Falstaff Tavern, Normanton, Derby

The Falstaff opened in November after a four month closure for refurbishment. This included stripping the old dark varnish off the wooden bar back and adding a new bar counter, reclaimed from a defunct pub. A new chimney piece now has pride of place in the first room I came to, its fantastically carved wood echoed in the figures, animals and other small carvings competing for space on high shelves in this room and the one next door. The flue-less gas fire keeps this stone-floored room warm, and there's another more conventional one in the next room, which extends further round the corner to where a purple-clothed pool table occupies some space in what might otherwise be thought of as the corridor leading to the toilets. On the bar are four hand pumps, all serving beers (listed on a hymn board!) which apparently are brewed in the garage of the house next door. At the time of my visit these were 3 Faze, A Fistful of Hops, Phoenix and Smiling Assassin. The Assassin was tasty but perhaps a little tired, but the Phoenix was very good, and with beers priced between £2.30 and £2.60 a pint this is definitely a place to return to for a longer session.

The Falstaff is a large victorian corner pub that is situated well into the back streets of Normanton. This pub was originally an Ansells tied house with the dreaded squirrel keg boxes on the bar,things have improved quite a lot since my first few visit here. Once inside there are a few different rooms,on my last visit here on a stag night we had a drink in the main bar area. The pub is now home to Falstaff brewery and there are usually a few of their beers on the bar,i had a drink of Falstaff Fistfull of Hops which went down very well. This is not the easiest pub to find,but once here you wont be dissapointed. Pub first visited 10/12/1982 Photo taken 4/2/2006

A very friendly pub this one and also serves fab beer. A difficult one to leave when you're enjoying their Falstaff ales and a good chat. I enjoyed A Fist Full of Hops and Phoenix. They are also proud of the ladies loos, which are quite way out in deco and was allowed a quick look, when vacant of course. Will defo return.

Well worth the walk from central Derby but a good map is definitely needed to fin this pub round the terraced backstreets. A good selection of their own Falstaff brewery ales wer on and we sat in the room with the pool table admiring the various beer labels stuck to the wall that Falstaff have brwed in the past. Whilst the area was Ok during the day when we visited , we would certainly be a bit more cautious at night.