Silk Mill Derby
📍 1.4 miles from Pride Park Stadium
About this Pub
Why it's great for Matchdays
In Derby’s Cathedral Quarter, The Silk Mill opens early on Saturday Derby County home matchdays for pre-match food and drink, making it a practical city-centre rally point before heading to Pride Park. It serves a full food menu and real ales, with regular cask choices listed by CAMRA/WhatPub. The pub is also close to key bus routes for onward travel. With limited pub options by the stadium itself, many supporters use central venues like this before the game. Away-fan forum threads also include The Silk Mill among recommended pre-match spots in town, indicating a mixed, neutral crowd on matchdays.
Recent Fan Reviews
A friendly welcome from the chap that was behind the bar. This is a traditional pub serving good quality pub meals and snacks. I can recommend the chicken bbq chip bucket! We will certainly return to try the other food on the menu. It’s dog friendly too!
Excellent pub! I visited here on a Saturday evening with my wife as we were staying at the Premier Inn a few minutes walk away, after watching a show at The Vaillant. So from a location perspective it’s excellent and it’s with a short walking distance of the locations mentioned above and is an excellent choice if you’re not wanting to be in very busy and lively city centre pubs. The staff here were super attentive, friendly and efficient. The pub has an excellent outdoor area, spacious and well laid out. The inside of the pub looks really nice, good decor, clean, plenty of seating available. Good choice of drinks and bar snacks, we didn’t eat here so cannot comment on any food offering. Prices were as expected for a city pub of this standard. Toilets were clean despite the number of customers. My wife made a point of telling me that the ladies was spotless and had sanitary items available for free which she was very impressed about.
I had the Derby rib. The portion was good. The burger was good, two smash patties and beef shin on top. It would have been nice if there was more inside that wasn't beef.
Derby Silk Mill, located in the heart of Derby, is a fascinating blend of history, innovation, and interactive learning. Known as the world’s first factory, it’s part of the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, and you can really feel the weight of history as soon as you step inside. The museum does a wonderful job of telling the story of Derby’s industrial heritage while making it accessible and engaging for all ages. The exhibits are thoughtfully arranged, covering everything from the city’s pioneering role in the Industrial Revolution to modern-day engineering marvels. There’s a strong hands-on element — with workshops, maker spaces, and interactive displays — making it a great spot for families and curious minds alike. The staff and volunteers are friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the mill’s legacy. The building itself is beautifully restored, mixing its historic charm with modern touches. Plus, the riverside location makes for a pleasant stroll before or after your visit. If you’re interested in history, engineering, or just want an inspiring day out, Derby Silk Mill is a must-visit. It’s not just a museum — it’s a place where past and future meet.
Excellent place for a quiet beer and a bite to eat. Wide selection of beers etc. and a decent selection of nosh. Close to the city centre but just off the beaten track. Spotlessly clean,friendly,helpful staff and a lovely laid back atmosphere with some decent background music wafting around. There’s an outside beer garden type place with a smoking shelter that could be mistaken for a sauna ! Well worth a visit.