Things to do this week in Derby including: spring markets, castle street food, outdoor dancing & a Tina Turner blowout!

Morning Derby – here’s what’s worth your time this week.

Markets, street food, live comedy, and a full-blown Tina Turner tribute.

This week in Derby, you can:

• Eat street food in a castle courtyard (posh and greasy – the dream combo)

• Groove badly but enthusiastically at a free outdoor dance event

• Catch comedy that’s actually funny – not just “workplace funny”

• Belt Tina Turner hits like you’ve been dumped for the third time this year

• Browse a spring market that isn’t just socks and fudge

Real events. Real food. Real reasons to leave the house.

Let’s get stuck in.

— Local Scoop Derby

📅 WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?

🌼 - Sadler Gate Spring Market – Shops, Snacks & More Browsing Than a Bored Bloke in B&Q
📍 - Sadler Gate, The Strand Arcade & Blacksmiths Yard
📅 - Saturday 3rd May
⏰ - 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
📷 - @lovesadlergate

This ain’t your nan’s market (though she’d still love it). Sadler Gate’s going full throttle with a one-day mashup of banging street food, local makers, and shops actually worth walking into.

• Stalls stacked with handmade stuff that doesn’t fall apart in a week

• Food smells that’ll have you buying lunch twice

• Indie shops pulling out the stops like it’s Black Friday with manners

• Street entertainment that’s not just a bloke with a flute

Bring your mates, bring your mum, bring your dog. Just don’t bring excuses.

MONDAY

🎨 - Connecting Creatives Networking
📍- Dubrek Studios
⏰ - 6:30 PM – More Info

🧵 - Sewing Club
📍- Abigail Wastie
⏰ - 7:30 PM – More Info

TUESDAY

🤸 - Pilates
📍- Saint Benedict Catholic Academy
⏰ - 6:15 PM – More Info

🔮 - Psychic Night
📍- Field Lane Centre, Alvaston
⏰ - 7:30 PM – More Info

🍻 - Little Darley In The Park
📍- The Abbey Inn
⏰ - 8:00 PM – More Info

WEDNESDAY

🌿 - Volunteer Day
📍- Alvaston Park
⏰ - 10:00 AM – More Info

🎨 - Creative Makers
📍- Museum of Making
⏰ - 10:30 AM – More Info

📚 - Silent Book Club
📍- Carnero Lounge
⏰ - 6:00 PM – More Info

THURSDAY

🪵 - Intro to Woodturning Workshop
📍- Museum of Making
⏰ - 10:00 AM – More Info

🧩 - The Autism Social & Advice Drop-In
📍- London Road
⏰ - 10:00 AM – More Info

🎼 - Music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
📍- Museum of Making
⏰ - 2:00 PM – More Info

🏍️ - Bike Meet
📍- Nadee Restaurant
⏰ - 5:00 PM – More Info

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:

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

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

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

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

🎤 - Al Murray: Guv Island Tour
📍- Derby Arena
⏰ - 7:30 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

🍔 SCRUMPTIOUS SCOOPS

🇮🇳 - Rikshaw Derby – This Indian Street Food Doesn’t Knock – It Kicks the Door In
📍 - 3 London Road
⏰ - Mon to Thurs: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
⏰ - Fri & Sat: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
⏰ - Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
📷 - @myrikshawderby

Forget bland takeaways. Rikshaw is bringing full-throttle Indian flavour straight from the streets of Delhi to the heart of Derby. Their menu is stacked with spice bombs, bold combos, and a few curveballs you didn’t know you needed (Masala Fish & Chips, anyone?).

Menu Bangers:

• Chicken Tikka Hakka Noodles (£9.95) – East meets East Midlands. Pure fire.

• Grilled Chicken Tikka Wrap (£6.95) – Juicy, smoky, wrapped and ready.

• Masala Fish & Chips (£7.95) – Cod's had a glow-up.

• Lamb Dum Biryani (£10.95) – The king of rice dishes. Spiced. Layered. Devoured.

• Mango Lassi (£2.95) – Sweet, cold and smoother than your chat on a first date.

Feeling extra? Chuck on a side of their crispy OMG! Chilli Bites or get messy with some loaded masala fries.

🍺 - The Coopers Arms – Lakeside Views and Legendary Grub
📍 - The Green, Weston on Trent, DE72 2BJ
⏰ - Monday to Friday: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
⏰ - Saturday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM & 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
⏰ - Sunday: 12:00 PM - 8:30 PM
⏰ - Bar: Open daily from 11:30am-11pm
📷 - @thecoopersarms

A country pub with lakeside views and food that makes you rethink your cooking skills, The Coopers Arms is a great spot for a meal. This 17th-century gem serves up hearty British fare with a seasonal twist. Whether you’re popping in for a pint or tackling the famous Sunday Carvery, you’re in for a treat.

Menu Highlights:

• Sunday Carvery: Piled-high plates with all the trimmings and lashings of gravy.

• Sticky Toffee Pudding: Gooey, sweet perfection topped with creamy vanilla ice cream.

• Honey & Nutmeg Crème Brûlée: A posh pud with just the right amount of crunch.

It’s the kind of pub where you walk in for lunch and stay ‘til closing.

🎭 ACTIVITY ALLEY

🍗🎶 - 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.

💃 - SBK on Cathedral Green – Free Lessons, Loud Tunes, Serious Hip Action
📍 - Cathedral Green
📅 - Saturday 3rd May
⏰ - 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
🎟️ - Free (optional charity donation)
📷 - @sbkuniverse_nottingham

Think salsa, bachata, and Caribbean Konpa. Outdoors. In Derby. For free.

You’ll learn the basics from pros who’ve danced it everywhere from the Dominican Republic to Greece. Then the music kicks off and everyone gets stuck in — no pressure, no awkward moves, just proper dancing with actual humans.

Here’s how it goes down:

• 4:00 PM – Bachata basics

• 4:30 PM – Konpa intro

• 5:00–6:30 PM – Dance your face off

Show up solo, or drag your mates along. Doesn't matter. If you can move, you’re in. And if you can’t — you'll learn.

Bonus: After-party at The Cube runs till 1AM. Optional. Dangerous.

You won’t find this energy on Netflix.

🌟 FRESH EXPERIENCES

🎤 - What’s Love Got To Do With It? – Tina Turner Tribute That’ll Blow the Roof Off
📍 - Derby Arena
📅 - Thursday 1st May
⏰ - 8:00 PM
🎟️ - £23–£36.50
📷 - @derbylive

You don’t need a wig or a pair of heels to belt “Simply the Best” at the top of your lungs, but it helps.

This live show celebrating the queen of rock and soul, Tina Turner, is bringing the energy, sequins, and back-to-back bangers straight to Derby Arena. Expect Proud Mary, River Deep, Private Dancer – basically a hit parade with hips that don’t lie.

Big vocals. Live band. Zero sitting down.

If you've ever air-drummed to We Don’t Need Another Hero in your car, this is your spiritual home for the night.

🎤 - Just The Tonic – It’s Like Gogglebox Live, But With Better Banter
📍 - Electric Daisy, Bold Lane
📅 - Thursday 1st May
⏰ - Doors: 6:00 PM | Show: 7:30 PM
🎟️ - £12.50 + £1.60 booking fee
📷 - @justthetonicuk @electricdaisyderby

Live comedy. Outdoors. Under cover. Heated venue. No cardigan required.

Just The Tonic is rolling into Electric Daisy with a Thursday lineup that hits harder than a Gregg’s iced finger to the face. Expect pure stand-up gold from the likes of:

• Tom Wrigglesworth – The Guardian called him the ultimate crowd pleaser. And they read broadsheets, so it must be true.

• Jacob Nussey – Deadpan delivery with stories so dry they need a pint to go with them.

• Sally-Anne Hayward – Wickedly funny with the timing of a Swiss watch.

• Dave Longley – A mic in one hand and a verbal slap in the other.

If you’re skint, stressed or just sick of the telly – this is the antidote.

🎶 LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday

• Irish Sessions - The Victoria Inn - 7:30 PM

Thursday

• Americana Night - Victoria Inn - 7:00 PM

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
23°C 🌡️ 9°C | Sunny.

Saturday
20°C 🌡️ 8°C | Sunny intervals changing to partly cloudy by nighttime.

Sunday
19°C 🌡️ 8°C | Sunny intervals.
Temperature readings taken from the Met Office the night before publication

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