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The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon), Derby
Derby
DE1 1TA
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon)
Pleasant and welcoming 'spoons, featuring opening windows at the front for the summer, a small terrace and a few more tables out on the pavement. Usually has a decent selection of real ales in addition to the standard Ruddles, Doom Bar and Abbot, on this visit being three from Acorn, Flack Manor's Hedge Hop (£2.63) and one each from Gadds and Beermats. Hardly a picture architecturally, but always worth a stop.
On 25th February 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Steve C left this review about The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon)
Converted from an old shop, the Babington Arms is a Wetherspoons with some covered seating out front that is shielded from the passing high street by large planters. Inside, the bar counter runs up the right facing open plan seating to the left in what isn’t the biggest Spoons. In amongst the usual keg are three banks of six hand pumps that were drawing the usual three plus Pedigree, Brewster’s Aromantica, Milestone’s Raspberry Wheat Beer, Wainwright’s Gold, Theakstone’s Old Peculiar, Otter’s Amber, and Titanic’s Anchor. The service was polite and the Amber was on good form, so I’d pop back in if passing.
On 31st July 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]
Pub SignMan left this review about The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon)
This is an old-fashioned branch of Wetherspoons set in what I assume is an old shop unit, now opened out across a split-level interior and decorated in the fashion of many similar early ‘Spoons branches. You enter to the lower main bar area which is carpeted and offers plenty of seating, mainly in the form of basic tables and chairs at the front and high tables and stools further back. The servery is along the right-hand wall and has a traditional counter fronting a rather disappointingly plain bar back. Throughout this part of the pub, dark wood panels dominate the walls and etched glass partitioning screens break up the space a little, with plenty of those local history boards and photos dotted around, all of which date the pub to one of a vintage that they no longer churn out. A couple of steps to the rear take you up to a carpeted rear seating space with full height wood panelled walls, banquette booths down one side and a single long banquette down the other. A large bookcase to the rear houses a big stack of board games and this would by far have been the nicest spot in the pub to bag a seat, were it not for the fact that every single table was absolutely filthy, with stacks of plates and empty glasses rendering several tables unusable and the rest clearly not wiped down, with food waste on the chairs and no sign of anyone to come and fix the mess throughout the duration of my stay.
On the bar, the usual three regular ales were complimented by five guests, of which I sampled the Bradfield’s farmers Blonde, which was in moderately good shape and served to me by a friendly barmaid who looks like she’d just as easy kill you if you dared step out of line.
There’s some good stuff here, especially if you prefer the older style of ‘Spoons, as it’s quite a nicely put together pub, but the absolute state of the place made staying here for any more than the bare minimum a really unpleasant task. The lack of cleanliness also made the whole place feel a bit neglected and I will most likely only remember the negatives despite some obvious good points, such as a decent guest ale selection. There are enough better pubs, and better Wetherspoons pub for that matter, around the city centre to consign this to the ‘visited once, never again’ category.
On 18th July 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon)
This was the second branch of Wetherspoon's that we visited in Derby. This is much more of a traditional version of the chain and not quite in the same league as the Standing Order where we had been earlier.
It is tucked away in a side street that is currently blighted with roadworks, but being a Wetherspoon's with their competitive pricing, it had attracted the usual large crowd of customers.
It's one single, large room that gets darker the further you go back, due to the lack of windows. Toilets are up a flight of stairs, as usual.
Ales on were the standard Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best & Sharp's Doom Bar. Guests were Rudgate Ruby Mild, Marston's Old Empire, Falstaff Smiling Assassin, Coach House Post Horn, Hop Union Moose River & Mauldon's Black Adder. Ciders were Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon & Weston's Old Rosie.
On 4th July 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2493 recommendations about 2492 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon)
A fairly mundane modern building Wetherspoons in the old wood-panelled style, but set aside by the excellent range of beers: no fewer than 9 local/regional ales on alongside the usuals. Beer condition seemed very good also. Bonus point time. Breweries featured on this visit included Falstaff, Bradfield, New Buildings, Stapleford, Small World Beers and Oakham.
On 11th February 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3352 recommendations about 3289 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon)
The best JDW outlet I have been in for beer choice and friendly helpful staff who know and care about the beer they are serving. Enjoyed beers from Fire Island, Crafty Little Brewery, Beat Ales and Falstaff yesterday.
On 5th May 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon)
A very standard looking 'spoons,oblong shop conversion with little of note inside apart from a very good selection of real ale from array of handpumps with only minimal incursion of the dreaded 'spoons regular ales.There is a TV screen listing the options (Birmingham Wellingtonesque) and my Titan Gingerbread Brown was well kept and interesting.As this was my penultimate crawl stop,I failed to note the full guest list,but I just remember being quite impressed.Worth popping in to see whats on offer.
On 17th November 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2737 recommendations about 2737 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon)
Another Wethers-by-numbers but surprisingly ok.
On 6th August 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon)
This is Derby's answer to the George in Croydon. It's only a medium sized shop conversion Spoons but still manages to cram in eighteen pumps. Ignoring the 5 mainstream beers (Abbot, Ruddles, Broadside, Pedigree and Old Peculiar), just about everything else was from microbreweries. Two of the beers were from a new one called Small World and were being sold at the remarkable price of £1.85. I went for one of the two Falstaff beers called Nemesis (£2.60) which was excellent. The Small World Beers aside, the prices here are roughly 50p a pint dearer than the cheaper London Spoons which is my only criticism. I would definitely return on a visit to Derby, preferably spending more time here.
On 21st July 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon)
Called in several times since my last review. The beer is always top class in here and you can get served easily as well. One of the best pubs in the chain.
14/07/2010
There are now 3 JDW's in Derby (Thomas Leaper newly opened) and this is still by far the best of them beer wise if not for the architecture. Best selection of beer in any Wetherspoons I've ever been in as they have 18 handpumps and it all seems to be well kept. At least I've never had to send a pint back and I've had quite a few in here over the years. The foods not bad either for a Wetherspoons. The kitchen seem to understand that if you order a steak medium rare this is not code for "please cremate me". We always call in for at least one when we're in Derby. The problem though is which one? Not that I'm complaining you understand. (February 2010)
Called in again last Saturday night and had three of the ales, all excellent, no problem with service. Still doing a great job. Keep it up guys.
On 11th March 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]