Bell and Castle Inn, Derbyback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Thought I’d better report that they definitely still do food at lunchtimes. On my latest visit there were people eating ! However, I couldn’t actually see a menu, and didn’t ask because the beer range was decidedly uninspiring. Only 4 beers on out of 6 handpumps, and one of those was Doom Bar and two were from Salopian’s “standard” range. I had the Oracle which was OK.
6/10 – going downhill IMO.
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Large pub outside of the centre. This place has a number of large rooms. I sat in the main bar area where there are large tables. There is also a kitchen visible from this room. I believe they are now doing food. Although nobody was eating. Toilets are in a separate outhouse at the rear. Ales were Hook Norton Nice Try, Salopian Oracle & Pogo & Sharps Doom Bar. However there is no real cider. A CAMRA discount of 5p off per half is offered. Seemed to lack a bit of atmosphere. But maybe it just needed more customers!
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Just a short note to say that I understand they don't do food any more here. Certainly my recent visits were a bit hit and miss in that regard
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The staff there at the time gave us a very, very warm welcome (which is becoming increasing rare these days). Beers all top notch. Pizzas outstanding.
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OK. I've been back, and service was MUCH quicker this time ! I had Leatherbritches "The Biunder" this time, which was nice, but not particularly the sort of beer I enjoy. And the beer garden out back is MUCH larger than the actual pub - pretty uniqye for an urban location slap bang on a main road !
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Long tall Georgian building on a busy main road. When you enter, the place is smaller than it appears to be from the outside – but also lighter than expected. The (smallish) bar is immediately in front of you., and there is another small seating area to the right. To the left is a larger area (but still only 4 tables) that is obviously set aside for diners. This features bare brickwork, as opposed to stucco elsewhere.
When I was there the few other drinkers were clustered round the bar – but it took a good 5 minutes for someone to appear and serve me. There were 5 or 6 real ales available – I had Black Hole’s Red Dwarf which was very nice.
However, what sets this place apart from other pubs is the menu which is centred around pizzas (though other dishes are available). These are thin crust pizzas and are excellent. I can’t remember the name of the one I had, but it included aubergines. They even added extra olives without asking as my first choice wasn’t available (due to lack of anchovies). Prices aren’t cheap, but still fairly reasonable, as you get personal service freshly prepared. Pizzas are served on round wooden slab, that revolve. Obviously designed for sharing – but I was greedy and ate mine up all by myself !
Toilets are out the back of the pub (which turns out to be very narrow) in a separate building. Also out back is a surprisingly large beer garden (which I didn’t sample because it was snowing ! )
7/10 – an interesting mix between bar and pizzeria, definitely worth another visit.
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This pub has recently undergone a major refurbishment, and the tired interior has been replaced with a more airy, contemporary decor. The bar serves a small range of regularly changing real ale, ciders also guest and there is a comprehensive drinks menu covering everything from wines to alcoholic dandelion and burdock. The kitchen recently reopened after a refit and the food is worth checking out. Staff are very friendly and welcoming, and any stranger feels like a regular after a few minutes. Some background music, but not too loud. Toilets are quirky and clean, and the beer garden will see some serious use come the warm weather. Less than ten minute's walk from St. Peter's street in the City centre. Worth a visit.
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