Royal Oak, Chesterfield

Will Larter left this review about Royal Oak

I remember this when it was the best cask beer pub in Chesterfield ; I came here both before and after a Luton Town game at the nearby Saltergate ground. It's now a Craft Union pub with three hand pumps and a totally changed interior. Only one cask beer on, Peak Ales Noggin Filler, and when I took it back after one sip the lass behind the bar told me it had only just gone on. If so, they have a serious infection in the lines. I accepted a Guinness instead but I my memory of this pub from 20 years ago when it was such a superb pub took a bit of a hit. Looks like I must be getting old.

Later, she came back and told me they'd poured more beer away and it now seemed ok. I asked for a taster, and it was better but it still wasn't right. The licensee was now around and I went up to him in a friendly way and said this beer was still not right; he said he drank in the Rose & Crown so he knows what real ale is like and this was ok. I said it's not, and I'm not complaining, I'm trying to be helpful. He said it's a Christmas beer, and it's got spice flavours; I said it tastes more like cider than beer. We shook hands and left it at that.

On 24^th January 2025 - rating: 4
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