Holly Bush

Holly Bush Inn - Makeney 003The Holly Bush, run by Chris and Alex, is a traditional 17th century village inn, where highwayman Dick Turpin is reported to have frequented on his travels.

Holly Bush J-pegs - 016_A Derby CAMRA Pub of the year in 2007, it’s described as ‘an increasingly rare breed of unspoilt inn, where time has stood still.’

One visitor, Daily Telegraph’s Michael Henderson, hailed the pub in his column for its wide-ranging ales, some still served from jugs, and its legendary pork pies.

‘See what an English pub can still be, in the right hands,’ he concluded.

In Chris and Alex’s hands, it’s gone from strength to strength, especially in introducing homemade food.

In 2015, the Holly Bush was voted Pub of the Year by Derby Telegraph’s ‘Beerhunter’ Colston Crawford, who called it ‘a magnificent pub in many ways.’

Colston hails the impact Chris and Alex have had on the pub since taking over four years ago, saying they have ‘taken it to a new level’.

Holly Bush J-pegs - 080_He applauds their ‘attention to detail,’ the extent to which they have ‘engaged the local community,’ the fact that you can order not just tea and coffee but a selection of them, and that as well as serving ‘filling pub grub’ they also have Derbyshire pyclets and ‘monster’ pork pies!

To find out more, visit the pub’s website here