QUICK VERDICT
Opportunity Type Amber Taverns Tied Tenancy Pubco Amber Taverns Google Rating 4.2 stars (600 reviews) Ingoing Cost £5,000–£15,000 estimated Working Capital Needed £15,000–£22,000 minimum Trade Character South Street Ilkeston DE7, 11am opening, midnight Friday/Saturday, 600 reviews, Derbyshire market town Best Suited To East Midlands community operator with Ilkeston knowledge; DE7 is Ilkeston, a Derbyshire town with the specific distinction of being England\’s largest town without a railway station Shaun\’s Rating \[ \] Watch Out For DATA CORRECTION: Draft assigns DE7 as \’community location, 50,000 population.\’ Ilkeston is a Derbyshire town of approximately 38,000 people in the Erewash Valley, close to Nottingham. The \’largest town in England without a railway station\’ is a genuinely well-known fact about Ilkeston that has shaped its specific community self-awareness. It\’s the kind of local identity detail an operator should know.
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This independent assessment was prepared by SmartPubTools using the following publicly available sources:
- Pub listing data: Amber Taverns published listings — availability, agreement type and rent figures sourced directly from the pub company's own website
- Google rating & reviews: Google Places API — ratings and review counts retrieved programmatically from Google Maps data
- Local population & demographics: ONS Census 2021 — population figures, age profiles and household data
- Local employment data: NOMIS Official Labour Market Statistics — employment rates and major local employer data
- Pubs Code information: Pubs Code Adjudicator (UK Government) — tied tenant rights and MRO entitlements
- Operator perspective: SmartPubTools is operated by a working pub landlord under a Marston's Community Retail Partnership at Teal Farm Pub, Washington NE38 — assessments reflect genuine first-hand operator experience
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THE LOCAL PICTURE
Hogarths Ilkeston is at 3 South Street, Ilkeston DE7 5QT. South Street is in Ilkeston town centre. Ilkeston is a Derbyshire town of approximately 38,000 people in the Erewash Valley, bordering the Nottinghamshire boundary. The town is often cited as England\’s largest town without a railway station — a distinction that has shaped its self-image and which residents mention with a particular combination of pride and resignation.
Ilkeston has coal mining and hosiery manufacturing heritage. The Erewash Valley was part of the South Derbyshire coalfield. Key employers: NHS Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council, and manufacturing/logistics operations. Ilkeston is close enough to Nottingham (approximately 8 miles) that its retail and professional economy connects to the wider city.
WHAT THE PUB IS
Hogarths Ilkeston opens at 11am and closes at 11pm Monday to Thursday and Sunday, with midnight closes Friday and Saturday. At 600 reviews and 4.2 stars, this is a solid Hogarths performance for an East Midlands market town.
THE AMBER TAVERNS DEAL
Amber Taverns tied tenancy. Ilkeston\’s community market. Request the full price list. Two midnight closes require door supervision for both.
FINANCIAL REALITY
Metric Estimate Ingoing Cost £5,000–£15,000 estimated Working Capital Required £15,000–£22,000 (liquid, not borrowed) Agreement Type Amber Taverns Tied Tenancy Tied Supplies Yes — request full price list Break-Even Timeline 12–18 months DATA CORRECTION Ilkeston DE7 (38,000 pop) — England\’s largest town without a railway station 600 Reviews at 4.2 Solid Hogarths brand performance in Derbyshire market town
PUBS CODE RIGHTS — KNOW BEFORE YOU SIGN
PUBS CODE RIGHTS — KNOW BEFORE YOU SIGN
- Independent rent assessment — exercise your Pubs Code right before signing
- Request full P&L projections from Amber Taverns before committing
- Obtain Schedule of Condition at entry — protects you on dilapidations
- Get the full tied product price list before you agree terms
- Complete Amber Taverns pre-entry training (required)
- Right to a free Market Rent Only option assessment
- Right to independent legal and financial advice before signing
WHO THIS SUITS
An East Midlands community operator who understands Ilkeston\’s specific Derbyshire market town identity. Minimum £15,000 liquid capital.
WHAT WORKS / WHAT DOESN\’T
WHAT WORKS
- Ilkeston\’s Erewash Valley community identity — strong local loyalty
- 600 reviews at 4.2 stars providing established Hogarths presence
WHAT DOESN\’T WORK
- Treating Ilkeston as a generic East Midlands community when it has a specific and well-known identity
WHAT YOU NEED ON DAY ONE
EPOS configured. Door supervision for Friday and Saturday. Professional stocktaking from week two.
GET YOUR NUMBERS RIGHT BEFORE YOU SIGN
Before you sign anything, know your numbers.
Pub Command Centre gives you real-time labour %, VAT and cash position from day one. £97 once.
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