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Disappointment of the week with Bucking Fastard
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Derby Arms, Epsom
Epsom Downs
Postal town: Epsom
KT18 5LE
Pub Type
Premium Country Pubs (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Derby Arms
A huge modernised eating house opposite the racecourse. The long bar has a sealed stone-flagged floor, with a sort of coffee lounge area to one side and large tabled dining areas off to the other. Furnishings are modern in various bright colours and there are tables outside also. The unexciting beer selection was London Pride, Doom Bar and TEA in tolerable condition. Possibly adequate if you are looking for food in the immediate area, but not worth a special trip.
On 28th September 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about The Derby Arms
One of M&B's Premium Country Dining brand and rebranded from Vintage Inns some time ago, though you have to look hard to tell the difference. It remains as described by Malden man below. As a pubgoer there's very little here to detain you; on a race day you may as well stay on the course. The only approximation to real ale was Broadside ineptly served through a sparkler.
If someone with a penchant for Brake Bros food is cruel enough to make you eat here, three or four large gin and tonics should take the pain away.
On 26th July 2014
- rating: 2
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Derby Arms
This is a rather food oriented pub, just across the road from the main stand at Epsom racecourse. The main bar area opposite the front entrance has a stone flagged floor, there is a decent sized proper fireplace to the right and a smaller one to the left, the drinking area to the left has a wood floor with inlaid mats while the eating devoted right hand end has bare boarded floors. Seating is mixed with standard tables, sofas and leather armchairs in the non-dining area, strange cowhide patterned pouffes, leather benches plus there are a couple of barrel tables opposite the bar. The staff wear branded black T-shirts.
Decor is gastro style although this isn't a gastro pub, just food led, taupe walls and ceilings, white wainscotting, unusual drawings on bits of old floorboards, table lamps that look like antlers as well as more meaningful pictures of horse racing.
Beers were the ubiquitous Doom Bar in mediocre condition plus Adnams Broadside.
It was ok for a quick pint after a bracing walk on the Downs but unless I fancied a meal this would not be a destination pub for me.
On 3rd February 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Derby Arms
Long gone are the days of my youth when this pub would be drunk dry on race days ,with the end of play being punctuated inevitably by a fracas ,on one occasion the solid wood bar ended up being broken by an over zealous punter.
These days it's a debranded Vintage Inn with a very smart interior.To the left of the entrance is a seating area full of sofas and square poofs,this is the drinking area.The long bar runs most of the length of the rear wall while to the right is the dining area,with lots of wood on display,some ceiling timbers and the theme is continued in the furniture with heavy square tables,solid chairs with some leather covered bench seating and a wood with matting inlay flooring.The wall prints around the sofas is of jockeys and silks,not surprising as the pub is directly opposite the main grandstand.There is also a large outdoor area with upmarket wicker chairs where you can just drink or dine if you wish.Table service in the dining room.
There is a very good value seasonal lunchtime menu ,two courses £12.50,three £15.50 and my restraunt quality food was very well cooked and not institutional in any respect.
Unlike some pubs in this gastro chain,the ale selection was mundane,the double sets of two handpumps both had Doom Bar and Adnams Broadside in OK condition but not on a par with the quality of the food.
Impressive food but boring beers,a ship spoiled for a hap'worth of tar.
On 23rd July 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]