A much-loved Derby venue is set to be brought back to life later this year after being taken over by a well-established Irish bar. When Revolution was confirmed to be closing its doors back in January 2024, many of Derby’s drinkers were left wondering if they’d ever see a suitable replacement.
It has remained empty for the last year, but now a hard-working team are returning it to its former glory – with the luck of the Irish on their side. Molly Malone’s has already formed a roaring reputation up the M1 in Sheffield, attracting hundreds of punters on weekends – many of whom are drawn to the appeal of a classic Irish boozer.
Molly Malone’s Derby will be open well into the early hours. Adding to the warming atmosphere will be live music every weekend, authentic Irish decor and, of course, plenty of Guinness.
Molly Malones’ David Henning, who is currently travelling between Derby and Sheffield to get everything ship shape, said the team are “very excited” to get things up and running at the city centre venue, adding that around 40 jobs would be on offer. He said: “We’re going to be putting on live music every weekend as well as a weekly quiz and a weekly Irish bingo, and we pride ourselves on offering student-friendly drinks prices.
“We’re going to start off by opening on Fridays, Saturdays and bank holidays only throughout the summer, and will extend to seven nights a week when students return in September. We wanted to expand the brand but stay within a couple of hours of Sheffield, where our flagship site is, and we thought the former Revolution building was a perfect fit to be a Molly’s.
“It’s a great city with a large university, which is great for when we start running mid-week sessions. We can see that Derby has plenty to offer and we hope to add to that by carrying out a high-end revamp to attract more people and business into the city.”
David has assured the city’s drinkers that Guinness will be in “full swing” once the doors are open, which is set to be on Thursday, April 17, just in time for the Easter weekend. “We’ll be hiring 40 people ahead of opening which includes a variety of roles, from deputy and assistant manager to bar supervisors and floor staff,” David addded.
“We’ll be starting our recruitment in the next month or so and anyone interested in joining the team can do so by emailing derbyjobs@molly-malones.co.uk. We’re all super excited. We’ve spent a lot of time in Derby over the last few months and can tell you it’s a thriving city with a lot going on – and a lot of potential.
“There’s new residences appearing, new student halls, and the new Becketwell Live performance venue. Derby has a lot to shout about at the moment – and we can’t wait to show you what we can offer.”