retiredmartin

September 2023. Chesterfield.

Another year, another Big Trip to Chesterfield, another three (3) recommended pubs to visit. Who are these people who recommend pubs. Why, they must remain mysterious.

A fiver for the fifteen minute rail journey from Sheff, my 378th consecutive trip on a packed Northern journey. And folk tell you we don’t need trains anymore. A boy and girl locked themselves in the loo to avoid the ticket inspector* (sorry, “revenue protection officer”), causing consternation among the drunks at Dronfield.

Someone told me the crooked spire isn’t actually crooked, it’s an optical illusion. I think the Google Maps 3D image is fairly conclusive.

You’d think I’d have visited all the “recommended pubs” in Chez by now; we must have visited half of them at the Tickers AGM in December.

But clearly there’s always new pubs to be discovered, and little corners of town to spot for the first time.

Never noticed the Spread Eagle before, tucked between the shops and the dual carriageway. Next to the police station too, so you can report crimes against pub opening times.

Would I have to report the Spread Eagle. I arrived at noon, and couldn’t see a soul.

front or back.

But at 12:04, just as I was phoning the pub to enquire, I comically blocked the path of a young man in a rush who turned out to be the Landlord.

While he pulled the beer through, I admired the decor.

Well, perhaps more to Mrs RM’s taste, but it’s a boutique hotel and I’m not boutique.

I feared for the cask (Jaipur, Landlord and this Ashover),

but Chesterfield rarely disappoints and this was a crisp, creamy pint (3.5).

A local came in for a Guinness, the phone rang to enquire about rooms, the effervescent landlord chatted about Chesterfield parking, Sheffield golf shops, his ambitions for the pub, the state of trade, cash v card, the lot. Great to see such enthusiasm from young folk entering the trade. I told him to put Bass on.

*It’s possible they had ulterior motives for locking themselves in the loo, of course. Their actual excuse was “all the seats were taken and we wanted a seat“.