The Neptune Beer Emporium, Stonegravels, Chesterfield

Formerly the Neptune Inn – I too don’t know why the Emporium suffix applies – the Neppy as it’s known to regulars is in the GBG 2026. I counted eight pumps, my Oakham Fiend £2.00 a half and fine. Worth including on a crawl.

Close to the Chesterfield Arms ,and worth including as a double header ,the bar is immediately infront of you from the entrance door while down to side are some keg taps.Seating on both wings of the pub which has a relaxed ale house vibe. The handpumps were drawing Oakham Citra (NBSS 3.5) 3 Witches and Fiend,Red Willow Feckless,Little Critters Little Hopper,Peak Ales Chatsworth Gold and Liquid Light Stupid and Contagoius. This was such a brief visit on a crawl I didn't note that much apart from the very decent pricing of the ale and how a longer visit next time would be a good idea.

A nice backstreet pub - not sure where the Emporium bit comes from but it is very pleasant. In contrast to the previous review, mid-evening it was bustling, with a good, cosy laid-back feel from the gentle buzz of conversation with just the tiniest bit of background music. I think there were 8 cask ales on, of which I had a tasty Oakham Fiend. Definitely worth a return visit.

My enthusiastic review of 2017, two years after the pub changed from a Thwaites outlet with keg only to a dedicated cask beer pub, was not followed up by many more visits, as I found the beer offering a bit hit and miss. I think this visit may well have been my first since Covid, though I've been to the nearby Chesterfield Arms many times. The two pubs are both in the Good Beer Guide so I thought it was about time I looked in again. There were seven beers on the row of hand pumps that fill the hatch-like serving area just inside the front door. I went for Vale Red Kite (NBSS 2.5) - a bitter from Buckinghamshire - and Neepsend Chupacabra (NBSS 4) - a 6.2% West Coast IPA from Sheffield. It was a bit quiet and gloomy, the day the clocks went back, until another member of staff came in and turned some lights on! It was still pretty quiet, though the man sat at the bar drinking lager was joined by a couple of friends he hadn't seen for a long time, so it was a bit of an improvement. I'll probably call in here again, but its neighbour just up the road is one of my favourite pubs, so I know where I'll be going more often.

Official site of The Neptune Beer Emporium - www.the-neptune.com

Official site of The Neptune Beer Emporium - www.the-neptune.com