Things to do in Derby this weekend including street food, Ewoks, murder mysteries and Al Murray on the warpath!

Morning Derby! It’s time to clear your weekend diary!

Because this one’s stacked. We’re talking castle courtyard street food, beer-fuelled comedy from Al Murray, live-action Cluedo at a murder mystery night, Ewoks and R2-D2 dropping into Derby (yep, really) and a café that’ll fix your broken kettle while you neck tea like you’re on a mission.

This weekend, Derby’s basically turned into a playground for grown-ups and kids alike:

• Scoff poutine, toasties and halloumi fries with DJs spinning tunes at Elvaston Castle

• Get roasted by Al Murray (front row = risk of becoming the joke)

• Solve a murder mystery while stuffing your face with buffet food

This isn’t “pop to B&Q and maybe do the garden” weekend stuff. This is "grab your mates, wear stretchy trousers, and make some memories" weekend stuff.

Let’s dive in.

— Local Scoop Derby

📅 WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?

🍗🎶 - Bustler at Elvaston Castle – Street Food, DJs & Zero Parenting Required
📍 - Elvaston Castle Courtyard
📅 - Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th May
⏰ - 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📷 - @bustler_derby @elvastoncastle_derby @the_stalls_market

Bustler’s loading up the van and setting up camp in the courtyard of Elvaston Castle — and it’s gonna be loud, tasty, and full of people eating chips off cardboard trays like royalty.

• DJs spinning actual tunes, not just a guy with Spotify Premium

• Poutine, toasties, halloumi fries, bubble waffles — stuff your face then go again

• Craft beer, cocktails, and good vibes in a castle courtyard (yep, very posh)

• Family-friendly, dog-welcoming, and guaranteed to wear your kids out without you doing much

Traders include Fat Snags (sausages that should be illegal), Kebab Cartel, Toastie The Difference, and the bubble waffle people who’ll make your dentist cry.

Come for the food, stay for the DJs, leave with sauce on your shirt. Job done.

FRIDAY:

🤝 - Derby In-Person Networking
📍- Insomnia Cafe, Littleover
⏰ - 8:00 AM – More Info

🕯️ - The Music of Fleetwood Mac Candlelight
📍- Derby Cathedral
⏰ - 7:30 PM – More Info

💃 - Absolute Salsa Fusion Nights
📍- Nunsfield House
⏰ - 8:00 PM – More Info

SATURDAY:

🍰 - Ganache & Sharpe Edge Sugarpaste Class
📍- The Coach House, Littleover
⏰ - 9:00 AM – More Info

🪴 - Taddington Plant Sale
📍- St Michael & All Angels Church
⏰ - 10:00 AM – More Info

🌱 - Volunteer Work Morning
📍- Sunnydale Park, Littleover
⏰ - 10:00 AM – More Info

🌼 - Sadler Gate Spring Market
📍 - Sadler Gate, The Strand Arcade & Blacksmiths Yard
⏰ - 10:30 AM – More Info

🛍️ - Style Lab 25
📍- Derbion
⏰ - 10:30 AM – More Info

🕺 - Over 30's Day Party
📍- Fever
⏰ - 3:00 PM – More Info

💃 - SBK on Cathedral Green
📍 - Cathedral Green
⏰ - 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM – More Info

📚 - Story Chefs
📍- Normanton Library
⏰ - 4:30 PM – More Info

SUNDAY:

🌳 - Golden Meet
📍- Elvaston Castle Country Park
⏰ - 10:00 AM – More Info

🚗 - Retro Special: Torque & Tea
📍- Great Northern Classics
⏰ - 10:00 AM – More Info

🌈 - Rainbow Walk
📍- 25 Curzon Street
⏰ - 1:00 PM – More Info

💃 - Ceroc Line Dances Workshop
📍- Evergreen Club, Allestree
⏰ - 2:30 PM – More Info

🧘‍♂️ - Community Gong Bath
📍- St Nicolas Church
⏰ - 6:00 PM – More Info

🍔 SCRUMPTIOUS SCOOPS

🇮🇳 - Aalappeaz – Derby’s New Kerala Spot That Doesn’t Whisper… It Roars
📍 - 16 St Peter's Churchyard
⏰ - Monday to Sunday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📷 - @aalappeaz.uk

Brand new and already causing a stir, Aalappeaz has just landed in Derby and forget your boring chicken tikka, this is South Indian greatness straight from Kerala.

No playing safe here. We’re talking full-on buttery curries, crispy dosas the size of small canoes, and banana-leaf-wrapped fish so good you’ll be Googling flights to Kerala before dessert.

Menu Highlights

• 🍛 Naadan Chicken Curry – Kerala’s signature dish. Heavy on spice, light on mercy.

• 🍽️ Masala Dosa – Thin, crispy and packed with spicy potato. Basically a duvet for your tastebuds.

• 🐟 Fish Pollichathu – Fresh fish wrapped in banana leaf and grilled to perfection

• 🍚 Coconut Rice + Kerala Curries – The duo you didn’t know you needed, but now won’t shut up about.

And if you’re still upright after all that? Grab a Kerala parotta to mop up every last drop. Trust us, you’ll leave full, happy, and wondering why you ever settled for naan and a korma.

For curry lovers and anyone bold enough to say "go on, make it spicy".

🇪🇸 - Spain on a Plate at Lorentes in Darley Abbey
📍 - The Cotton Yard, Darley Abbey Mills, DE22 1DZ
⏰ - Monday to Thursday 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
⏰ - Friday to Saturday 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM
⏰ - Sunday 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
📷 - @lorentesdarleyabbey

Craving a taste of Spain? Whether you’re dining in their cosy Friar Gate location or the charming Darley Abbey Mills, Lorentes transports you straight to Madrid or Barcelona with every bite. Their native Spanish chefs craft authentic tapas, perfect for a romantic evening or a night out with friends.

From classic Patatas Bravas to the irresistible Gambas al Ajillo, your taste buds are in for a treat. And if you’re in the mood for something a little different, don’t miss their signature Paella, bursting with the vibrant flavours of saffron, seafood, and fresh herbs.

🎭 ACTIVITY ALLEY

🍺 Al Murray – Guv Island Tour: Leave Your Offend-O-Tron at the Door
📍- Derby Arena
📅 - Saturday 3rd May
⏰ - 7:30 PM
🎟️ - £33

Enough messing about. Al Murray’s back, pint in hand, and he’s not here for small talk. The Pub Landlord is serving up hard truths, old-school logic, and more jabs than a dodgy kebab shop at 3am. No snowflakes. No safe spaces. Just two hours of pure, unfiltered stand-up gold — where the only HR policy is "buy a pint or jog on."

Want to sit up front and possibly get heckled so hard you question your life choices? There’s a Splash Zone for that. Feeling fancy? There’s even a Meet & Greet upgrade to shake hands with the King of Beers himself. Proper bucket list stuff.

🔎 Murder Mystery at Little Eaton – Who Killed the Hotel Manager? (Probably Not You... But Maybe)
📍- Little Eaton Village Hall
📅 - Saturday 3rd May
⏰ - 7:30 PM
🎟️ - £12 (includes light buffet + cash bar = result)

Whodunnit? No idea yet. But here’s what we do know — you, a light buffet, and a room full of amateur detectives will be cracking the case quicker than you can say "it was the butler".

Derby Rotary’s bringing the murder, mystery and mischief to Little Eaton. There’s no Netflix pause button here — once you’re in, you’re part of the story. Bonus points if you guess the culprit before you've finished your sausage roll.

Tickets are a steal, the drinks are on tap (cash bar, but still), and it’s all for charity. That’s a triple win right there.

🌟 FRESH EXPERIENCES

🛠️ Derby Repair Café – Don’t Bin It, Fix It (And Grab a Brew While You're At It)
📍- West End Community Centre, Mackworth Road
📅 - Saturday 3rd May
⏰ - 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
🎟️ - Small donation, tea included (fix your toaster and your mood)

That broken lamp you’ve been ignoring for six months? The wonky chair you swear you’ll sort next weekend? Bring them all. Derby Repair Café is back, and this lot don’t mess about.

Run by absolute legends (aka volunteers with screwdrivers and skills), this is your chance to dodge landfill guilt, fix your favourite bits and bobs, and have a natter over a cuppa while you’re at it.

It’s like therapy, only cheaper… and your dodgy toaster comes home working again.

🚀 Meet a Real Ewok & R2-D2 – Sci-Fi Royalty Lands in Derby!
📍 - Critical Hit, 6 Albion Street
📅 - Saturday 3rd May
⏰ - 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🎟️ - Free (but priceless if you’re a film geek)

Nope, you’re not still tipsy from Easter. An actual Ewok and R2-D2 are touching down in Derby for one day only.

Willie Coppen (Return of the Jedi, NeverEnding Story) and Jimmy Vee (The Last Jedi, Harry Potter, Doctor Who) will be in-store, ready to chat, sign, and pose like absolute sci-fi legends.

This isn’t your mate Dave in fancy dress — it’s the real deal. No ticket. No hassle. Just rock up, geek out, and make your mates jealous on Instagram.

🎶 LIVE MUSIC

Friday

• Limehouse Lizzy - Hairy Dog - 7:00 PM

• Concert Night - Derby Irish Centre - 7:00 PM

• Teen Open Mic Night - Spondon Liberal Club - 8:00 PM

• Spectrum Party Band - Needles Pub - 8:45 PM

• The Fillers - Flowerpot - 9:00 PM

Saturday

• Echoes of The Bunnymen - Hairy Dog - 7:00 PM

• Darren Morgan Live - Shiny Tap Brewery - 7:00 PM

• Space Pistol - Victoria Inn - 7:00 PM

• Bats are Back - Royal Telegraph - 8:00 PM

• The Franchise - Spondon Liberal Club - 8:30 PM

• Junkyard Angels - White Horse - 8:30 PM

• Cydonia Knights - Flowerpot - 9:00 PM

• MOD Story Live. - The Vine - 9:00 PM

• Parasite Eve Club Night - Hairy Dog - 11:00 PM

Sunday

• Unchained - The Smithfield - 4:00 PM

• Millie Manders - Hairy Dog - 5:00 PM

• Rick Sheehan - The Tavern - 5:00 PM

• The Voice of Mai - Prince of Wales - 6:00 PM

• Graffiti Club - Victoria Inn - 7:00 PM

• Meat Loaf by Peter Young - The King’s Highway Pub - 8:30 PM

☁️ WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday
20°C 🌡️ 7°C | Sunny.

Saturday
19°C 🌡️ 5°C | Sunny changing to partly cloudy by early evening.

Sunday
14°C 🌡️ 4°C | Sunny intervals changing to cloudy by lunchtime.
Temperature readings taken from the Met Office the night before publication

THANKS!

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The Local Scoop Derby

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