Arts & Entertainment
The Ritz Cinema
Belper has a thriving independent cinema, The Ritz, occupying the former Public Hall at the top of King Street. This glorious building was converted to a cinema in the thirties, and today it shows a mix of cultural and classic films, as well as the latest blockbuster releases.
Find out what's currently showing: www.ritz-belper.co.uk.
Live Music
There is a thriving live music scene in Belper, with many pubs, clubs, community venues and even St. Peter's Church hosting regular performances. Many of these venues take part in the annual Nailed It Music Festival, which promotes original live acts.
Similar events, such as the Belper Soul and Disco Festival and Back to the '80s Day help make Belper such a vibrant place for music, and live acts are an important addition to events such as the Food Festival, Arts Trail and Christmas lights switch on.
Check out the listings on our What's On page.
Beth's Poetry Trail
Inspired by, and named after, the late Beth Fender, the Poetry Trail is a series of poetry extracts displayed in various locations around Belper. The poems include well known verses, works by local poets and some of Beth's own poems, and you'll find them in the busier parts of town as well as tucked away in more secluded locations.
More details and a map of where to find the poems here: bethspoetrytrail.co.uk
Belper Players
Belper Players is an award winning amateur dramatics group that puts on two or three performances a year, usually at Strutt's Community Centre. Find out about their current show here: www.belperplayers.com. Or, if you've got showbiz in your blood, they're always on the lookout for volunteers.
Belper Musical Theatre
Belper Musical Theatre performs shows twice a year (February and September). There's also the Belper Junior Musical Theatre, which puts on a show of its own each year. More information here: belpermusicaltheatre.co.uk.
Treasure Trails
This is a great way to explore Belper, it's a detective mystery that will take you on a tour around the town, working out clues along the way. The trail is approximately 1.8 miles long and will take around two hours to complete.
You can order a copy here: www.treasuretrails.co.uk/products/things-to-do-belper-derbs.
Mr Potato Head
There are very few places in the UK that can truthfully claim to be in possession of a giant fibreglass Mr Potato Head. In fact, this is possibly one area in which Belper stands alone, and the jury is still out over whether this is a cause for celebration or an embarrassing blot on an otherwise aesthetically agreeable market town.
Nevertheless, Old Starchy, as no one ever refers to him, has been with us for a few years now, ever since he was gifted to Belper by its twin town of Pawtucket, Rhode Island (potatoes are big there, apparently). In that time, he's been moved around a great deal, suffered abuse, occasionally hidden from view and given a new paint job.
You'll currently find him in the courtyard at De Bradelei Shopping Village. Go and say hello. He gets lonely.
