Excellent, cozy pub that offers a large range of (guest) real ales and superior pub food.
This is one of the best "real ale pubs," or "gastro pubs," in Derby - a city that is brimming with great options for real ale aficionados. Among the many good pubs in the area (for an even greater choice of real ales, consider The Flower Pot), The Silk Mill is definitely the finest in terms of food. Their menu isn't huge (a good sign!), but varied - it's a modern interpretation of pub food, not so much grub but real food. As you might expect, prices for said food are also a tad higher than the local pub standard. But it's worth it.
The only food I had there personally was their signature "pig board," a sharer that included sausages wrapped in bacon, belly pork, pork pie and smoky popcorn. Very nice indeed, and well presented. I talked to other patrons who were trying their imaginative burgers, and they were all delighted by the quality and presentation.
This is one of the "hot spots" in Derby, so expect it to get very busy during weeknights and, especially, on weekends. When it's packed, the preparation of the food may take up to one hour (yes, that's 60 minutes). So carefully consider in advance whether you've got the time to linger. Of course, given the variety and quality of drinks, lingering doesn't seem to be such a bad option after all.
Service is friendly, if not always competent (beware of flying food trays when things get busy), the decor very appealing and inviting.
The Silk Mill is about a 10 minute walk from Derby Bus Station. read more