The Queen’s Head

For most of the 19th century the tenancy was held by Phoebe Johnson and her daughter Sarah – fierce women in the tradition of Amy Holland of the Anchor. They were both there in 1861 and 1871 but by 1881 Sarah was running the pub on her own. She was 62 and had two lodgers, John Kerry, a bricklayer, and his brother.  A tombstone with the name Johnson on it can still be seen at the top of the cellar steps.

John Kerry became involved with the management of the pub and the 1891 census shows that he had taken it over and lived there with his wife, Laura and his two children.

Frederick Bridgewater is also listed as a publican on the 1891 census, living at Alfreton Road but at that time he was the publican for the Cock inn, St Peters in Derby. He later ran the Old Crown, Derby and then the Queens Head. His son, “Young Freddie” was born in 1891 and became a well-known figure, firstly as a five year old circus performer - a “juvenile cycle rider” at Old Circus on Exchange Street Derby.

He helped his father in the pub and as an adult he became an enthusiastic supporter of local sport in Little Eaton, before dying in 1931 at the age of 40.

The Queen’s Head between the wars

Into the 20th century, through two world wars and up to 1954, the pub was run by William Richards and then his son, Philip. In 1911, William was aged 38 and lived at the Queen’s Head with his wife and 3 children. The youngest was Philip who, in 1911 at the age of 16, was recorded as a coal miner. This would have been a very hard life. In 1917, he joined the army and was swiftly promoted to Corporal and then, in May 1918, again promoted to sergeant. He was demobilized in January 1919 and then joined his family running the pub.

During this time, William Richards was prosecuted at least once for serving beer out of hours (often in the afternoons). The local papers report lots of flower shows and fundraisers, often for the war effort of both wars. In 1930, a Derby Grammar School teacher, Bernard Gately, died at the Queen’s Head bar, shortly after talking to Richard’s 5 year old daughter about which horse he was going to tip at the St Leger.

Many local groups, such as the “Little Eaton Homing Society” held dinners and events at the Queen’s Head - often bringing their pigeons with them!

Philip Richards eventually retired in 1954 and was presented with a cheque by the local community groups for his service at the pub.

He was succeeded as landlord by Russ Bloor, who came to Little Eaton having previously been landlord at the Tiger in the Cornmarket, Derby.

1950s to present day

Russ Bloor ran the pub in the 1950s and then it was taken over by Arthur Eaton (pictured behind the bar).

The pub continued to serve the local community with events, meetings and celebrations under various landlords and landladies including Graham and Gloria Hutchinson who ran the pub in the 70s and 80s.

In 2011, Derby Brewing Company joined forces with Everards on a £400,000 project to re-furbish the pub, which had become very run down. The 2 breweries shared the cost of buying and revamping the pub, and it was returned to its original layout, with a central entrance leading directly into a newly positioned bar area.

The pub re-opened on 17 November 2011. Justin and Wayne Robinson-Bowles took over in 2019 and had the unenviable task of steering it through the Covid pandemic, but successfully kept the pub open and the centre of the local community.

It is is now run by Tim Knight and his family.