Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon), Derby

Impressive conversion with central bar, seems vastly popular and its not actually the largest so feels very busy.

City centre branch of the Wetherspoons chain, occupying a highly impressive former bank premises. T%ghe pub is centred around a massive island servery under a very high ceiling, with carpet across much of the main floor space, where a series of pillars run in rows down either side of the room, behind which are a number of recessed seating areas. The servery dominates the room and has a smart dark wood counter, minimalist gantries and an uncomplicated bar back that perhaps feels a little undercooked in such grand, opulent surroundings. Ample seating can be found to either side as well as in the recesses behind the pillars, where banquette booths seem to be the order of the day, compared to the basic tables and chairs and high tables and stools that fill the main bar area. The eye tends to be drawn upwards, where a row of portraits and sculptures run beneath the grand ceiling. An additional seating area can be found to the rear, offering a few more banquette booths under some nice dark wood and stained glass partitioning screens. There is also an open kitchen back here, from which music was playing and clearly audible to anyone sitting back here. I counted a staggering eleven guest beers alongside the three usual ‘Spoons ales, which feels like the sort of offering you used to get in popular ‘Spoons pre-pandemic, but rarely see nowadays. A very chatty barman poured me a great pint of Magpie Raven which I enjoyed drinking whilst trying to soak up the pub’s fine interior. This felt like one of Wetherspoons finest examples of a bank conversion, coupling the amazing building with an extensive, well conditioned ale range that helps put this place on a par with some of the city’s top ale houses. I really liked this one and thought it was light years ahead of the other city centre ‘Spoons I visited this week (Babbington Arms).

Central branch of Wetherspoon's housed in a grand building that was a former bank. With high ceilings, it certainly has an impressive interior and reminded me a little of the Crosse Keys in the City of London. The real ale and cider selection is listed on screens around the circular bar. The usual ales were being sold - Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best & Sharp's Doom Bar, whilst Marston's Pedigree is also a regular. Guest beers were Beermats Summat Blonde, Falstaff Smiling Assassin, Great Newsome Frothingham Best, Heritage St Modwen, Lymestone Cherry Stone & Stone The Crows, Milestone Black Pearl & Raspberry Wheat Beer, Pheasantry Ringneck, Oakham Citra & Green Devil IPA, Fuggle Bunny Chapter 7 - Russian Rare-Bit & Fire Island Buffalo. Ciders were Weston's Old Rosie, Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon, Thistly Cross Whisky Cask & Snail's Bank Raspberry Ripple. With such a beer and cider range and with very competitive pricing, the Standing Order is worth including on any crawl of Derby.

I thought this was a run of the mill Spoons, until I recently ventured in on an early doors visit, which was handy for a good look around. Very impressive interior I have to say, service was good, which could be expected when the pub was quiet. Fifteen cask ales to choose from, all of which were displayed clearly on a screen at the front corner of the bar on my approach. The prices per pint ranged from £1.71 a pint for a 3.7% with a 4% to 6.2% at £2.46 a pint. Plus the beer quality was all top notch and as Graham mentions below "I would happily return" I agree, what a place.

A large Spoons in a quite magnificent banking hall, benefitting from a recent redecoration. Very busy and deservedly so, with 12 guest ales on. Service also seemed much improved over previous reviews so it looks as though they have got their act together. I know it's 'only a Spoons' but frankly there was little to complain about on this visit and I would happily return, despite Derby's other drinking attractions.

Official site of Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com