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Detail Pages
The Market, Chesterfield
Chesterfield
S40 1AH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Market
I recalled this being my preferred town centre drinking venue last time I was here many years ago and so it proved again. Beyond light refreshing, not much change inside from my previous visit. My Oakham Citra was sublime (NBSS 4.5) and there was an excellent mix of strengths and styles available. Some may grump at the food focus but there’s more than enough pints flying out to ensure that the cask product is fresh and at its best. We never did find out what the unlabelled pinted orange liquid in the fridge was though. 8.5
29th August 2011
Quick revisit today found a change in some of the ale offerings but all pumps were operational and the quality was still excellent. Supped my Kelham Island Pale Rider in the paved courtyard at the rear where tended flowers make it nicer than the average smokers square. The courtyard happens to be located right by the open kitchen door so must they be confident in their food if the customers can watch? Also noted that the friendly barmaid from Saturday was on shift again today. Rated 8.5
28th August 2011
Overlooking Chesterfield market, (notable for its huge selection of second hand bongo mags), the well-maintained exterior is inviting. On entering, you find a larger-than-expected bar divided into a number of areas. The feel is of a recently-refurbished place that’s trying to nail a turn-of-the-century ale house feel - lots of wood, some booths, flagstone floor etc. Grab a seat by the front-facing bay window if you can, which gets you a nice view of the market square. Up to ten excellently-sourced ales are available along with a real cider - my Acorn Old Moor Porter was enjoyable on my latest visit and I would have been tempted to stay for another if I’d had time. Prices are a few pence more expensive than surrounding outlets, with mine coming in at £3.20. Staff are friendly and efficient, especially the brown haired girl with the glasses. The place trades heavily on the food and hot beverage brigade, indeed the sound of the coffee machine was an almost constant fixture during my latest 30 minutes. Having eaten here previously I can say it’s worthwhile ordering food if you’re hungry - it’s home-cooked and they were good with adjusting a dish to suit a dietary need for my companion. Perhaps one downside was the preponderance of Simply Red as the muzak of choice. This one is well-worth making a diversion for. Rated 8
On 5th January 2026
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5992 recommendations about 5971 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about The Market
Located by the towns main market square this one does very much have a focus on food. The single roomed internal space wraps around the central servery and the walls of the larger section to the left are dominated by the chalk boards for the food menu and available wine selection. And although there is a chalk board for the impressive array of seven ale and cider pumps on the bar, it is almost apologetically tucked away on one of the bar pillars. Five ales and two ciders available for our visit as detailed by Mr Fastard below and I also went for the Titanic Plum Porter Special Reserve.
Cannot comment on the impressive food menu, but the impressive ale option does make The Market deserving of a visit on a beer crawl of Chesterfield
On 14th November 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2322 recommendations about 2169 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Market
Described by CAMRA as a ‘premium gastropub’, this is a smart destination.
There were nine pumps with two serving fake ‘real’ cider and Titanic Plum Porter but perhaps not as Grand Reserve as the pump clip would have us believe. Nevertheless, it was very good, £2.75 a half with a top-up offered without prompting.
Another Chesterfield must-visit.
On 9th November 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2307 recommendations about 2251 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Market
At one end of the large market ,there are several features showing the buildings age.The interior has a central bar and two sections either side,the left culminates in two long red leather benches and a kitchen opening and this feels like the dining area. This area has a stone floor while the section to the right has a wooden floor,exposed brickwork and feels like the place drinkers will congregate using the traditional furniture.Food is an important feature of the pub but doesn't dominate.The flatscreen was sensibly on mute.
One side of the L shaped bar has the handpumps offering on my trip TT Landlord,Black Iris Hazardous Brewtation,Titanic Plum Porter Grand Reserve (NBSS 3.5),Abbeydale Moonshine and Absolution,Oakham Citra and two handpumped ciders.I thought that was a very good line up with some style and strength variation which would make it a must visit on any real ale crawl.I would certainly use it again.
On 8th November 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3126 recommendations about 3126 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Market
Just a quick visit on a surprisingly busy Sunday afternoon. The banging door (see my January review) has been fixed by hooking it back in the open position. Seven cask beers on, of which Oakham Green Devil was very good (NBSS 3.5 almost 4, £2.75 for a half at 6%).
On 26th October 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4666 recommendations about 4275 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Market
Apparently my last visit to this eye-catching old pub overlooking one of the marketplaces was back in 2008 when it had already been 'done up' in the corporate idea of an old-fashioned 'ale house' style (with lots of wood) and was quite food-led, and little seems to have changed since then. This time we found all but one of the nine handpumps in use, with six cask ales - including Landlord, Abbot, Oakham JHB and Acorn's Talus IPA - and a couple of ciders.
On 6th March 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 9063 recommendations about 9063 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Market
I remember coming here about 20 years ago with some of my Luton Town mates when there wasn't a game on. It was a Marstons pub then, I believe but it's quite different now. It seems almost fashionable, to judge by the Friday evening crowd, but it's a real ale pub with seven cask ales on the bar (see photos for six, plus Gorlovka which was out of reach because of bar hangers). My half of Acorn Talus was good (NBSS 3.5) but very similar to several other beers from this brewery - not a criticism, just an observation. Quite busy at 6pm on Friday, but the background music was still intrusive. Is it just me? Quite possibly. The door closer on the way to the toilet has failed, so there's a loud clang every 10 seconds, but I still like it here. I may have had too many beers, I'm becoming tolerant. (PS The Gorlovka was very good too.)
On 24th January 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4666 recommendations about 4275 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Market
A good pub on the market square, as might be guessed. The fairly dark interior has a stone floor and is comfortable enough. It had a good range of ales, seemingly well-kept, but it felt a bit bistro-ish on the front. On the pumps were Little Critters Blonde Bear, Bradfield Farmers Pale, Titanic Plum Porter, Abbot, TT Landlord and Jaipur, plus some ciders.
On 28th January 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3900 recommendations about 3832 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Market
Very busy pub, showing that if you get things right, punters will come.
Great pub food - ordered off a worryingly large menu. Great quality and all fresh.
Decent selection of real ales - tried a very good Landlord and Copper Dragon.
Good balance between diners and drinkers.
Recommended.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2kZxkq7
On 20th February 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Market
This is a single shaped room with a dining area at the far end where some of the tables were reserved. It was doing a fair trade on my Saturday midday visit.
The bar has nine hand pumps which had a cider, Abbot, Landlord, Kelham Island Easy Rider, Bradfield Farmers Pale & Blonde, Inveralmond Bitter and Twisted, Hop Studio Pale and Acorn Old Moor Porter. I went for the Farmers Pale (£3.90) which was in good nick but I would have regarded as expensive even back in London. Not only is it expensive here but I also found it rather food orientated. All the other places tried in Chesterfield were better than this one.
On 8th June 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]