Black Swan, Belper

Unusually shaped building that we too accessed from the Market Place. We arrived shortly after its 4pm opening time and found only one other customer, who was friendly and gave us a good run down of other local pubs. The ale range was limited to Marston's 61 Deep & Falstaff Phoenix, but my Phoenix was fine.

I tried to access this place from the downstairs Lounge on the main road but it looked like building work was going on and there was a sign saying it was closing in September. I subsequently found the market place entrance. As noted below it's a rambling wooden floored open plan place that is food orientated but hardly a gastro-pub. The three hand pumps were all in use and had Hobgoblin Gold, Falstaff Phoenix and Shiny Mea. I went for the Phoenix which seemed to be in good nick but was a rather dull beer so wished I'd tried either of the others. I thought it was OK.

A small brick-built pub on the corner of the market place, the Black Swan appears to have expanded sideways into a neighbouring building, and downwards into another one to the rear, with a lounge there having its own street entrance. It has the feel of a gastropub, with lots of food options set out on blackboards, and a tiny bar in one corner. The main room leading to the bar has a couple of smaller rooms leading of to either side before doing a left turn into the next building, making a complex L-shaped room. It's quite pleasant, but missing that pub feel and atmosphere. There are three hand pumps on the small bar, one empty at the time of my visit, the others having Shepherd Neame Spitfire and local Derventio Colonia. I had the Colonia, which was an unremarkable brown bitter but very drinkable. The neighbouring pubs, the White Swan and the Cross Keys were both closed on the midweek afternoon of my visit, so I can't compare the local pubs, but this one was pleasant enough.

Official site of the Black Swan, contains menus and wine list - www.blackswanbelper.com