How does Shardlow manage to support seven pubs when bigger villages have none? A few thoughts...

The Malt Shovel at twilight, by the canal at Shardlow.

It’s long been a fascination of mine that the village of Shardlow supports no less than seven pubs in these most difficult times for the hospitality industry.

It’s a freakishly large number for a village with, give or take, 1,000 voters (I know this, since I used to help out as a poll clerk during elections as a sideline).

Compare that to Findern, which has no pubs for almost 5,000 inhabitants, or Borrowash, which has one – while neighbouring Ockbrook has four. You could cite many more examples but you won’t find another village the same size as Shardlow with as many pubs unless it’s an out-and-out tourist trap.

History tells us how it came to be. Shardlow, where a canal and two rivers meet, was once the most important inland port in the country. There would have been as many trade visitors, maybe more, than residents at times and plenty of business to go around for the pubs.

It is not so now and, over the years, perhaps unsurprisingly, some of them have changed hands often as licensees, especially those under the yoke of large pub companies, have struggled to survive.

But there are always new people willing to give it a go and two very recent changes have seen younger licensees throw their hats into the ring.

Conor Hancox took on the historic Malt Shovel, right by the canal, in August last year and has recently reopened after a fairly extensive refurbishment by its owners, Marstons.

"I love living in the village and fancy staying here forever," Conor told the Derby Telegraph when the pub reopened, adding: "I am all for growing the local community and I want to do my bit to help people thrive here.” I hope it works out for him.

Even newer on the scene, early this year, brothers Matt and Jordan Slack have taken on the Shakespeare on the main road, which had been run for six years by Mick Pidgeon and Di Grimadell. The brothers have big plans and food will be a big factor – they already run a hog roast business.

Matt told me: “If I were to say anything on how it’s going, I would like to mention the ongoing support of a wonderful group of locals who keep all of the pubs going all year round. I’m sure the other licensees would agree that we couldn't do what we do without them.”

Brothers Matt (left) and Jordan Slack have big plans after taking on the Shakespeare Inn in Shardlow.

Perhaps that’s the secret. The good folk of Shardlow actually like pubs! However, I think one of the other big reasons the village still supports so many is that they all offer something different.

Two, the Dog & Duck and the Clock Warehouse, are out-and-out Marstons food pubs and, frankly, not my cup of tea. But that’s not to say there isn’t room for them if they’re run well.

I’m old enough to recall the Dog & Duck as a traditional village local and thought it was a shame that Marstons didn’t retain an area just for drinkers when they turned it into what it is now. There was enough room. Perhaps they just didn’t need to.

The Clock Warehouse, which they once tried to change the name of until the locals objected vehemently, really ought to be great, based as it is in a fabulous, historic building and in a stunning canal-side setting. One day, perhaps it might be.

Further along the main road, the Navigation was a troubled large pubco hostelry for many years, going through many licensees. The future is brighter and the pub looks to be healthily busy since it was bought, in 2024, by a local businessman – who also bought the Jolly Sailor at nearby Hemington. Independence can tip the balance in terms of viability for so many pubs.

If you take the road down to the marina by the side of the Navigation, you come to The Boat House, which was formerly Smithy’s Marina Bar. I can’t claim to have been down for a while but the beer was fine last time I did and the basic mix – lots of outdoor space, food available all day and live music at weekends seems to be much the same as before. It plays to its strengths.

It was Boris the Bearded Dragon's first visit to a pub when his owner Lizzy Butterfield and her husband Gareth met me for a pint at the New Inn in Shardlow. He seemed to have a good time.

That leaves the New Inn, also by the canal, adjacent to the Malt Shovel. It is, I think, the pub in the village with the longest-serving licensees, and its strength, part from its perfect location, is consistency.

The food is sound, the range of beers changes without getting too outlandish and the outdoor areas are a sun trap. The pub is open from 10am every day and trade is as likely from passing boats as passing cars, cyclists or walkers.

As it happens, it’s the one I’ve visited most recently in Shardlow. My friend and former colleague Gareth Butterfield and his wife Lizzy stopped by on a boat and we met up. Now, truthfully, I have had one or two distinctly ordinary pints at the New Inn over the years – happy to report, then, that both Oakham Citra and Titanic Plum Porter were spot-on last week.

If I’ve got this right at all, perhaps you can glean that among the remarkably high number of pubs in Shardlow, there’s something for everyone, for food, for drink, for relaxation. That above all is why they’re all still there.

Accessibility by public transport is also excellent, since the remarkable Skylink bus service from Derby to Leicester passes through the village very regularly, 24/7.

• An eighth pub, the Old Crown at Cavendish Bridge, is technically over the River Trent in Leicestershire, but it’s a short walk. Once, a few years ago, it was a rare outlet for Jennings beers when they were under the Marstons umbrella. No longer – but I gather they’re serving Draught Bass now.