Not that an excuse is ever needed to enjoy a Bottomless Brunch, but it was His Nibs’ birthday, so The Bestie and TBW joined us on a foray to a new spot for some weekend fun. Formerly The Palfrey, Belong now occupies a fab position in the Old Blacksmiths Yard, and we’d been invited along to sample their Bottomless Brunch food and drink menu; the drinks are bottomless, whether they’re boozy or not is up to you. Situated in the cobbled Old Blacksmiths Yard, this Marketing Derby Food and Drinks Award-winning venue (Best Bar in 2024 and 2025) may be in the heart of Derby City, but it has that bijoux, tucked-away feel too.
It was what I call ‘prime chaos time’ (i.e. Saturday afternoon) and the guys n gals were in full force – quiet it most certainly wasn’t, either inside or out in the courtyard! I do love it when a bar has a proper buzz to it though, it always buoys the spirits. Having got us seated and sorted with our first round of drinks, we were soon channelling the celebratory vibe ourselves. Very kindly, Belong covered the cost of The Man and my brunches, and BB and TBW decided to upgrade from the standard price of £34.95pp and pay an extra fiver each to have access to the upgraded cocktails which include Pornstar- and Espresso- Martinis, Strawberry Gin fizz, Paloma’s and Amaretto Sour. Mind you, the ‘standard’ cocktail selection isn’t shabby in the least: Tiki Vibes, Mimosa, Bellini (Peach), Tom Collins, Orchard Cooler, Aperol Spritz, and White Russian. There is a fab choice of Beer, Wine and Cider, spirits and mixers and, of course, the non-alcoholic drinks.
The food selection gives you a choice between a Flatbread or a pair of Small Plate dishes. Additionally, you can order extra small plates for £5 and seasoned Fries for £3, which is exactly what we did! Between the four of us we had the [Buffalo coated] Chicken Tenders Flatbread, the Classic Caprese Flatbread, 2 x Harissa Honey Chorizo, 2 x Honey and Soy Chicken Skewers, 2 x Korean Calamari, Seasoned Fries, and Three-Bean Chilli Tacos. Without exception, the food was absolutely delicious; some of the best we’ve had at a Bottomless Brunch.
Fans of Calamari will go bonkers for the sublimely tender version at Belong; the Gochujang sauce packed a beautiful zing, tempered by the creamy Chive Mayo. For extra crunch (other than the superb batter on the Squid pieces) there were nutty-tasting Sesame Seeds and sliced Spring Onions. Over the years, His Nibs and I have snaffled our way through [probably] kilos of Chorizo and the type used at Belong was perfectly spiced, but so, so mellow with no after-taste at all. Nicely pimped with Harissa and finished with sweet Honey, this dish was another stand-out for our group.
Call me simple (you wouldn’t be the first!), but I love to see a fully-loaded Flatbread that is as colourful as it is tasty; I am one of those souls that feast with their eyes. Belong do a fabulously enticing Caprese Flatbread that is comprised of numerous thick slices of creamy Mozzarella, sweetly juicy Heritage Tomatoes that burst with flavour, and torn fresh Basil leaves to add that signature, vibrant taste into the mix. The Bolton Wanderer (Bestie’s husband) joined me in a Flatbread, though he opted to have the Chicken Tenders version and went with his beloved Buffalo Sauce (he’s a total Chicken Wing nut), but other options are BBQ, Hoisin, or Garlic & Parmesan. This was every bit as scrummy as my Caprese, and just as loaded!
A huge bowl of brilliantly tasty Seasoned Fries soon got ploughed through – their crisp outers really did crunch as we bit into them, making us all smile. Humble Chicken Skewers were zhuzhed up with the addition of a Honey, Soy and Garlic glaze that, paired with the generous drizzle of spicy Mayo, had us all licking our fingers. Last, but not least, were the Tacos; these beauties were soft Taco Shells stuffed with a tasty Three-Bean Chilli and topped with plenty of creamy Guacamole, tangy Salsa, Soured Cream for a tart edge, and pickles for extra zing. Every single dish had been spot-on; the food at Belong’s Bottomless Brunch isn’t a mere after-thought, it’s a main player in the experience!
Whilst we’d been munching away, the drinks never stopped flowing and we’d soon had Pinot Grigio Blush wine, Prosecco, Orchard Coolers, Strawberry Gin Fizz, both Martini offerings and Amaretto Sours served to our table! One of the best things about food and drink blogging is that venues know you’re always down for whatever, so it came as no surprise that one of the mixologists wanted us to try his ‘Local Cocktail for Local People’: a soon-to-be-added-to-the-menu tipple containing local Gin and local Fruit Liqueur. The exact deets are a secret, so that’s as much ‘tea’ as I can spill right now…all you need to know is that it is blooming lovely – and addictive!! I predict that this is going to become one of Belong’s best sellers before summer’s out.
Ninety minutes flew by; well, they say that time flies when you’re having fun, and we were certainly having an incredible time in Old Blacksmith’s Yard at the hands of Belong’s team. The Bottomless Brunch is available on Thursday and Friday 5pm-8pm, and Saturdays between 12.30pm-4.30pm. One of the best things is that, in a group, not everyone has to opt for the premium drink upgrade; all they need to do is avoid ordering the drinks marked with *. To make a reservation, visit www.belongbar.com. and hit the ‘book now’ button in the right-hand corner of the page; alternatively, give the team a buzz on 01332 346033.
As well as Bottomless Brunch, Belong is a great place just to swing by after work/shopping or prior to bowling or the cinema, and enjoy food from their wider Small Plate menu with a cold drink of your choice. Closed Sunday-Wednesday, Belong is open Thursday 5pm-10pm, Friday 5pm-Midnight, and Saturday 12.30pm- 1am.
We had a blinding time at Belong Bar and Restaurant, celebrating His Nibs’ birthday, so Hot Wings very happily (or should that be merrily?!) given to this marvellous venue. We’ll be back!
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