The Merlin, Pride Park, Derby

Official site of The Merlin - www.hungryhorse.co.uk

Purpose-built family-friendly Hungry Horse bar / restaurant, with various seating / dining areas and a large patio beer garden (with a bouncy castle, etc.) at the front. For what it lacks in charm and character, it does at least do real ale with Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen (£2.94) and Abbot available from three of four handpumps. Also had keg IPA Smooth on for those seeking a brown beer devoid of taste.

Official site of The Merlin - www.hungryhorse.co.uk

The Merlin is the latest pub to open on the pride park estate. Once inside there is one very long oblong shaped room with the bar facing. There were a few Ameican diner type seats near the bar,with the rest of the pub having a mix of bench seats and normal tables and chairs. The right side of the pub is more like a bar,this area is for over 18s only,there is a pool table and a few TV screens in this area showing Sky sports,this area was quite busy. The larger left side is more of a dining area but there were no tables laid out and people were drinking in this area. The pub is a Greene King Hungry Horse branded pub,there were three real ales on the bar,i had a dirnk of GK IPA which was decent enough and cost less than £3.00 a pint,the pub does food all day and this is also quite cheap. There was an outside drinking area which is only accessed from within the pub. The pub was fairly busy with a good mix of customers on my Wednesday afternoon visit. This is by far the best pub on the pride park estate. Pub visited 14/8/2013