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Detail Pages
The Rutland Arms, Chesterfield
Chesterfield
S40 1XL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Rutland Arms
Traditional town centre pub, maybe a splash of paint since I was last in but pretty much as I recall otherwise. Came here at the start of the day so didn’t see it at its best as very quiet. No complaints about my pint, Three Brothers Riding Shotgun (NBSS 3.5) from the six available, with a good range of styles and strengths.
August 28th 2011
Quick revisit today found a decimation in the ale range (four gone!) with no effort to put the replacements on. Bloke behind the bar was a bit humourless and not really with it, he asked twice if I was having a half but still tried pouring a pint anyway. My (two-thirds!) Theakston Old Peculiar was fine in the end. Telly screen stuck on static Ceefax footy score today. Ended up rather underwhelmed compared to 24 hours earlier, especially given that their competition at The Market were still on top of their game. Understaffed? Point knocked off their score. Rated 7
August 27th 2011
Fortunately situated in the shadow of the crooked spire and nestling on the edge of the church’s grounds, this is a destination ale pub. My visit yesterday found eight ales with a really good selection. My halves of Dancing Duck Ay Up and Buxton Russian Imperial Stout were very good indeed and reasonably-priced. (£2.65 for a half of something 8%+ is reasonable to me, anyway). There was a heavy slant towards local ales (Brampton, Spire) and I also spotted Theakston OP; given that this place is apparently owned by Enterprise Inns, it proves what can be done. The interior is relatively recent-looking one though it’s actually fairly attractive - dark wood panelling and stripped wood floor. There are lots of ‘areas’, with large RSJ’s in the ceiling, suggesting that it used to be multi-roomed. Shame it isn’t now! As with its sister pub the Royal Oak, the piped muzak was a bit off-putting - can someone leave the Lighthouse Family back in the late 1990‘s please? Otherwise, the atmosphere was friendly and food was available, standard pub grub. Daily papers also in abundance, as well as a small plasma screen showing SKY news, quietly. Pub is handy for the station too. If my last couple of visits are anything to go by, I’d say that all ale drinkers should make a point of visiting here - well-worth getting off the train for. Score 8.
On 5th January 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5992 recommendations about 5971 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about The Rutland Arms
A fine traditional pub as described below. Very comfortable interior and although there is the odd tele and fruit machine dotted about, you hardly notice then and they certainly do not get in the way of the main attraction which is the line of ale pumps on the lower bar section. Six ales were on for our visit as detailed in Mr Fastard’s review below and I went for the Ossett Barghest stout, which was on fine form.
No disagreement from me, a fine pub to be included on any beer crawl of Chesterfield and handily not that far from the station.
On 14th November 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2322 recommendations about 2169 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Rutland Arms
The sign frame seems to indicate that this was once a Whitbread house which as mentioned, is close to the church with the wonky flèche, the UK’s only member of the Association of the Twisted Spires of Europe.
The interior is pleasingly traditional, with some dark wood panelling.
There were six pumps, though given the early start, I didn’t partake.
A must-visit on a crawl of the town.
On 9th November 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2307 recommendations about 2251 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Rutland Arms
A really good ale house very close to the wonky spire,the interior is on two levels with a L shaped bar surrounded by traditional furniture and a side section with some large tables.All the handpumps are on the lower section and on my trip were offering Three Brother Riding Shotgun,Little Critters Shire Horse,Ossett Barghest stout,Little Brewing Epiphany ,Weetwood Eastgate and Peak Ales NEIPA VIII(NBSS 4).
A good range of styles,and well conditioned marks this out as a must visit on any real ale crawl.The service was friendly and I would spend much longer in here next time to enjoy their ales.
On 8th November 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3126 recommendations about 3126 pubs]
Graham Coombs left this review about The Rutland Arms
A splendid town pub with a mixture of rooms extending into the adjacent building, all nice and woody with a good atmosphere. 5 good local(ish) ales were on offer and that sampled was in excellent condition. A must do.
On 8th November 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3900 recommendations about 3832 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Rutland Arms
A smart paint job since my last visit, and a return to the old name of Rutland Arms - though the glass panel above the street door says Rutland Hotel. An additional beer on too - now six cask beers on a Sunday afternoon. The lass behind the bar was welcoming, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Beers were all from Derbyshire or nearby counties: Dancing Duck, Little Brewing, Lenton Lane, Little Critters and Pheasantry. I had halves of Quack Addict and Tup from the first two named, and they were both very good (NBSS 3.5); all the beers - listed on a blackboard - were between £3.90 and £4.50. Definitely one of the top pubs in Chesterfield.
On 27th October 2025
- rating: 9
[User has posted 4667 recommendations about 4276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Rutland
This used to be a reliable GBG entry for Chesterfield but went off the boil a few years back and I found that I hadn't been in since 2018. Having a few minutes to spare before my train I decided to give it a try. There were five beers on the bar, with two from Dancing Duck, and one each from Welbeck Abbey, Brew York and Salt. I went for Salt Tweed and Welbeck Lost Boys - both were in very good nick. The pub was much as I remembered it, but perhaps a little cleaner and tidier, and there was a friendly welcome from the lad behind the bar. I was glad I'd called in. Certainly one to keep in mind when in town.
On 19th November 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4667 recommendations about 4276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Rutland
Looks a bit rough from the outside, but inside, its an honest beer drinkers pub.
Good selection of real ales on and the otter was in fine condition. All malt whiskeys were £4.25 for a large one - which is cheap as chips and wetherspoonesque.
Worth checking out.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2kZxkq7
On 20th February 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Rutland
A decent boozer. Old style with lots of wood everywhere, tables, chairs, floors, walls, beams, bar. Single roomed with a raised area to the rear. Beer garden outside. 9 handpumps on the bar with 7 real ales on (Jaipur, Saltaire Triple Chocaholic, Rat White Rat, Abbot, Saltaire Trio, Brampton's Brexit and Stronger In) plus a cider. A pleasant pub.
On 2nd June 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Rutland
The barman saw me come in and immediately did a runner, I suspect because he was taking a dreadfully important call on his mobile rather than anything else but who knows? Fortunately the cook came out and served me but sadly didn't pull the line through so the beer was dodgy. A shame because the beer range is interesting. It's a single room pub near the station with a modern floor but some old plaster and panelling walls, furnished in traditional style, there's also a nice bar counter that needs some TLC. Decor is from a number of old unrelated photos. It really doesn't cut it as a GBG pub going by this visit.
On 25th March 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3929 recommendations about 3593 pubs]