Derbyshire does well out of CAMRA’s own “Dog Friendly” tag — it turns out to be the most reliable single clue to a genuinely welcoming pub across this county, from Derby’s West End right out to the Hope Valley. Here’s what Figo and I could verify, town by town.
Derby
- The Greyhound, 76 Friar Gate, West End, DE1 1FN
- Brick & Tile, 1 Brick Street, West End, DE1 1DU
- Crescent Inn, 83 Wild Street, New Zealand, DE1 1GP — even provides water bowls for dogs
Chesterfield
- Bull’s Head, 1 Broomhill Rd, Old Whittington, S41 9DB
- Punch Bowl, 31 Holywell Street, S41 7SA
- Chesterfield Arms, 40 Newbold Road, S41 7PH
Buxton
- Buxton Brewery Trackside (Tap House), Unit 1a, Staden Business Park, SK17 9RZ
- The Old Clubhouse, 3 Water Street, SK17 6XN
Visit Buxton’s own tourism page also names The Vault, La Gaby Pizzeria, The Old Sun Inn, the Café at Poole’s Cavern, High Peak Bookstore and Cafe, and the Old Hall Hotel’s restaurant and wine bar as welcoming “well-behaved dogs” — a solid official steer, though the page doesn’t give street addresses or say which areas allow dogs, so ring ahead if you’re planning around a specific one.
Bakewell
The Wheatsheaf Pub and Pantry, Bridge Street, DE45 1DS — the official Visit Peak District business directory calls it an “award-winning family and dog-friendly pub.”
Ashbourne
- Coach & Horses, 27 Dig Street, DE6 1GF
- Hug & Heave, 33 St John Street, DE6 1GP
Ilkeston & Swadlincote
- Gallows Inn, 374 Nottingham Road, Ilkeston, DE7 5BN
- Railway Inn, Midway Road, Swadlincote, DE11 7NR — one of the few listings with real detail: dogs are specifically allowed “in public bar and lounge.”
The Peak District (Hope Valley & around)
- Old Nag’s Head, Grindsbrook Booth, Edale, S33 7ZD — described as “child, pet and muddy boot friendly.”
- Bull’s Head Hotel, Cross Street, Castleton, S33 8WH (the Derbyshire Castleton, not the one near Rochdale).
- Scotsman’s Pack Inn, School Lane, Hathersage, S32 1BZ — dogs confirmed in the bar area and outdoor patio; other rooms unconfirmed.
- Yorkshire Bridge Inn, Ashopton Road, Bamford, S33 0AZ, near Ladybower Reservoir — even stocks dog treats at the bar.
- Anchor Inn, Four Lane Ends, Tideswell, SK17 8RB — the clearest confirmation in this whole guide: “dog friendly throughout the pub.”
Where we found gaps
Matlock and Belper are genuinely thin spots: Matlock’s one previously dog-friendly venue, MoCa Bar, has closed long-term and been taken over by a new business we couldn’t yet verify, and Belper town centre itself turned up nothing we could confirm. We also deliberately left out the Anglers Rest in Bamford, which several older sources still list as dog-friendly — its own website now appears to be a parked domain, suggesting it may have closed, so we’re not recommending a visit until that’s confirmed.
Whichever pub you pick, a few of us on the team always keep a calming collar or a treat or two handy for a busy beer garden — useful if your dog finds all those new smells a bit much.
FAQs
What’s the most reliably dog-friendly pub in Derbyshire?
The Anchor Inn in Tideswell has the clearest confirmation of any venue in this guide — its own CAMRA listing states it’s “dog friendly throughout the pub,” rather than just a general tag.
Are there dog-friendly pubs in Matlock or Belper?
This is a genuine gap. Matlock’s one previously dog-friendly venue has closed long-term, and Belper town centre didn’t produce a venue we could independently verify. We’d treat this as an open gap in our research rather than a confirmed absence.
Is the Anglers Rest in Bamford still dog-friendly?
We’re not sure it’s still trading — its own website now appears to be a parked domain, which often signals a business has closed. We’d recommend checking before making a special trip.
