please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Fairly quiet on our recent monday visit, polite staff, overall a decent pub. I had pints of Kelham Island 'Easy Rider' [decent pint], Little Critters 'CocoNutter' [ a coconut stout which is a pleasant smooth ale] & Castle Rock 'Emily Mo' [a pleasant pint].
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The Portland Hotel is a branch of Wetherspoon's in a fairly impressive building just off the Market Square. The interior was fairly bland, as you'd expect and maybe a little smaller than it looks from the outside. It was busy with the usual 'spoons type of customers. Ales were Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best, Sharp's Doom Bar, Mr Grundy's Lord Kitchener, Welbeck Abbey Cavendish, Derventio Barbarian, Falstaff A Fistful Of Hops, Pheasantry Best Bitter, Beermats Diplomat & Howard Town Monk's Gold. Ciders were both from Weston's - Old Rosie & Marcle Hill. I preferred the other Wetherspoon's in town.
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I think this is a good pub, staff are efficient, ales are well kept, sizable smoking area to the side, on our recent visit I indulged in Pheasantry Brewery 'Dancing Dragonfly' [smooth, pleasant & quaffable], Fuggle Bunny 'La La Land' [smooth pint], Kelham Island 'Miami' [not bad], Lincoln Green 'Hood' [tasty & creamy, very palatable] and Bradfield 'Farmers Stout' [smooth, creamy & mild].
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Dropped in to try the local Spire Brewery ale as this was new to me; enjoyed a well-kept pint of Whiter Shade. A chat with a couple of regulars informed me that the beer in general is well looked after here, and the place was certainly very busy on Saturday lunchtime. An above-average example of the Wetherspoon chain, I would say, but I did notice the tables cluttered with uncollected glassware and plates mentioned by others, although the bar itself was surprisingly well-staffed.
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Visited this pub late on a Friday evening anticipating a throng of drunken chavs drowning in lager- but no ! a mixed crowd creating a pleasant atmosphere, good choice of ales, polite barmen, this is a good pub, stuff your bog standard review.
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Bog standard spoons with all the best and worst traits in equal measure.
Beer never dissapoints though.
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exceptionally busy Wetherspoons for a Tuesday lunchtime,service however was fast and friendly,opted for the �4.99 beer and a burger deal,the food came out quickly and the caledonian coffee porter was in top nick,7/10
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I have used this Pub many times and is always generally busy, The tables are often left full of Plates and Glasses and the tables could do with wiping down more often as does the Bar stickey to the touch. Good Beer, Good Price.
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Large, busy, & friendly above average Wetherspoons in an ideal spot for exploring Chesterfield & the surrounding area,
Usual wetherspoons fair with good cheap food & drink & very good accomodation for the money,
It has to be said that this pub must be cheaper than meals on wheels for lunches judging by the amount of over 60's eating in here, As the day goes on though the clientel changes to a more middle age/young crowd which is the sign of a true town centre pub when all walks of the community use it regularly. Friendly helpful staff help this pub stand out from its sister pub.
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Nice standard Spoons place, I prefer the Derby ones myself however.
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called again for lunch.
this place is always busy, no matter what day we call. All ages.
beer and food is always decent.
10 cask ales on.
real value at jdw.
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On an annual trip from USA to Chesterfield, I missed this place on past visits. Decent enough pub, cheap pints and okay food. Had a few pints of Marston's Pedigree with a mate. Good enough, if you like Marston's but I found the ale selection disappointing on my visit. All in all, you could do worse though.
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located in the corner of chesterfield's lower market square, the first impression is of quite a large, expensive hotel, impressive in a cream and black exterior. I'm not sure if it has its own parking, but there is plenty available nearby.
I understand there are 12 rooms that can be hired via jdw.
***
inside, the ground floor rooms have been opened up into one large area, with some wall partitioning.
there is a the usual long wetherspoon bar, with plenty of cask ales to choose from [at least 8]. prices are excellent ranging between �1.50 and �2. As has been said, the daytime custom seems to be mainly elderly folk, and it can get quite busy, even through the week.
***
the standard jdw menu is available. we've had the beer and burger a couple of times, and these are quite decent. service was good to say how busy.
***
verdict:
we were very satisfied with the prices and quality of food and drink. I can see why its so popular. however that is exactly the drawback at times.
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Slightly better than average 'spoons, rather let down by filthy toilets which didn't look like they had been cleaned for a week. Good selection of real ales at a good price.
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Enjoyed a breakfast and a couplke of Wentworth beers when in the area for the Barrow Hill Rail Ale festival. No problem with meal or beer.
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Had a very negative experience in here; don't believe what it says above the front entrance: 'families welcome'. Beer is passable & inexpensive though.
anonymous - 5 Jan 2007 12:17 |
Hey it's a Wetherspoons, not much more to say is there? Retirees hang out here early on before becoming more balanced later on in the evening. Cheap and cheerful! I Have stayed in the hotel up stairs and that was good value for money too!
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Average Wetherspoons i.e. decent cheap food and clean, but high quality beer (Townes and Wentworth) in a sensibly reduced range. Well worth a visit/stay.
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I went for a meal for a colueges Birthday, there was 10 of us. We had the �5.75 meal for two 5 times. Every body enjoyed there meal and said it was good value for the money. I would consider telling people to have a meal there or to stay in the Hotel.
anonymous - 2 Dec 2004 23:31 |
