Fleet of classic scooters go on display at Derby Market Hall and across Cathedral Quarter
Mon 3 Aug 2026
A fleet of more than 200 classic scooters will go on display in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter this summer.
The free event, called Ride the Mod Wave, takes place on Saturday, August 15, and has been organised by Derby’s Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District (BIDs), in conjunction with Derby Market Hall.
Scooters from Mercia Scooter Club will be on display on the Market Place and there will be free crafting sessions by Scraggy Moo, an iconic Dalek and stalls selling vintage clothes, records and other items from the era in the Market Hall.
Visitors are being encouraged to support popular shop, 80s Casual Clothing on Sadler Gate, and enjoy a bite to eat at The Olive Tree on Albion Street, which will be serving popular British classics. Local pub, The White Horse, in Derby’s Morledge, which has an impressive Mod theme inside, will be open on the day too.
On Osnabruck Square, there will be three performances from Twist & Shout - an all-star cast from the West End. At 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.20pm, the troupe will present a powerhouse of music that starts with the explosion of Brit Pop in 1962 through to the era of Flower Power and Free Love in the late 1960s.
From 1pm, energetic four-piece band, Modskas, will be at Derby’s Waterfall performing songs from Madness, The Special, Bad Manners, The Jam and many Northern Soul tracks.
Later in the day, the Northern Soul and Motown Disco will start from 5pm in the Derby Market Hall. DJ Prodigy Jack Stevenson will be on the decks from 5pm-6.30pm, followed by Derby’s Mick Moylan at 6.30pm, and headliner, DJ Pete Whelbourne of Modclothin’ fame, from 8pm.
Gemma Pindard, Deputy Manager for both Cathedral Quarter BID and St Peters Quarter BID, said the event is the first of its kind in Derby and she hopes local people with enjoy the day.
She explained:
We can’t wait to host all the scooters so people who love the Mod era can come to Derby and see them. We would like to thank Mercia Scooter Club for agreeing to bring their scooters into Derby and putting them on display.
On Friday and Saturday, Derby QUAD will show iconic 1979 British classic, Quadrophenia, to celebrate Derby’s first scooter event. The movie follows the fortunes of Jimmy Cooper, a young Mod who escapes from his dead-end job as a post room boy by dancing, partying, riding his scooter and brawling with rockers.
Gemma said:
This event really is one for your diary and I hope people will look forward to visiting the city and seeing all the scooters. There will be a full programme of events and activities, and we are extremely excited to organise this day. Members of the public are being encouraged to come along, explore the city centre and soak up the Mod-inspired atmosphere.
Councillor Gurkiran Kaur, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for City Centre, Culture and Tourism, said:
The Ride the Mod Wave will be a fantastic event for Derby. It’s sure to be a popular attraction, bringing in visitors from across the region, and driving footfall to our fantastic local businesses. Whether you are a lifelong Mod enthusiast or simply looking for a fun day out with family and friends, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. I encourage everyone to come into the city, soak up the atmosphere, and support our brilliant local traders.
