Where is the Midlands best Micro? Cast Your Vote!

Having seen interest in the blog wane as pub visits have tailed off, there was a big spike after my recent post about Sawley Junction.

A top class little Micropub next to Long Eaton station saw a lot of views and some top notch comments including this one from Dave.

Whilst the claims of Sawley Junction being THE best Micro in Britain is a bold one, it is undoubtedly a corker of a boozer.

However, it set me thinking as to what exactly is the best ‘small’ pub in the Midlands? I am using the terminology ‘small’ pub as I am including some new kids on the block that used to be shops etc but not necessarily bijoux.

I reckon I’ve got about 50 to choose from that I’ve visited during my blogging career (see list at bottom of post) and it’s a tough job.

Sawley Junction is right up there but I can’t discount the Real Ale Corner in Chesterfield,

which gave me one of the all time great photos on Life After Football.

The Feather Star in Wirksworth is another contender as it is quirky and has some top tunes on whereas The Chip and Pin in Melbourne sticks to the old school winning formula

but does it very well.

The Pestle and Mortar in Hinckley gets a vote for selling Bass and acerbic humour whilst The Turtle’s Head in Aldridge

was, to all intents and purposes, a pub in a shopping precinct playing eighties music and selling cheese cobs.

The Last Heretic in Burton is always good value and feels like a football pub whilst The Tap at No. 76

on Market Street in Ashby De La Zouch is always heaving and generates a terrific atmosphere.

My final two in my top 10 are the Pick and Davy in Eastwood, which was the friendliest boozer I’ve been in for a long time

as well as The Belper Tap in Belper as this is a great pub town, the gaffer had completely renovated a former Indian restaurant in six weeks and it was less niche than most.

Look I’ve chosen a top ten but there are plenty more that could be in here…

What are your top three micros in the Midlands?   Answers in the comments section please and there is a prize of a beermat to the best entry!

• The Last Post (Derby)
• The Chip and Pin (Melbourne)
• The Feather Star (Wirksworth)
• The Town Street Tap (Duffield)
• Suds & Soda (Derby)
• Draycott Tap House (Draycott)
• Maison Du Biere (Ashbourne)
• The Pot Hole (Allestree)
• The Real Ale Corner (Chesterfield)
• The Chesterfield Alehouse (Chesterfield)
• The Newsroom (Matlock)
• The Creaky Floorboard (Derby)
• Little Chester Ale House (Little Chester)
• Bodell’s (Swadlincote)
• Arkwright’s (Belper)
• The Worm Has Turned (Derby)
• Sawley Junction (Long Eaton)
• Bitter and Twisted (Coalville)
• The Chequered Flag (Castle Donington)
• The Apiary Café Bar (Castle Donington)
• The Needle and Pin (Loughborough)
• The Tap At No 76 (Ashby De La Zouch)
• The Gas Tap (Melton Mowbray)
• The Cask Bah (Loughborough)
• The Wheeltapper (Loughborough)
• The Pestle and Mortar (Hinckley)
• Elbow Room Ale and Cider House (Hinckley)
• Brew (Ashby De La Zouch)
• Crane and Wells Tap (Kegworth)
• The Ale Rooms Knowle (Knowle)
• The Vaults (Knowle)
• Tilt (Birmingham)
• The Turtles Head (Aldridge)
• Platform Three (Olton)
• Craft Inn Shirley (Shirley)
• Beerbohm (Lichfield)
• Wellers (Newcastle)
• Bitter Suite (Lichfield)
• The Last Heretic (Burton)
• Cask and Pottle (Tutbury)
• The Junction (Stretton)
• Brews of the World (Burton)
• The Cask Bar (Newcastle)
• Sanctuary Ale House (Hartshill)
• Artisan Tap (Hartshill)
• Sankey’s Tap House (Brownhills)
• The Weighbridge Inn (Burton)
• Caught & Bowled (Giltbrook)
• The Gamekeeper’s (Eastwood)
• Mellor’s Mews (Eastwood)
• Pick And Davy (Eastwood)
• The Belper Tap (Belper)