Derby city centre was buzzing this weekend, and hope is on the horizon

Here comes the sun. And with it, a very welcome influx of shoppers into Derby city centre this weekend.

I took a walk into town to meet friends for a lunchtime drink at the Quad on Saturday (May 27). The majority of the tables in the cafe were full and there were customers sitting outside too – although sadly most were in the shade as the light hadn’t quite reached that spot yet. You won’t find the same level of support for independent arts venues in some cities. The quality food and friendly service help.

We talked about the endless dithering over the Assembly Rooms and recalled how much better it was when restaurants occupied the units beneath. But the professional graffiti boards surrounding the venue did make the view a little more palatable.

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Then we browsed Sadler Gate, which is positively popping these days. With the arrival of Carnivore (formerly a vegan cafe/bar…), tattoo parlour Demons of Ink, and more, it was a pleasure to see. The forthcoming reopening of The Shakespeare (formerly the Dog and Moon) will bring more footfall – especially with its new-and-improved outdoor area.

First on the shopping list were supplements, so we popped into , a . It’s a small, long shop but it’s packed with goodies and there were half a dozen shoppers inside. Owner Melanie Lowe was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. “Bring more friends,” she said to my pal, who had recommended a visit. We will.

Then we went a little further down Sadler Gate to Mr Shaw’s House – a new cafe and shop. I had seen the city fashion brand’s new “Derby Originals” T-shirts and I wanted to get my hands on one, but I was worried they would be too expensive. Independent sellers often have to charge more than big brands to cover their costs. Again, most of the tables were full, by the way. In the end the T-shirt had a £25 price tag and that felt fair for something I will probably wear many times over.

After a quick visit to Poundstretcher in East Street to buy a phone cable (I’ll definitely be keeping that receipt), and dropping into one of the many new convenience stores that have set up recently, for a can of pop, we went to the River Gardens to enjoy the sunshine. The area sits on something of a see-saw between “very dodgy” and “very pretty”, owing to the ne’er-do-wells who use it as a place to hang out. But thanks to the many families and groups of friends who were sitting on the grassy verges, any drunks or drug users had been pushed out.

Then some other friends passed by and told us they were on their way to the Bustler Market in John Street (the industrial estate near the railway station and the Castleward estate). So we tagged along, walking through Bass’s Rec and spotting a lively Smithfield pub on the other side of the River Derwent. The street-food market was £1 entry, payable by cash or card. It was jam-packed with fashionable people of all ages. Although, while two pints of lime and soda cost less than £1.50 at the Quad, a single serving came in at £3.50 at Bustler. I do have sympathy with any independent retailer trying to meet their costs.

With the election of a new leader of the council, who has appointed a cabinet member with the sole job of improving the city centre, and the forthcoming creation of a task force assigned to the same objective, there is hope on the horizon. But one might say that rumours of the death of the city centre have been greatly exaggerated – and the wind is blowing in the right direction.

Have you been into the city centre recently? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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