Opening Night at Bear Coffee, Kitchen and Bar, Derby
Published On Sunday 3 Dec 2017 by Sticky Beak
See Recent News Articles
Last week saw The Man Bird and I at the preview launch night at Bear Coffee, Kitchen and Bar on Derby’s Irongate. This venue officially opened its doors on Friday 1st December 2017, and if it emulates the popularity and success of its sister venue in Uttoxeter then Derbyans are in for a real treat :) It has a very sleek feel that manages to combine a modern bar with a welcoming coffee house/café, and John (the manager) was expecting 100-120 people to attend the event.
Founders Craig Bunting and Michael Thorley have a vision to provide an all-day gourmet experience here in the UK; one that our European, American and Australasian fellows already embrace.
Bear customers can be assured of the very best in coffees; the house coffee, Honduran Santa Rosa, is Fairtrade-, Organic-, and Rainforest Alliance- certified. British Tea Bellies aren’t neglected either as there is a wide range of loose-leaf teas to choose from; if you’re on the run, these same teas are available in loose leaf bags so you can brew them to your own taste off-site.
The Barista team at Bear are all highly skilled, with a passion for their craft. I had a gander at their coffee machine, and trust me, it’s very impressive. It wasn’t just me that drooled over this beauty though, all the team looked longingly at her; one even referred to it as “the Lamborghini of its kind”. As of yet, this delight remains un-named - I feel a customer competition is in order to resolve this state of affairs, don’t you? :)
Hot Chocolate lovers can choose from milk or white varieties, and there are also shakes, smoothies and soft drinks available. Children can choose from a Choco- or milk-babychino, so they can be part of this relaxed, friendly café culture too.
Food features heavily as part of Bear’s vision and the menu is breath-taking in its variety, whatever the time of day. At the preview we were obviously sampling dishes from the “evening social” part of the menu, which is served from 5pm-9pm.
As I sipped my Raspberry Bakewell cocktail and His Nibs quaffed his pint of Peroni, we were treated to nibbles including pulled pork with pink pickled onions, mini pizzas, sea salt and pepper fries, and mini dirty burgers with extra bacon. I was licking my fingers clean, keen to savour every last little bit of the delicious morsels. The kitchen pass and the chefs were in my line of vision and my eyes widened in excitement as I watched them prepare more dishes!
The second wave of dishes included soft Tacos with Kale, roasted Sweet Potato and Feta, with Sriracha sauce - boy these were kicking! :)
Flatbreads loaded with Halloumi, Harissa, and pickled Cabbage followed, and these had a fab spiciness to them too; Hummus with fresh Coriander and Pumpkin seeds brought the heat factor down a little, and provided the taste buds with clean, bright flavours.
The Bear BLT burger is sure to be a customer favourite, and the coffee and maple glazed bacon in it was beautiful I must say.
We bade farewell to the team, but not before I told The Man Bird that my eye was firmly on the Shakshuka breakfast dish; well, when you’re shopping you need good fuel to keep you going!
Thank you to Craig, John, and Hattie for inviting us to join you - we had a fantastic evening :)
| Losehill House Hotel & Spa Named Among the Top 1% of Boutique Hotels in the World Losehill House Hotel & Spa, an independent luxury 4-star hotel in the heart of the Peak District National Park, has been named one of the top 1% Read The Article | |
| Longbow Venues Named One Of The Sunday Times Best Places To Work For 2025 - For The 2nd Year Running Award-winning hospitality group Longbow Venues has been recognised once again in The Sunday Times Best Places to Read The Article | |
| Another Course of Top Chefs Announced for the Festival of Food and Drink at Thoresby Park Following the recent announcement of Saturdays guest chefs Simon Rimmer, Rosemary Shrager, and Paul A Young the Festival Read The Article | |
| The Makers Market at Denby Pottery Village on Saturday 31st May 2025 Denby is hosting The Makers Market at Denby Pottery Village on Saturday, 31st May open from 10am-4pm with Denby Pottery Village itself open from 9am-5pm Read The Article | |
| The Bakewell Tart Shop Unveils Major Refurbishment and Sustainable Innovations The Bakewell Tart Shop, the iconic 100 year old cafe and shop in the heart of Bakewell, is set to undergo a transformation that will redefine Read The Article | |
| Peak Edge Hotel Launches Classic Car Luxury Getaway with Gourmet Twist Enjoy the thrill of the open road in the Peak District with Peak Edge Hotel's new Classic Car Luxury Getaway for Two - an indulgent countryside escape combining Read The Article | |
| No Badge, No Boundaries: How The Cupola Is Riding the Wave of a Growing Hospitality Shift Whats in a name? Increasingly, not a lot - at least in hospitality. Across the UK, more venues are stepping away from traditional titles like pub, tearoom Read The Article | |
| Peak Edge Hotel Launches Luxurious 'Peaks & Plates' Package to Mark National Walking Month Set against the rolling hills of the Peak District, Peak Edge Hotel has launched a new luxury walking experience that invites guests to slow Read The Article | |
| Taste Of Italy: Grappa's Bottomless Brunch On Course To Be City's Hottest Weekend Ticket A newly re-launched city centre Italian restaurant is making a name for itself with its own take on bottomless brunch. Grappa has had Read The Article | |
| Casa Hotel's Cocina invests in Dry Ager to elevate its own native breed, farm-reared Beef Cocina is now the only restaurant in Derbyshire with a Josper Grill and Dry Ager, enabling their expert chefs to deliver the ultimate steak experience. Read The Article | |