The King Is Dead – Long Live The Kings Head: Duffield

Following Russ’ controversial proposed ban from the comments section after the Brentwood debacle it was time to explore a bit of Derbyshire countryside.

Protracted negotiations from Russ’ lawyers against a strong law firm of Taylor, Hermit, Everitt, Mackay, Curmudgeon, Thurman and co, apparently all  members of the Bar (gettit?), ensured a decision was finally reached.

(missing K from pub signage found!)

If Birmingham City could escape defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of 2019 then Russ would be allowed his football faux pas and not outed as a skiing, baseball and cycling aficionado.

You might wonder just how long I can stretch this line out for (I reckon at least two more blog posts) but the end game is looming…honestly!

However, New Year’s Eve beckoned first and an eight-mile family walk book ended by two boozers in Duffield was as good a way as any to see out 2018.

As The Wickingman and Mappiman know, the lure of a good walk and a pint can’t be bettered whilst Martin often racks up the miles on his fitbit before a quick-fire spoons breakfast and a pint of crafty keg.

Rolling up in Duffield at just before midday meant the opportunity for Mrs BB and two of the ankle biters to pop into a boozer I thought had bitten the dust.

327 – The Kings Head DE56 4EH is situated a couple of doors away from newest kid on the block in Duffield – the Tollgate Brewery Tap House. 

It looked as though it might be consigned to the history books but it has clearly had a big refurb and is very much a boozer but with the added bonus of food.

There are two rooms with the big refurb occurring in ‘Reubens’ and I reckon they might just have hit on something as The White Hart is far more food based (post to come), The Town Street Tap is a micro and The Bridge Inn is a 2-1 Marston’s whilst The Pattenmakers Arms is a backstreet local

Apart from NYE though as a family followed us in heading for the ‘Reubens’ part of the pub but were told that it was a food free day apart from  a ‘street food’ offering later.

Nonetheless, seeing a pint of Jaipur (Thornbridge) at midday on a non-work day is just too good to miss…

and as it good it was, I may have been a little optimistic opening with that before an eight miler!

The first one out of the traps was remarkably good and there were already handful of other punters in and drinking so the scene was set for what I would imagine was a long New year’s Eve…

Darts, pool…

and big screens showing Michael Smith ahead of his pummelling by RVG in the Darts final (second most watched sport on Sky)

and it is great to see that this place has found a niche on the main street as the most ‘pubby’ offering.

It’s also the closest pub to Duffield Station and, as such, is under the obligation of pub blogging  #law367 and must sell good cask ale and be ‘a pub.’

As Russ has found out, these rules are stringent and apart from Dorridge Station (which was given exemption due to the fact Steve Bruce once lived there) all other stations in the Midlands need to sell good beer****

Anyway, suitably lubricated, a walk began whilst the debate raged over Russ’ impending ban…

***not necessarily a true fact