The Red Lion

You'll find The Red Lion tucked on Matlock Green, where the pub does exactly what a good local should: it doesn't try too hard. The place has the unpretentious charm of somewhere that's genuinely busy most nights—not because it's fashionable, but because people actually want to be there. Real ales rotate through the pumps, the kitchen takes food seriously without being precious about it, and there's always someone you recognise propping up the bar. It's the sort of spot where you can pop in for a pint after work or settle in for a proper evening out.