Former Pub of the Year to close after 174 years

The Druid Inn in Birchover called last orders on 5 January 2026 after its owners took the decision to shut the doors. The closure ends a 174-year run for a pub that has long served locals, walkers and drinkers on the edge of the Peak District.

The announcement came via Facebook from the current operators of The Druid Inn, who said it was made with a “very heavy heart and total disappointment”. According to the post, the decision was taken by the Stanton Estate, which owns the building and the business.

Mercer and Gypsy, who took over management in July 2025, told customers that December was a difficult month with some staff facing the new year without jobs to return to.

A pub with deep roots

The inn’s history reads like a compressed social history of Derbyshire. As per the pub’s own website, the building began life as a farmhouse on the Rowtor Estate before opening as a pub in 1851 to serve the local mining community. Inspired by nearby Iron Age artefacts, it was named The Druid with John Kemp as its first landlord.

Later expansions including work in 1973 helped cement its role as a gathering place for the village of Birchover and visitors to the Peak District National Park.

Community hub and award winner

The pub has long drawn a mixed clientele of locals and tourists, is dog friendly and benefits from a sizeable car park. Excellent home-cooked food has been a consistent calling card, according to Camra.

In 2017, it was named Matlock and Dales Pub of the Year by Campaign for Real Ale. Online reviews remain strong with a 4.6 out of 5 rating on Google from more than 800 reviews.

A familiar story in the trade

The closure adds another chapter to the wider story of pub losses across the UK. As previously reported by the drinks business research from the British Beer and Pubs Association found that two out of three people see pubs as vital in tackling isolation, while one in three have experienced increased loneliness after losing a local.

Eight pubs a week closed permanently in the first half of 2025, according to BBPA figures, with more than 2,000 shutting since 2020. For villages like Birchover, the loss is not just commercial but social.

the drinks business has reached out to The Druid Inn for additional comment.

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