Opinion: Derby's Which? ranking is entirely unhelpful and hasn't done the city any favours

Recently, our pretty, quaint and historic city has been labelled the UK’s “worst city”.

Even worse than that it was brandished as a “rundown dump” by visitors and locals alike.

The ranking by Which? saw Derby named “the worst city to visit in the UK”, which we think is wholly unfair.

Of course, the UK press has run with this and there have been countless headlines throughout the weekend slating our dear city.

And I’ve just about had enough. Here at Derby World, we are trying excruciatingly hard to help put this city back on the map - for the right reasons.

In fact, we have built this entire website around celebrating Derby and giving praise and attention to the people, businesses and parts of the city that have gone unsung for so long.

There is much to be praised, from the city’s cultural significance to its now Championship football club Derby County.

And if we forget for a moment, all the city’s history and prominence and look at it entirely on face value as a place to visit - I still think the ranking is wrong!

As far as cities go, it’s pretty small, but is that not just another way of saying ‘walkable’?

You don’t need to take a tram from the Cathedral to Derbion, it’s a 10-minute walk.

And let’s talk about the Derbion - a swish, clean and inviting shopping centre with markedly very few empty units.

Derby is currently undergoing a bit of a foodie revolution, which has seen countless bars, restaurants, and cafes open.

There are groups who are really trying to make a change in the city. For example, Love Sadler Gate, who are championing independent businesses with markets and events.

I see why rankings like this are released and I’m sure on the top end of the scale, it is doing wonders for big cities that quite honestly don’t need the boost.

But down here, it’s having quite the opposite effect. How is this ranking helping our local businesses to stay open during a tumultuous period of recovery?

How is headline after headline calling Derby a “rundown dump”, helping to shine a light on all the exceptional regeneration projects currently ongoing in the city?

Rather than slagging off the city, I suggest popping down to Derby Labs and finding out a bit more about all the great things that are in the pipeline - it might just change your perspective.

And what, I ask, has this ‘ranking’ done for the university, which is currently doing its part to entice prospective students into the city? And is also working hard to climb up the league tables.

One of the factors that contributed to this offensive title, was a ‘lack of things to do’, which I find unfathomable. Derby is home to parks, museums, shops, pubs, and a gorgeous cathedral.

We have a bustling nightlife scene with jazz bars, live music events, and movie nights. There are festivals and food markets and an ice rink at Christmas.

For Christ’s sake, SIR TOM JONES is coming to Derby Summer Sessions in a few weeks!

Lists like this are all fun and games until it’s your doorstep that they s*****g on and quite frankly, I think Derby deserves better.

As the old saying goes, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.