Derby! Who'd have thought it? A delicious destination. Somewhere you'd actually consider going to if you wanted to enjoy a day out, an overnight stay, or a weekend break while grazing on some fantastic food.

Something like £2.2-billion has been ploughed into the transformation of the city, which has given the place a genuine buzz.  Pubs, clubs, boutique hotels, an impressive city centre Shopping Centre, and a multi-million pound Arts Centre have all popped-up in recent times in a city which already boasted a couple of excellent theatres, and the largest collection of Joseph Wright paintings in the world.

And several bright-eyed and bushy-tailed restaurateurs and café owners have now been inspired to turn their gastronomic visions and food philosophies into reality here.

VisitDerby has been sufficiently boosted by all of this to compile a special page on its website, which highlights 16 of the best places to eat in Derby, in 2016.

Amongst them, one of the brightest-eyed and bushiest-tailed amongst them is Jack Rabbits - an aromatic food emporium where the emphasis is very much about lazy grazing.  And in a setting which feels like it's just been plucked from one of the coolest corners of New York City's Greenwich Village.

A short walk from here is the Pyclet Parlour - as good a reason as any for being tempted into the city's colourful Indoor Market.  The Parlour has not only resurrected and reinvented one of Derbyshire's greatest food traditions, but has also introduced a little bit of food theatre in the traditional market. 

Flat crumpets, made with milk from a local dairy, and baked on griddles, the pyclets can be bought to take home, or else garnished on the spot with the most mouthwatering choice of toppings: smoked salmon and horseradish cream; stilton, honey and walnuts; and goats cheese, Chorizo and sweet red peppers.

Elsewhere, The Exeter Arms is one of the highlights of a world-renowned Real Ale Trail described by Lonely Planet magazine as one of the world's top experiences.  Owned by former AntiPasti punk rock band member Martin Roper, it offers its guests (amongst other mouth-watering choices) a full “British Tapas Board” alongside its carefully kept rack of real ales.

The tapas includes of a slice of award-winning pork & stilton pie, a giant piece of home made crackling, hand cut chips, pickled onions, black pudding, and home made scotch eggs, sausage rolls and piccalilli.  All topped-off with a Union Jack flag. 

Call it retro.  Call it what you like - but when its all set against the traditional backdrop of an authentic Victorian pub, and prepared by someone as passionate as Martin, then it also deserves to be called “special”!

A one-time competitor in the Great British Menu on ITV, Martin loves one thing more than food.  And that's talking about food.  And how he tracks down his produce from local growers, or from his occasional foraging forays into the woods and green areas of the city.  Eat your heart out Noma!

Less than 5 minutes walk away, in the Cathedral Quarter, another slumbering giant is being brought back to life.  Having shut up shop several years ago, The Old Bell in Saddler Gate has now come under the control of Paul Hurst, who is now setting about breathing new life into one of the most historic properties in the city.

A former coaching inn, it's also renowned world-wide for having one of the most haunted rooms anywhere on the planet.  Like the rest of this Grade II listed property, the attic is currently being renovated, and - once that is ready - will be ready to host guests who don't mind sharing their room with an odd spirit (or two!). 

Two of the most recent additions to Derby's sizzling foodie scene include The Kedleston Country House just 10 minutes drive from the city centre, and The Brooklyn Social at the very heart of the city's throbbing nightlife.

Further details, and a full list of the 16 for '16, can be found at: http://www.visitderby.co.uk/dine/top-16-places-to-eat-drink-in-derby-2016/.

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For further information, please contact:

Michelle Booth Michelle.Booth@derby.gov.uk      Telephone: 01332-643414

Maggie Tillson  Maggie.Tillson@derby.gov.uk      Telephone: 01332-643414