20/09/2026
Yep ! ๐ป ๐ซก
'There's no surprise,' were Oscar Fisher's first thoughts when he read the European Bar Guide 2026 recently, only to find a hidden gem Derbyshire pub reclaiming its spot in the top 20 ๐บ
The Holly Bush Inn, in Makeney, beats 'bars' in London, Paris, Berlin and Prague and is the highest ranking English pub on the list - essentially making it the best 'bar' in England ๐
And following his visit a year or so ago, it's so easy to see why everyone loves the Holly Bush.
You'll find it among a narrow cluster of buildings in Makeney, which sits just off the A6 near Milford - making it easy to access via bus, or even via train if you fancy a walk from Duffield or Belper.
You don't even need to walk through the doors to enjoy the 17th-century pub; the characterful old boozer sticks out like a sore thumb, especially at night, when the luminated old sign seems like a light at the end of the tunnel.
Entering the pub feels like stepping back in time - even more so than the dozens of pubs which have that time-capsule feel to them.
You'll see a range of obscure ales which often chop and change, but also some of your more typical ciders and la**rs - ensuring all visitors are catered for.
You can then find a seat under the exposed beams in the main sitting area, where old pictures and nods to the past adorn the walls - as well as an impressive set of bull horns.
There's also a grand fireplace, which is put to use in the winter months, as well as additional seating in the porch/extension to the rear, where fairy lights and an old red phone box make for quite a quirky atmosphere that lets your eyes wander.
But besides great b**r, service and scenery, one thing the Holly Bush does better than 99 per cent of the pubs out there is pub grub.
While it serves food from an extensive menu featuring braised lamb shepherd's pie, gnocchi with prawns and mushrooms and a host of other dishes, the 'snacks' at the bar are what really set the Holly Bush apart from the rest.
At the time of Oscar's visit, they served some delightful homemade scotch eggs, offering the most bizarre variety of ingredients.
You could get turkey, brie and cranberry 'Sceggs', as well as black pudding, pea and prosciutto, pepperoni and hot honey, ham, smoked cheese and spring onion and broccoli and stilton. Or you can get the traditional scotch eggs - and they all come fresh and priced at ยฃ3.95 each.
If you're ever in this lovely corner of the county, or fancy a trip as we approach the colder months - look no further than the Holly Bush Inn, says Oscar.
