The Apple Tree Bar & Grill: Unsuspecting pub could become Derby's new foodie hotspot

Spring which heralds new beginnings is the perfect time to celebrate a new opening. 

The Apple Tree Bar & Grill on Station Road is just a few weeks old and Derby World went along to check out the new menu.

Previously known as The Moon, then Alfie’s People’s Pub, Canal Turn, The Apple Tree Bar & Grill is the venue’s newest avatar.

Don’t be confused by menus emblazoned with The Navigation Inn, which is no longer part of the owners’ portfolio but the food remains the same.

The tired décor is hard to miss, but a point to note is that work is underway.

The pub is mid-refurbishment and the owners have new fittings and new carpets planned as part of the upgrade. 

It may feel like a traditional, old-school boozer, but the food is a real highlight and reasonably priced too.

Chicken bhuna is £9.95, King prawn karahi is £11.95, while our Boneless Mixed Grill sizzler was £16 which filled up two hungry diners.

Dramatic sizzler 

I love the idea of a mixed grill. 

There is something so alluring about charcoal flavours. Add to that the drama of a steaming hot sizzler being presented at the table with a flourish, and you’ve got yourself a meal fit for a king.

Lightly spiced chicken tikka chunks were a delight, I especially enjoyed the punchy marinade whose tangy yoghurty notes came through well. 

Seekh kebab was a hit at the table in all its garlicky glory, while fish pakora in a delicate tempura-esque batter elevated the entire sizzler.

Naan was light with a buttery sheen, quite possibly one of the best Indian bread offerings in Derby. 

I haven’t been to Spondon before, so if a pub makes people travel there, that can only be a good thing for the community.

I was intrigued to see Chicken Momo, a Nepalese dumpling, on the menu.

It is not seen often on Indian food menus unless it is a dedicated Ghurka eatery, which gave me the feeling that the chef’s speciality is Nepalese cuisine.

If the owners were to explore food from this region in more depth, that would definitely give them the edge over other bar grills in Derby. 

Service was warm, and friendly, and overall it was an enjoyable dining experience. I look forward to returning and trying out their curries next time, the House Special of Mirch Masala Chicken sounds lit.

What we ate at The Apple Tree Bar & Grill Derby

Boneless Mixed Grill £16

Naan £2.50

Address: The Apple Tree Bar & Grill, Station Road, Spondon, Derby DE21 7NE

For more information visit their social page (the old, Canal Turn branding hasn't changed yet) by clicking here.