Chesterfield Arms, Stonegravels, Chesterfield

Located a tidy walk from the old Saltergate ground of Chesterfield FC, this pub came highly recommended by the 2011 Good Beer Guide so I was looking forward to a good session. The exterior is nicely done up, with a couple of large graphics depicting some chap in a hat. The attractive interior is large and reverse L-shaped, with lots (original?) square wood panelling, a combination of carpets and flagstone flooring, hops adorning the walls, pewter tankards above the bar, old clocks, interestingly intricate plaster moulding on the beams and tidy music from the Rolling Stones and Beatles back catalogue. Cobs were available as well as pies, cheap too. A rear area called the Barn looked set up for dining and the gents had plenty of old pump clips festooning the ceiling. Sadly though, on a lovely sunny Sunday it was rather gloomy due to the curtains not being pulled fully back for some reason. This gloom was unfortunately symptomatic of the atmosphere, it was like a morgue - a number of old blokes sat around staring vacantly. The barmaid too was really down at the mouth and had no real people skills. Four times I went to the bar and four times I got the same glum reception, despite hardly being rushed off her feet. After I sat down I had the distinct impression of being watched by some of the regulars, like an exhibit - as a non local I felt uncomfortable throughout my stay. That aside, there were a large number of ales available, including three from local brewery Leatherbritches (all of whose ales were very cheap, barely touching £2.50 in most cases whilst the others hovered just around the £3 mark). There were also a large number (six?) real ciders stationed on stillage at the left of the bar and plenty of continental bottles were also advertised. I ended up trying four of the ales; the Leatherbritches Bounder, A Brew Co one, O’Hanlons Goldblade and TSF Double Espresso Stout. The first two were fine but I was less enamoured about the latter couple and the TSF was downright horrible - having never tried the brewery before I couldn’t say with conviction whether it was the pub’s fault or not but I suspect it was. Sadly for me it was last one and I trudged off up the road towards the Derby Tup unfulfilled - I desperately wanted to like this place as it ticked many boxes but it tried its damnedest to stop me. I shall give the Chesterfield Arms another go because I really want it to be better than this visit. I’ll leave others to make up their own mind.