriously cluttered place next to a lock on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Stenson Marina.

(my kind of boat with some craft lager teasing you on board…)

I spotted a couple of ex Derby players in amongst the massed throng and, there is a really good mix of all ages, races and genders in this boozer.

Whilst there is a big restaurant and hotel attached it still feels very much like a pub.  The bar area has lots of boxing memorabilia and I reckon it was the youngest clientele I have seen in a boozer for some while…bearing in mind I don’t tend to go to Walkabout in city centres of course!

Whilst we were waiting for food, a boat rather conveniently went through the Locks,

which kept the kids amused…

(and me as well…quite exciting for a city boy…)

…and the beer, atmosphere and grub was spot on.

(lacings, the obligatory Derby shirt andsome bloke in a bow tie on a TV to please Rich)

With a gaffer who is 37 and full of energy then it is no surprise this place has a real vibrancy to it with live music on occasions and just a feel of something about to happen.

I can see Jim Bowen in here nursing a pint of bitter talking to the punters about prizes and a bit of Bully as it manages that very rare trick of being a boozer that appeals to all ages…

…and sells good food and beer (Seafarers English Ale) in a wonderful setting but still feels very much like a ‘local.’

Well worth a visit and I reckon canal and pub blogging guru Pete Allen should make this place his number one priority in 2018!