Inn Focus: Hunter Arms, Church Street, Kilburn, by Paul Gibson

Hunter Arms, Church Street, Kilburn

Built in 1879 when it was named after the owners of Kilburn Hall across the road, it didn’t take long for Mark and Paula to turn around the fortunes of the Hunter. From the off, Oakham (Peterborough) beers have been championed here, initially with Bishop’s Farewell and latterly with Citra which cellarman Steve says is the best-selling of half a dozen ales which always include that old favourite Draught Bass.

In 2009, charismatic Canadian Mark Showers and his wife, Paula, rescued a forlorn looking hostelry, the Hunter Arms in Kilburn village from pub company Enterprise Inns.

Amber Valley Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) judged the Church Street hostelry its Pub of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and unsurprisingly trade surged. The multiple gabled frontage is eye catching and behind the pub is a huge garden. Upon entering through the attractive front porch, one is immediately struck by the immaculately furnished interior with decorative wallpaper which is rarely seen in these days of “minimalist” design. An open fire is most welcome on cold days and a stylish, large black clock is an unusual feature with 4, 8 and 12 hour numberings only. A rustic, time piece photograph near the pub’s toilets shows cattle being herded on the road and Offiler’s (Derby) signage is writ large which dates this scene to circa 1960. In the winter of 2019/20, the Hunter quelled competition from 106 pubs to take the CAMRA Winter Ale Trail title. Mark and Paula have taken advantage of the space at the rear by creating a quite brilliant outside drinking enclave ensuring the pub’s popularity in fair weather. There’s also a marquee which is a nod to the Covid – 19 days. It’s all a far cry from the days when pigs were reared here and sold in the adjoining Butcher’s shop where the tiling is still visible.

During the first lockdown, however, Mark and Paula seriously considered selling the village pub but they realised just how much the Victorian inn meant to the local community when they received a bouquet of flowers for VE Day last May. An attached note read: “I know you would have done something special to commemorate VE Day”. Any notion of selling the Hunter quickly evaporated and Paula says their heart and soul are immersed in the Kilburn pub. So, if you’re ever out Kilburn way, why not call in; you won’t be disappointed.

Written by Paul Gibson