Pub dedicates its new brew to peregrines

A PUB neighbouring Derby Cathedral has named a new beer after the famous peregrines that nest there.

Landlady Janina Holmes, who runs the Old Silk Mill, came up with the idea of Peregrine Pale Ale after being woken in the night by the birds calling out.

Mrs Holmes, who took over the Full Street pub at the end of April, said she thought there was no better way to celebrate her first month of trading.

She said: "The idea came to me in bed, to be honest.

"I was woken by the squawking noise the peregrine falcons were making and it got me thinking.

"The following morning I turned to my husband and said 'why don't we have a new beer in here named after those birds? After all, we are next-door neighbours'."

Produced by a secret brewer, the beer comes in at 4.2%.

It went on sale on Saturday and has been produced in a lighter colour to match the feathers on the Cathedral's famous birds.

Mrs Holmes said she hoped the new brew would go down well with customers.

She said: "Hopefully, with the birds being such an attraction for visitors, a few bird-watchers might drop in for a pint of Peregrine."

Mrs Holmes took over the Old Silk Mill just over four weeks ago and had previously made a success of the nearby Dolphin Inn, which she ran with husband Terry for three years.

During the couple's stint, The Dolphin Inn was twice named City Pub of the Year by the Derby branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

Mr Holmes, who has now retired, said that the new brew had gone down well with customers in the first few hours of it being on sale.

He said: "The falcons are a light colour so to me there was only ever going to be a pale ale produced in their honour.

"We are right in the shadow of the cathedral and the birds so I think it's good we can have a beer on sale that the customers relate to.

"The first two customers that came in on Saturday both had a pint. It is a beautiful beer, exclusive to the Old Silk Mill, and I expect it will prove to be very popular."

Ralf Edge, from the Derby Branch of Camra, wished Mr and Mrs Holmes success with the beer.

He said: "It's nice to see Terry and Janina return to the roost and selling this new peregrine beer.

"We hope it flies out of the door and is a roaring success, just like the birds are themselves."