Colston Crawford's Beer Column

You would hope not but recent signs are not good as it disappears from some pubs and is harder to get for others It would once have been unthinkable not to see Pedigree on the bar in a Marston’s pub. Are we seeing the slow death of Marston’s Pedigree at the hands of Carlsberg-Britvic? I posted this on a Facebook forum a couple of weeks ago. It might seem over-dramatic but the once classic beer is disappearing from some Marston’s pubs in favour of one of the Wainwright derivat

A little shorter (hurrah, you say) and lighter from me this week. Hands up if you know what these are? I say that in the full knowledge that a lot of beer drinkers, certainly those over 40, will know that they are carrykegs, used for taking home beer from the pub. I still use them a fair bit and I was prompted to write this piece after strolling into one of my locals with a carrykeg to grab a takeaway. A woman in a group eating at one of the tables was staring in my direction

The Royal Oak is at the heart of the village and its community in Ockbrook. Retired though I am, I’ve recently penned a few words for the Derby Telegraph to use as they wish about one of my all-time favourite pubs, the Royal Oak at Ockbrook, as the longstanding owners still seek to sell it and take a well-earned retirement. First, here’s what I’ve sent the paper (and website). Then I’ll add a few personal thoughts… The price of the historic Royal Oak pub at Ockbrook has been

Sisters Lydia (left) and Hayley Rowlinson took on The Crispin three years ago. When I retired from the Derby Telegraph in October 2025, I knew I’d miss writing the regular beer and pubs column that I’d done for 21 years. It was a part of me. Vaguely, I thought I might relaunch it as a blog, free of time constraints, free of the need to write a certain amount of words. It was a lunch at The Crispin in Great Longstone, in the Peak District, a week after I finished which firmed