Slightly later than I intended but I can’t let the fact Pete Shelley passed away go without a mention. Considering The Buzzcocks never had a hit single (back in the day when the Top 40 mattered) that charted higher than number 12, their influence is massive.
(picture c/o BBC)
My elder sister always liked Manchester’s finest punk/pop band and I would sneak into her bedroom and ‘borrow’ Singles Going Steady to play repeatedly on my record player.
The crackle as the needle hit the vinyl is a sound that still can’t be beat and as Shelley launched into Orgasm Addict with Diggle, Garvey and Maher smashing out the rhythm section, it was punk pop at its finest with some classic tunes that made an indelible imprint on my youth.
RIP Pete.
Little did I know that around 38 years later I’d be sitting in a boozer off the classic A514 (Russ’ favourite route from Swadlincote to Derby) road, having a post-work pint with a colleague chewing the fat about the Buzzcocks.
My work pal is only 28 so has no idea about either the Buzzcocks or the Fine Young Cannibals and their cover version of “Ever Fallen In Love” so it was an educational session for ten minutes!
However, he does know a fair bit around beer and boozers and his comment that “this place could be an absolute gem,” is spot on.
321 – Crewe And Harpur DE73 7JA is situated on the famous Swarkestone Bridge between the Derby suburbs of Chellaston and Melbourne (they’d probably prefer to be called villages) and doesn’t have many chimney pots in close proximity.
However, with the River Trent overlooking the beer garden, it is the sort of boozer Pete might visit on his canal boat from Brum…
This stretch of the A514 is a busy stretch so there is plenty of passing trade and, in the modern era, this pub reflects its position.
It’s under the Marston’s Rotisserie guise and is ostensibly a big restaurant style boozer (with a small area for drinkers) and has some accommodation attached in the old stables.
You can drive past this place in the summer and the beer garden is packed and it is, apparently, a Grade II listed coaching house that dates back to the 18th Century.
It’s a behemoth of a building but if you look at the website I reckon the fact it is advertising its rooms so you can “stay with us and explore the glorious Peak District,” is a line Alistair Campbell would be proud of bearing in mind it close to Burton than Belper.
Nonetheless, it’s a picturesque setting but when we ventured in at around 4.30 on a Tuesday there weren’t many in.
That’s not unusual but I know what my drinking pal meant as it just felt very ‘chain pub.’ The barman was very friendly and I had an excellent pint of Pedigree (Marston’s) whilst he had a top notch Hobgoblin (Wychwood) so the beer is clearly well kept.
But, my pal is also like many other under 30 punters and would like one craft option and I have to agree. Two cask ales are fine in a boozer like this but one craft option would also work and I reckon boozers are missing a trick if they don’t.
However, this place is primarily food based nowadays and must be ticking over nicely as it is surviving and probably banking on another glorious summer with one of Derbyshire’s best beer gardens.
So, a good 40 minutes post work chatting about Buzzcocks, football and cricket – can there be any better combination? The beer was good, the staff were friendly and there is a lot to like about this place.
But, you just feel it would be better if It wasn’t quite so ‘chain pub.’
Welcome back from your 3 pint ban.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It’s a tough school but I’ll take it 👍 I come bearing news of two definite Bass 🔺 boozers in Leicestershire…
LikeLiked by 1 person
A 40 minute chat about the Buzzcocks, football and cricket does sound like a perfect conversation. Saw them live – masters of the supreme 3 minute tune- more pop than punk in some ways and much loved. Ps think Marston’s should stump up and sponsor your blog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No finer conversation – except perhaps for The Clash! Yes I agree they were pop really but by today’s charts standards they are almost Motorhead…..I shall be speaking to Marston’s immediately and requesting a large wedge of cash (or Pedgiree) to improve my Christmas spirit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are quite right, we’ve been here a few times, although access is from the canal (a bit of a stroll away) rather than from the river. Here is the potted history from our first visit in 1986 – https://pubsthenandnow.blogspot.com/2016/12/204-crewe-harpur-swarkestone-derbyshire.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic!!! Love the 1986 picture – pubs as I remember them when I first started drinking..interestign to see how it’s changed and probably in line with many riverside/canalside boozers in terms of being food orientated.
LikeLike
…couldn’t help noticing the Bass signs outside in the first photo on PubsThen and Now
LikeLiked by 2 people
I spotted those too!!!!! Halcyon days of Bass houses….
LikeLiked by 1 person
“(Russ’ favourite route from Swadlincote to Derby) ”
Indeed! You’d think I’d have a sixth sense for when someone posts about the A514 but sadly, I’ve been busy with assisting my wife with her catering and so am a day late. (sigh)
“so it was an educational session for ten minutes!”
Educational for him or for you? 🙂
“with the River Trent overlooking the beer garden”
I see that on Streetview. You can’t tell from your photo that the beer garden is across the road (looks good though).
“this pub reflects its position.”
Also indicated by its large car park.
“It’s a behemoth of a building”
Yep. And they have some nifty mattresses in their rooms apparently. I’m actually going to jot down what they have and tell the wife, as she’s looking for a new mattress after Christmas. 🙂
“and I reckon boozers are missing a trick if they don’t.”
(nods)
“However, this place is primarily food based nowadays and must be ticking over nicely”
And a quick look at booking a room shows they’re doing pretty good there as well.
“But, you just feel it would be better if It wasn’t quite so ‘chain pub.’”
Can’t really fault that line of reasoning.
But… it’s on the A514! (thumbs up!) 🙂
Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely educational for him. You’ve got to keep these young whippersnappers up to speed….Always like to help Mrs Russ in her quest for new mattresses…
LikeLike
Great post and lovely looking pub LAF.
Surely though the highlight is the Hobgoblin at it’s finest, even carrying off the awkward looking tall glass with aplomb.
Really needed another photo showing the (inevitable) classic lacings halfway down the glass.
Hobgoblin is one of the few commercial BBB’s which I think is almost as good in the bottle as on cask – top beer and usually at a very good price in the supermarket (in my humble opinion of course).
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your opinion is very valid Hermit!!!! Yes I like Hobgoblin and the bottled version is always consistent….It does look terrific on that picture….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Booking in there to ‘enjoy the Peak District’ is like flying into the UK, landing at London Luton Airport and thinking you’re in … London?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha spot on! Probably closer to the lickey hills than the peaks!
LikeLike