Derbyshire & Notts

Beautiful Country Pubs

The Vintage Inns of Derbyshire & Notts Collection

From rural pastures to historic hamlets, the five hostelries comprising the Vintage Inns South Derbyshire Collection are unique places to visit – yet all have much in common!

They all have pleasant walks from the door and many have country parks, heritage attractions and picturesque hamlets nearby to wonder at. Visit us for a morning coffee or refreshing drink, a light lunch or even a hearty evening meal to round off your outing.

Each of our inns is a sympathetic restoration of a village pub, and often centuries old. They have their own character and charm but all offer carefully restored period features, log fires and a select team of friendly staff.

You’ll love the ancient Spread Eagle by the babbling Alder Brook in Rolleston, and the waterside walks from The Otter near Kegworth. You wouldn’t want to miss The Hanging Gate at Shottlegate, a destination pub with the Amber and Derwent valleys so close by. And the rural delights around The Springfield Inn at Lowdham and The Rose & Crown at Morley are sought out by many visitors.

The Vintage Inns of South Derbyshire offer a warm welcome and respite on a cold winter’s day and the ideal spot to enjoy sunshine, a cold drink and beautiful rural views on balmy summer evenings.

All our inns serve a full menu of traditional British favourites seven days a week, plus appetising blackboard specials, and a selection of succulent roasts on a Sunday. At the bar you’ll be tempted by a fine range of cask conditioned ales (including popular local brews) and regular guest beers. Vintage Inns also pride themselves on an excellent choice of wines with varieties of all the popular grapes on offer and a flavour and price to suit every taste, occasion and pocket.

ContentsSpringfield Inn – Lowdham

Hanging Gate – BelperRose & Crown – DerbyThe Otter – KegworthSpread Eagle – Burton

The Trent Lock – Sawley

Countryside walksWaterside walks Heritage sites Visitor attractionsInformation National Trust sites Museums

Rose and Crown

Springfield Inn

Spread Eagle

Hanging Gate

The Otter

M1

M1

The White Peak

National ForestLeicester

Derby

A515

A515

A511 A42

A444A38

A6

A6

A6A61

A619

A46

A614

The Trent Lock

Nottingham

Vintage Inn CollectionDerbyshire

1For information about The Springfield Inn and the many great things to do in this area visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thespringfieldinnlowdham

Springfield Inn Old Epperstone Road, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7BZ Tel. 0115 9663387

There’s no mistaking the rambling outlines of The Springfield Inn at Lowdham – its complex of long, sloping tiled roofs and white walls are a distinctive landmark in this little village.

The pub’s location makes it a magnet for walkers and visitors to this beautiful part of England who are seeking a comfortable place to rest and a quiet corner in which to enjoy a delicious meal and a chat with friends.

Lowdham, its name meaning ‘village by the loud stream’ in old English, is near the River Trent, and it is possible to pick up the Trent Valley Way by leaving The Springfield and walking into the village, passing by St Mary the Virgin Church, crossing the Nottingham Road and heading into nearby Gunthorpe and to the River Trent.

And there’s a walkway alongside the Cocker Beck from the arboretum at the rear of the village hall to the playing fields gate at Southwell Road. There is a footpath to the rear of the school to St Mary’s Church, and a lovely walk alongside the Cocker Beck where you can catch glimpses of kingfishers.

There’s a great deal to explore in this area, ranging from the historic to the new. Not far from Lowdham is the site of the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487 where Henry VII defeated a rebel army in a bloody clash.

By contrast, at Holme Pierrepoint is the National Water Sports Centre, one of the largest outdoor activity centres in the UK. And at Patchings Farm Arts Centre there are 60 acres of grounds with gardens and galleries.

And then there is the vibrant, bustling city of Nottingham, offering a rich mix of first class shopping and contemporary entertainments. Take time to visit Nottingham Castle, actually a Georgian House, perched on top of Castle Rock.

A good day out…

• Take a morning to explore some of Nottingham’s many attractions.

• Join us at The Springfield Inn for a great lunch.

• Enjoy an afternoon stroll in the countryside around Lowdham.

Hanging Gate34 Ashbourne Road, Shottle Gate, Belper, DE56 2LE Tel. 01773 550467

This farmhouse-style inn rests in the hamlet of Shottlegate onthe main road between Belper and Ashbourne and has long beena destination pub/restaurant, as well as a local watering hole.

Indeed, it dates back 350 years as a traveller’s rest and used to have stableswhere horses could take a break whilst their owners tucked into hearty pubfayre. Today, it is cars instead of horses, but visitors are still drawn by theconsistently good food, fine wines, real cask ales and warming log fires.

The remains of Roman pottery kilns have been found at Shottlegate, but ithas remained a rural outpost through the ages and left industrial expansionto the market town of Belper just 1.5 miles east. Originally renowned fornail manufacturing, Belper boomed from the 1830s when textile pioneerJedediah Strutt started building water-powered cotton mills and the world’sfirst industrial community in the Derwent Valley.

The famous North Mill survived and is home to the popular Visitor Centrecontaining fascinating artefacts and original machinery that illustrate justwhy the Derwent Valley Mills make up a conservation area and a designatedWorld Heritage Site. The beautiful river gardens, developed from the osierbeds used by the mills, are also worth a visit and offer an idyllic place to walkand contemplate.

Heage Windmill is less than a mile north from Belper and as the onlystone-towered, six sailed windmill in Britain it is a lovely spot for a picnic,while Carsington Water to the west offers bird watching, canoeing, fishing,cycling, walking, horse riding and water skiing. Alport Height, nearWirksworth, is just a few miles north and is over 1,000 ft high - a great placeto walk and take in panoramic views across the White Peak.

Hang around a while...

• Ramble and climb to your heart’s content with the Amber and Derwent valley on the doorstep.

• Belper has a fascinating history and there are Heritage Walks that take in all its monuments to the Industrial Revolution.

• The Hanging Gate is a friendly and welcoming base for both, so take a coffee or light lunch before, or some refreshing drinks and a rewarding meal afterwards, to round off a perfect day.

2For information about The Hanging Gate and just some of the many things to see and do in the Belper area, visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thehanginggatebelper

This pretty white bricked inn is located in the rural hamlet of Morley, between Derby and Ilkeston, and has long been a focal point for the local community.

It was originally built as a wooden shed by the Kerry family in 1786 and utilised by the coach trade created by the increasing trade in the area. The grounds cover an ancient crossroads and there is little doubt it’s been the meeting place of wayfarers in previous years - and the haunt of highwaymen.

Morley is still a vibrant village with its residential core surrounded by working farms. Its elevated position offers marvellous views to the north and some old quarries that have been turned into a peaceful nature reserve. Some of the 17th century cottages and almshouses remain, while the Parish Church of St Matthew dates back to Norman times and has one of the finest displays of late medieval glass in the country.

Close to the church, on the route of the pre-Roman Portway, is a strange moated hump about 20 feet high (called Morley Motte) which was either a defensive mount or look out post, while just south of the village is Breadsall Priory, now a country hotel with a golf course of national fame. The priory was founded in 1260 and is Grade II listed, plus it was once the home of Erasmus Darwin, philosopher, physician, poet and grandfather to Charles Darwin.

Ilkeston to the east might be an industrial area, but is surrounded by beautiful countryside and played an important part in the writings of D. H. Lawrence. Its Charter Fair dates from 1251 and is the oldest street fair in Europe. To the south is Derby a city with a fine Cathedral, Industrial Museum and Arboretum amongst its attractions.

Rose & Crown Main Road, Morley, Ilkeston, DE7 6DG Tel. 01332 782921

For information about The Rose & Crown and just some of the many things to see and do in the Ilkeston area, visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/theroseandcrownmorley

Coming up roses in the great outdoors...

• This area is the gateway to the panoramic Peak District National Park – need we say more!

• The five mile circular Roman’s Walk starts at Cloves Wood, half a mile south of the pub, and passes through undulating countryside, via Morley Motte, across the golf course to the church and beyond.

• Historic Morley is obviously worth visiting and The Rose & Crown, on Main Road, is the main attraction when it comes to great food, real ales, fine wines and warming log fires!

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This black and white timbered riverside inn resides in the thriving village of Kegworth situated just off J24 of the M1. It also borders Nottingham and Leicestershire and is close to East Midlands Airport.

An inn has stood on site since the early 1780s and the first was called The Navigation, after the Loughborough Navigation Canal whose trade it was built to serve. The current building was erected in 1927 and known as The White House (its first licensee, Harry Stanton, also ran a ferry service across the River Soar) but it was extensively refurbished in the 1990s and renamed The Otter.

Historical artefacts found nearby indicate that Kegworth dates back to at least ancient Britain times, while a Saxon cemetery discovered 200 years ago between the A6 and River Soar suggests a sizeable Saxon village. The earliest surviving building is the church, which dates from 1250, and its imposing spire still dominates the skyline today. Plus, many of the buildings along the High Street date from the 18th century when it formed part of the main London to Manchester Road – and Kegworth even has its own museum.

Local beauty spots include the Jacobean stately home just north that is Thrumpton Hall, and the 15 acres of shrubs, wild garden, woodland walks, pools, lawns, rose garden and arboretum that make up Whatton Gardens to the south.

Meanwhile, the world famous Donnington Park Motor Racing circuit is just a few miles west and is the new home of the British Formula One Grand Prix, as well as old favourites like the British Motorcycle Grand Prix and the British Touring Car Championships.

The OtterLondon Road, Kegworth, Derby, DE74 2EY Tel. 01509 672372

A place (Keg)worth visiting... • From the pub, the adjoining banks

of the River Soar offer lovely walks both ways and an abundance of birds to spot – swans, ducks and herons, kingfishers.

• Alternatively, stride out to Redhill Marina where all sorts of pleasure boats take rest.

• Whatever your pleasure, you’ll be hard pushed to find better food, real cask ales, roaring log fires and convivial hospitality anywhere in the area!

For information about The Otter and just some of the many things to see and do in the Kegworth area, visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/theotterkegworth 4

This ancient inn nestles in the commuter village of Rolleston, just south of the River Dove, which together with the Alder Brook creates a riverscape that probably no place in Derbyshire can rival.

The Spread Eagle has long been a focal point in the local community because the building dates back to the 16th century and was previously used as a schoolhouse and a venue for local courts. The inn was once known as The Mosley Arms and before that The Eagle and Child, but it was in 1851 that it became The Spread Eagle.

The spire of St. Mary’s Parish Church is the local landmark – right next to the pub – and though the present building dates from the 13th century, there are records of a church on the same site soon after AD 900. The impressive gates of Rolleston Hall, the entrance to the former home of Sir Oswald Mosley, are passed as you leave the village. The Mosleys succeeded the Rollestons as Lords of the Manor in 1614 and their coat-of-arms can still be seen above the fireplace in The Spread Eagle.

Today, Rolleston is fortunate in having several areas which are especially attractive to wildlife including Brook Hollows in the centre, Craythorne Wood and the Jinny Nature Trail on the eastern edge. The Old Dove in Marston Fields is also listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Nearby Tutbury offers an imposing castle; fine Tudor, Georgian and Regency houses in its charming wide main street; ancient glassmaking, plus a Norman church, while Burton four miles north of Rolleston may be famous for brewing, but also offers striking Gothic architecture, a multi purpose arts centre, a 40 acre recreational lake plus beautiful formal and informal landscapes set alongside the River Trent.

Spread EagleChurch Road, Rolleston-On-Dove, Burton-on-Trent, DE13 9BE Tel. 01283 813004

For information about The Spread Eagle and just some of the many things to see and do in the Rolleston area, visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thespreadeaglerolleston

The eagle has landed...

• Turn left past the pub, down to Rolleston Hall, and you can pick up a circular cross country walk that leads to the village of Tutbury, via the oldest surviving corn mill in the area.

• Alternatively, head east from Rolleston Hall on the bridleway to Tugby with Crow Wood on the right. From here you can continue across fields and stiles to the hamlet of Skeffington.

• Spread the word – when you’re out and about there is no better place to start or finish a leisurely walk. Fine wine, real ales and hearty pub fayre are always on the menu.

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The Trent Lock joined the Vintage Inns family in 2011, but this beautiful old waterside pub is anything but a new kid on the block. When it first opened its doors in 1791, George III was on the throne and the French Revolution was fresh in the memory. Known as The Navigation Inn, it served the recently constructed Erewash Canal and was also central to a local farm. Indeed, this loveable old inn still retains the homely charm of a traditional country farmhouse.

Many a thirsty canal user has moored their boat outside The Trent Lock’s welcoming doors. In fact, boats used to tie up to bollards in the shallows in front of the pub. These days The Trent Lock is popular with anyone looking for a refreshing drink and fresh, seasonal food, including sailing enthusiasts, anglers, cyclists and walkers.

Nearby Trent Lock, from which the pub takes its name, is one of the most significant canal junctions in the country, marking the point where the River Trent and River Soar meet the Erewash Canal. It’s also the point where three county borders meet. So you can take in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in one 5-minute stroll!

The pub is located in the scenic South Derbyshire village of Sawley and is close to Long Eaton, the river Trent and the Trent & Mersey Canal. It’s a lovely spot that’s handy for Sawley Marina (which is one of the largest on the inland waterways), Trent Lock Golf Centre, the 360-acre Attenborough nature reserve and the ancient 13th century All Saints Church.

If you love a good walk, The Trent Lock is ideally placed for everything from a casual Sunday stroll to a challenging hike. The canal towpath is a perennial favourite with walkers and the pub is also a handy stop-off point for anyone tackling the Bestwick Memorial Trail, Trent Valley Way or Midshires Way.

The Trent LockLock Lane, Long Eaton, NG10 2FY

For information about The Trent Lock and just some of the many things to see and do in the Sawley area, visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thetrentlocksawley

Our Lock is the key to a great day out…

• The Erewash Canal runs north from the waterway crossroads of Trent Lock, past Nottingham, to the heart of DH Lawrence country.

• The nearby Attenborough Nature Centre (3.5 miles) received a Gold award for sustainable tourism in 2007 and was listed in the world’s top ten eco destinations by BBC Wildlife magazine.

• The beautifully carved Sawley Angels, dating from 1270-80, were taken from All Saints Church in Sawley and are now in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

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