British Pie Week 2024: We visited Derby Pieminster and loved the swanky bar and choice of bottomless gravy

Single-digit temperatures and rain means it is still pie weather, but to be honest, we didn’t need an excuse to visit Pieminister Derby. Especially when it's #BritishPieWeek! (Yep, that's areal thing!)

You probably know we well enough now to know, I love a good pie and the menu appears to have something for everyone. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets are all catered for.

There are five pie meal offers and I went for the £11.25 option of Feelin’ Gravy. This is not only the cheapest, but also I feel, one of the best because it comes with bottomless gravy. 

Read more: Ria Reviews

I did not realise how happy this would make me, but it turns out, endless streams of the perfectly seasoned sauce, is smile-inducing. I hadn’t expected to see a pie made from THIS who make a range of vegan products.

I’m not vegan - I love my cheese too much. But I do prefer the milder taste of plant-based alternatives because an overly meaty flavour profile is really not my bag. I had vegan chicken and bacon pie in white wine sauce.

Under the Feelin’ Gravy option, it came fries, Cheddar, crispy onions and bottomless gravy. The deep pie was filled well, I could taste the wine in the background, and the pastry had a pleasant texture. 

The Cheddar felt like it was extra mature, and I had tipped the whole vial into the pie without realising how pungent it would be. Although I enjoyed the pie, the cheese perhaps conflicted with the wine notes, but this is my own fault for not tasting the cheese first.

When I dine, I kind of get in the zone, so it was nice to be presented with a jug of gravy, as I hadn’t realised I was running low on the good stuff. I always feel awkward asking for more gravy, which is why it’s a great idea to have a bottomless gravy option.

My dining partner enjoyed his Free Ranger pie, which again was filled chock-full with chicken, ham and leek.

There is much to love about Pieminister. Cosy lighting and pun-tastic artwork puts you at ease straight away.

At £11.50 for a generous meal that tastes great - don’t forget that bottomless gravy - it is a fabulous deal.

I find Pieminister an extraordinarily comfortable place to be.

Take a seat towards the back of the restaurant and you face an oh-so-pretty bar that you wish you had at home. I was shocked to find such a pretty bar in a pie restaurant.

A metro-tiled bar in forest green, with sunken lighting is understated elegance at its very best. This could easily be a high-end bar.   The drinks menu featuring 2-4-1 cocktails of martini, margarita and more means Pieminister is so much more than just a pie restaurant. 

The dessert menu is top notch as well. They serve a range of ice cream sundaes such as apple pie, cherry pie, mud pie and pecan pie. Hot puddings include sticky toffee and hot chocolate, which are perfect in this chilly spring weather. We were too full to have dessert, but I have earmarked the apple pie sundae to sip with a rum, for my next visit.

The star of the night was our server Jade who was attentive, welcoming and really cool. 

What we ate at Derby Pieminister

• Feelin’ Gravy THIS Chicken & Bacon Pie £11.50
• Feelin’ Gravy Free Ranger £11.50
• Diet Coke can £2.50
• Freedom Pale (Pie PA) pint £5.50

Total £31

Address: Pieminister Derby, 34 Victoria Street, Derby DE1 1ES

For more information about Pieminister visit their website by clicking here.