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Pub Of The Month - October 2025 with ROBCamra
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Detail Pages
The Neptune Beer Emporium, Stonegravels, Chesterfield
Chesterfield
S41 7QD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Neptune Beer Emporium
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.
On 27th October 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4491 recommendations about 4122 pubs]
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Neptune Beer Emporium
A good solid backstreet boozer where on arrival after choosing my first pint, I was given a loyalty card. The young barman explained that after every 8 pints purchased you get the 9th one free and I managed that no problem after a couple of visits. Monday was a relaxed visit and Wednesday night was Jam Night where local musicians come in and play on stage in the lounge. Rock music was the theme, with a few Led Zep and Fleetwood Mac in the line up.
If you were sitting in the bar you can watch the band on the wall mounted TV screen.
8 handpumps Abbeydale Moonshine, Oakham Citra, Marble Bitter, Thornbridge Lucaria, Ashford Brown Ale, TT Landlord, Bristol Beer Milk Stout and Razzmatazz Pale Ale. Monday night they also have a discount on some of their ales.
On 25th February 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3716 recommendations about 3716 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Neptune Beer Emporium
Excellent backstreet alehouse with a cosy J-shaped layout. With live music on a Saturday evening, there was nowhere to sit so I propped up the bar (something I haven't done for a couple of Covid-era years). Eight real ales on handpump in a range of styles, ranging from Shipstones Original to Jaipur, but I went for the Coal Aston Porter (£3.70), one of the two dark beers. Six well chosen, if strong, Belgian beers also available on tap.
On 13th March 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8928 recommendations about 8928 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Neptune Inn
A very welcome transformation after my attempted visit five years ago (see below) when no real ale was served here. The new owner envisaged that the pub's proximity to the Chesterfield Arms would be mutually beneficial, and he told me that he has only ever had to throw one beer away in the two years he has been open (and that was an understated mild). He gets through three barrels of both Betty's Blonde and Jaipur every week, and about a barrel each of the other six.
There are also numerous keg offerings, and four ciders which are advertised on fonts but actually drawn from the cellar. To be honest, the beer selection didn't really float my boat, as I don't like milk stouts and wasn't in the mood for a chocolate porter, which left a choice between one of several very pale beers (including Thornbridge Melba) or Acorn Barnsley Bitter. I plumped for the latter, but was again unlucky in that it wasn't in top condition. I wouldn't want to put anyone off, though. As others have said, this makes a good double-header with the Chesterfield Arms two minutes' walk away and is easily reached by a short stroll or brief bus ride from the town centre.
On 27th May 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4491 recommendations about 4122 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Neptune Inn
This obviously used to be a small backstreet locals pub. It's now been turned into something of a destination pub styling itself as a "Beer Emporium". It's very close to the Chesterfield Arms and between them they serve around 16 different cask ales. The bar is very close to the door as you enter and I can see this being a problem at busy times. The main drinking areas are either side of the entrance. I had a pint of Barlow Betty's Blonde which was only OK and a half of Spire Dark Side which was excellent. A friendly barmaid added to the attractions. We'll definitely be coming here again.
On 13th July 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3317 recommendations about 3227 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Neptune Inn
This is a back street boozer (Thwaites according to previous review) that is now an Ale House presumably free of any tie. There are some mosaic tiles as you enter then wooden floored areas either side.
The bar has eight hand pumps which had Thornbridge Peverel, Sandway Hop Sepia, Pig & Porter Slow Black Stout, Abbeydale Absolution, Liverpool Organic Pale, Ashover Hummy, Peak Ales Chatsworth Gold and Spire Chesterfield Butt. Ciders are also on offer. I went for the Sandway Hop Sepia (£3.10) which was cold and not entirely clear. I would give this one another go especially as it's so close to the Chesterfield Arms.
On 8th June 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Neptune Inn
Now renovated and trading as a free house with more handpumps, interesting UK and foreign kegs and a selection of bottles. The interior appears the same but brightened up while outside still has the Thwaites signage. A good double header with the Chesterfield Arms.
On 27th April 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3779 recommendations about 3450 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Neptune Inn
The signage indicates a Thwaites house, and the board beside the door even features the words "Cask Ales", so I had hopes of supping a Thwaites Bitter or even their excellent Nutty Black, but on entering I was confronted by two naked hand pumps, and my hopes were dashed when the barman confirmed, with a note of surprise in his voice, that there is no real ale served here.
On 15th June 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4491 recommendations about 4122 pubs]