Eaton is a linear settlement and benefits from passing trade. There is a Co-op on Alfreton Road next to the local primary school and newsagent. On the opposite side of the road is Barry Fitch butchers, established in 1969. Much of the meat is reared in the fields around Little Eaton. On the southern exit to the village is the Derby Garden Centre. There are three pubs: the New Inn on the corner of Duffield Road and New Inn Lane, the Queen's Head on Alfreton Road and the Bell and Harp north of the village (originally known as the Bell Harp). Little Eaton has a long history of independent brewers, The Queen's Head originally being named the Delvers Inn after the "delvers" who worked in the local quarries. It later picked up the royal connection – first of all the King's Head then, following Queen Elizabeth's coronation, it became the Queen's Head. The Derby Brewing Company joined forces with Everards in 2011 in a £400,000 project to restore the Queen's Head. The deal saw the two breweries share the cost of buying and revamping the grade II-listed alehouse which dates back to 1835. The pub features ten hand pumps featuring Derby Brewing Company beers, hand-selected guest ales and a hand-pull cider plus beers, wines and spirits from around the world. As part of the restoration, the pub returned to its original layout, with a central entrance leading directly into a newly positioned bar area. The pub re-opened on 17 November 2011. The village also has a resident blacksmith. Little Eaton Smithy is housed in the original 18th-century village smithy. Steven Oldknow is a third-generation blacksmith using time-honoured skills and knowledge passed down from father to son. Steven's father Peter is the other resident blacksmith. The traditional techniques of forge work including riveting, banding and forge welding continue to be practised. In late 2011, the telephone box on Alfreton Road close to the village centre was bought for £1 by Little Eaton parish council and converted into a book exchange after a suggestion by the village book club. Another telephone box further along the road opposite Duffield Road was converted to an Art Box with regularly changing displays. On Drum Hill to the east is the transmitter for Capital FM East Midlands and Radio Derby. Drum Hill is also used by Derbyshire Scouts and Guides for camping and other events. See