We found ourselves in Chesterfield in summer 2026's third or fourth heatwave - I'm losing count Peak temperatures of 33℃ aren't ideal conditions for rambling around a selection of the town's Beer Guide pubs. But we tried.
The Proact Technique SMH Group Stadium is built on the site of the old Dema glassworks, the first games played here in 2010 after the move from Saltergate. It's a ground I've never visited, although I suspect I wouldn't be able to get through the door of the pub across the road on a match day.
This became Brampton Brewery's third pub in 2019 when they took over the old Rose & Crown, spruced it up and renamed it after the aforementioned glassworks. Most of the decorations were made of up old black & white pictures of the factory and retro adverts for their products.
First impressions were that this was a bit less welcoming and cosy than the other two Brampton pubs - the amount of standing space in front of the bar ready-made for the footy crowds.
In a L-shaped layout, the front section is the comfortable bit, the beige leather benches underneath wood panelling our seating of choice.
There were five cask ales on offer, two of their own, plus brews from Two By Two, Ossett, and Red Willow.
Keen to work my way through the Brampton beers, I picked the 'Terminus' - a golden brew hopped with Comet, Chinook and Cascade. Which just happened to be the £3 beer of the week. 💰👍
Keen to work my way through the Brampton beers, I picked the 'Terminus' - a golden brew hopped with Comet, Chinook and Cascade. Which just happened to be the £3 beer of the week. 💰👍
First beer of the day finished and glasses returned to the bar, we headed a couple of doors down the road to the Batch House, which promised lunch and craft ales.
Didn't take long to divert from trad pubs on this occasion, did it?
This was a Mrs PropUptheBar find, being as she anticipated that I wouldn't have thought about a lunch stop.
The complex was built on the site of an old fire station, the metal-beamed structure with it's exposed ducts and corrugated ceiling looking like it could just as easily house a DIY store as a food hall.
The Aquarius Bar beer selection was made up of big brand craft, though there was one handpump offering a cask ale badged as 'Batch House Pale'. Brewed for them by Welbeck Abbey and priced at a fiver.
The beer was on reasonable form being as it was the first poured of the day, diligently pulled through and checked by my friendly server.
This washed down a wonderful Paneer Makhani from the Ruby and Chaat street food stall, a dish I've been trying to recreate at home with varying degrees of success since.
Leaving the Batch House, we skirted around the football stadium, then navigated a way through the dual carriageways and roundabouts (with some difficulty) to reach the Chesterfield Canal. The walk down this was mostly shaded from an unmerciful sun, until we needed to branch off and struggle up a couple of residential streets to our next pub.
This washed down a wonderful Paneer Makhani from the Ruby and Chaat street food stall, a dish I've been trying to recreate at home with varying degrees of success since.
Leaving the Batch House, we skirted around the football stadium, then navigated a way through the dual carriageways and roundabouts (with some difficulty) to reach the Chesterfield Canal. The walk down this was mostly shaded from an unmerciful sun, until we needed to branch off and struggle up a couple of residential streets to our next pub.
This first opened in the 1860s as The New Inn, converting an existing building which had served as a residential property, post office and undertakers. Perhaps it was one of the supposed former uses as a merchant navy captains home that prompted a name change to the Neptune, or Neppy to the locals.
From 2015 onwards it's been a beer-orientated free house with the 'Emporium' bit added.
Lots of choice - someone's picked something murky...
My beer was the Little Brewing Co 'Aurora', a soft tropical pale ale.
We sat down in one of the two rooms that led off from the central bar, AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac on the stereo. Music which switched disappointingly to Rhianna and Little Mix in a short space of time.
We sat down in one of the two rooms that led off from the central bar, AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac on the stereo. Music which switched disappointingly to Rhianna and Little Mix in a short space of time.
To be honest, my beer was more 'Acceptable' than 'Good' - perhaps I picked wrong on the cask lottery.
But this is a nice little backstreet pub that I'd definitely come back to, especially as they have a stage and bands with names such as Skatoons, Rogue Duo, and Derventio playing on a busy gig guide.
But this is a nice little backstreet pub that I'd definitely come back to, especially as they have a stage and bands with names such as Skatoons, Rogue Duo, and Derventio playing on a busy gig guide.
It wasn't too far through the side-streets for us to reach the current local CAMRA pub of the year.
This is somewhere which has transformed into a real ale destination in recent years, with a brewery added in 2022 to concoct Resting Devil beers.
There were three of those home-brewed ales on offer plus plenty of other options from Arbor, Pentrich, Wild Childe, North Riding and Tim Taylors.
I am so predictable...
Stepping out the back door of the pub there was a covered seating area connecting to the barn-like brewery space. Nobody had twigged that this was by far the coolest spot to sit, although it didn't take long for us to be joined by a number of folks.
We had a reasonable soundtrack of ELO, Eagles, Steve Miller Band - each one exactly the song you'd expect it to be.
And that Bass was on top form.
We had a reasonable soundtrack of ELO, Eagles, Steve Miller Band - each one exactly the song you'd expect it to be.
And that Bass was on top form.
Mid-post gosling interlude...
The two proud parents in Queen's Park weren't overly thrilled by their youngsters bold waddle to say hello to us.
Now on the eastern edge of the town centre, he headed past the impressive town hall and along West Bars to the micropub.
It doesn't make it into the gallery of my best pub pictures...
Now on the eastern edge of the town centre, he headed past the impressive town hall and along West Bars to the micropub.
It doesn't make it into the gallery of my best pub pictures...
Chesterfield Alehouse (37 West Bars, Chesterfield, S40 1AG)
With the sun glaring straight at the building, the big red blind provided the front room with much-needed shade, although I was still feeling mighty sweaty in here and even the keg beer was a degree or two warmer than I'd have liked.
Opened in 2013, this is a real bare boards micropub. There are a handful of tables in the front room, the bar counter up a couple of steps to the rear, and another first floor room that we never saw.
With the sun glaring straight at the building, the big red blind provided the front room with much-needed shade, although I was still feeling mighty sweaty in here and even the keg beer was a degree or two warmer than I'd have liked.
Opened in 2013, this is a real bare boards micropub. There are a handful of tables in the front room, the bar counter up a couple of steps to the rear, and another first floor room that we never saw.
Four cask ales available: Two by Two 'Metropolis Pale V.3', Titanic 'Iceberg Grand Crew', Big Trip 'Fozzie', and Full Circle 'West Coast Pale'.
The Two By Two from Byker for me - a super murky hop monster.
The Two By Two from Byker for me - a super murky hop monster.
Mrs PropUptheBar was impressed by my sensible ordering of just a half.
Less impressed when I snuck away and returned with an 8.2% Tartarus 'Piasa' from a wonderful keg beer list. What a stunning malty imperial stout that was - packed full of coffee beans and vanilla.
We were a little spoilt for good venues in Chesterfield.
The next was another corker - a proper beer drinkers pub in the shadow of St Marys and the crooked spire.
We were a little spoilt for good venues in Chesterfield.
The next was another corker - a proper beer drinkers pub in the shadow of St Marys and the crooked spire.
It's a pub of two halves - from the outside at least. The front part was once the home of Samuel Dutton, a mayor of Chesterfield for many years during the first half of the 19th century. It became the Rutland Hotel in 1860 then, one hundred years later, the neighbouring verger's house was purchased so that the pub could be expanded.
The outdoor seats in the shade of the trees were the busiest when we arrived, but there were enough people scattered throughout to ensure I never did get a decent interior picture.
The outdoor seats in the shade of the trees were the busiest when we arrived, but there were enough people scattered throughout to ensure I never did get a decent interior picture.
There was a choice of 6 cask ales available from which I picked the Peak Ales 'Dalesman' best bitter. Trad beer on excellent form.
We cleared off in ample time for Adam's Birthday Crew...
We cleared off in ample time for Adam's Birthday Crew...
...heading just a couple of minutes walk around the corner for a spot of tea in th Pig & Pump.
This chunky red brick building was the White Swan pub for many years, given the nickname the Mucky Duck and serving as a live music venue for local rock and alternative bands in the '80s and early '90s. The pub closed suddenly in 2018 before being brought back to life as the Pig & Pump. "Chesterfield's newest, coolest pub" said the Derbyshire Times when it first opened. Trust me to be eight years late for 'new' and 'cool'.
The entrance is superb - the swan of the original name in the glasswork and a mosaic floor in the vestibule.
That's your heritage bit out of the way - once inside everything is thoroughly modern with shades of blue and green paint, botanical wallpaper, a couple of chandeliers, and shiny wooden floors.
It was doing a great trade - I think we nabbed the last table that wasn't occupied or reserved, enabling us to settle in and pick from a big menu of trad pub grub.
Plenty of beer choice too with a run of 12 hand pumps for 9 ales and 3 ciders.
It was doing a great trade - I think we nabbed the last table that wasn't occupied or reserved, enabling us to settle in and pick from a big menu of trad pub grub.
Plenty of beer choice too with a run of 12 hand pumps for 9 ales and 3 ciders.
A Magpie 'Cherry Raven' for me - a slightly smoky, slightly sweet and fruity variation of the brewery's signature stout. The beer was in good condition and the food came in enormous portions ensuring we had way too much on the table.
One final pub to report on...
This appealed to me on two fronts: It's reputedly the town's oldest pub and had a three-pint-pot score of approval on the CAMRA website.
Plus, pubs in ancient alleyways near market places have a tendency to be good, if not always easy to photograph...
This appealed to me on two fronts: It's reputedly the town's oldest pub and had a three-pint-pot score of approval on the CAMRA website.
Plus, pubs in ancient alleyways near market places have a tendency to be good, if not always easy to photograph...
The Royal Oak used to have a Trip to Jerusalem-style plaque claiming it was founded in the 12th century and had connections to the Crusades. Anything Nottingham can do, we can do too...
It's more likely that this first served as inn and ale house from the early 16th century.
The current independent owners reopened the pub in 2025 after four years of it being out of action.
Great beer list.
World Cup bunting produced before Poland got knocked out in the qualification play-off, I guess.
I opted for the Abbeydale 'In the Elements' a Baltic porter brewed in collaboration with Colbier of Merseyside. A super beer.
The bar straddles two rooms in two different buildings, with separate entrances to each. We sat in the lovely down-to-earth back room with stone floor, pump clips on the ceiling and hops over the bar. My ideal kind of pub room.
The bar straddles two rooms in two different buildings, with separate entrances to each. We sat in the lovely down-to-earth back room with stone floor, pump clips on the ceiling and hops over the bar. My ideal kind of pub room.
I couldn't resist wandering outside and back in through the other door to explore the older side of the pub - a mini banqueting hall with tall ceiling and suit of armour on display in the corner.
The Royal Oak was a great pub that I'd certainty recommend, although I'd struggle to pick a out-and-out favourite from those in this post.
Yep, Chesterfield had provided a great selection of pubs for us, good quality cask surviving the heat in pretty much all of them.
Yep, Chesterfield had provided a great selection of pubs for us, good quality cask surviving the heat in pretty much all of them.
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