It’s been a busy old week in the nest dear reader, so it was with great enthusiasm that we accepted Harry’s invitation to the launch party of the swanky new Roof Terrace Bar at the Pitcher and Piano bar in Derby.
The weather was on its (nearly) best behaviour; although it wasn’t Mediterranean temperatures it was warm enough and, crucially, Dry!
The first thing we did on arrival was to grab a bite to eat as we had literally come straight from work, so it was a Beef and Chorizo burger for me and a Maple Glazed Bacon burger for His Nibs accompanied by a cheeky glass of Sauvignon blanc and a pint of Amstel lager.
All the burgers at Pitcher and Piano are meaty affairs and these two just hit the spot beautifully, and the chips have a lovely taste to them too. The Man Bird even ate the Lettuce and Tomato in the burger, but I pinched his Gherkins :)
So, with our tummies filled it was over to the party hostess to check in and head upstairs with a complimentary Aperol Spritzer to get us in weekend mode. The terrace is a beautiful space, with a definite Midsummer Nights Dream vibe to it; think flora, foliage and fairy light strings.
One of the canopied seating areas had string of miniature light bulbs on and mirrors for the light effects to bounce off, the other (where we sat) had the fairy lights strung from the ceiling of the canopy and surprisingly soft, springy artificial grass underfoot.
A plethora of lanterns strewn with ivy also adorned the canopy roof to give it a cosy feel, which when the wall mounted patio heaters were activated, invited you to kick off your shoes and leave your worldly cares behind.
Everybody got into chilled mode and the terrace was soon alive with the hum of conversation and laughter. There was a selection of complimentary drinks available at the Terrace Bar for the launch party; draught soft drinks, a selection of lagers or various house wines were all available to choose from.
Live music was provided by Mr Steve McGill and his guitar, and he soon had us all singing along to his great selection of tunes; there was everything from indie and pop through to country songs, and they all went down fantastically well with the crowd.
Harry had also told us that Steve is quite the magician, so we found ourselves enthralled with a rather nifty card trick or two at our table. Even being right there, only a couple of feet apart from him, we couldn’t see how he’d managed to do the trick; now that’s entertainment.
Meanwhile, the regular Pitcher and Piano customers were being entertained with their own live music courtesy of “The Shots”, so downstairs was equally buzzing. There is a separate eating area downstairs, as you know from my previous review, but you are also permitted to eat up on the terrace when it’s open.
Before we knew it, it was time for us to say our goodbyes and catch the bus back to the nest. We took our leave of Harry and thanked him for another great evening; he and the team had done a brilliant job yet again.
There is a vague whisper that the coming week could see temperatures in the mid to high 20’s Celsius, so keep an eye on the forecast and get yourselves on the terrace quick sharpish, you won’t be disappointed. And tell Harry hello from the Sticky Beak if you see him ;)
