CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

DERBYSHIRE - Derby, City Centre, Olde Dolphin

National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part One

6-7 Queen Street, Derby, DE1 3DL

Tel: 01332 267711

Public Transport: Railway Station: Derby

Listed Status: Grade II

View this pub on a local map

Derby's oldest pub with the licence said to date from 1580, this four roomed pub is a remarkable survivor considering its city centre location. This is a late sixteenth century building but most of what we see today is the result of an inter-war restoration, which created much of the internal arrangements and character of the pub. Externally the upper floor is attractively half-timbered though a close inspection will show that the timbers are mostly modern - the original timbers failed when the external rendering was removed. The entrance leads to a corridor that passes through the building to the rear. It used to lead to some cottages but these have been demolished and a patio for outside drinking has been created. A staircase on the right leads to 1530 AD Steak Bar (the pub claims to date from 1530) - an upstairs restaurant only open Thu, Fri, Sat evenings from 6.30. This room does have massive sixteenth-century timbers visible and an old brick fireplace with a brass hood.

The four bars in the pub are on the left of the passage and all are connected to a central servery. The splendid very small snug at the rear right has a part glazed partition wall around the servery, full-height fielded paneling in oak on the other walls, 1930s fixed seating and leaded windows; the fireplace is possibly tiled but painted black, and service is from a hatch/door to the back of the bar. The lounge at the rear left has more 1930s fielded panelling, a large inter-war inglenook fireplace, a bar counter from the 30s with a formica top and old bar back shelves on what could be a Victorian mirrored back. The front right bar has a red quarry tiled floor, old dado panelling with benches attached, 1930s brick and wood surround fireplace with a log fire, bar back fitting is mainly from the 1930s but the bar counter was replaced in 1980s. On a slightly higher level is the Offilers Lounge, named after the local brewery which was closed by (Bass) Charrington in 1966, and so called because it did contain a collection of Offilers' breweriana, which has been removed. The counter here is the 1930s one, there are a number of bell pushes in the panel above the 1930s fixed seating but the fireplace is modern. Ghost walks start from here monthly on the first or second Monday which include a meal in the 1530AD restaurant.