The Courtyard

You'll find yourself down a quiet courtyard off Friar Gate, which is exactly the kind of setting that makes Derby feel less like a market town and more like you've stumbled onto something intentional. Inside, it's all dark wood and moody lighting—the sort of place where bartenders aren't just pouring; they're actually considering what goes in your glass. The menu leans into proper cocktails rather than gimmicks, and at around £10-12 a drink, you're getting decent value for the care that's gone into them. It's neither trying too hard nor phoning it in, which frankly is rarer than it should be.