Deramore Arms

I’ve been dropping in here at lunch time for a few years now, more because there isn’t a great selection of mid week lunch time eateries around the University Campus area, than for it’s sparkling cuisine. But as a drop in lunch time pub it isn’t all bad.
Take their pies, oh how I love their pies, they make their own fillings and proper home made short crust pastry, none of this frozen rolled out teeny tiny cut out excuses plopped on the top of the filling nonsense that is so frequently used these days! I know my pies, and I know my pastry, I’m a self confessed pie connoisseur what can I say? But today I rang the changes with Fish and Chips, which although looked amazing (photo duly uploaded), a full ¹⁰⁄₁₀ for presentation, sadly the batter was grossly undercooked, and although the fish was ok, the accompanying teeny tiny ramekin of ‘marrow fat’ peas were well, dismally disappointing. If you’re going to have a guiltily dirty portion of F&C surely a Yorkshire size dollop of proper vibrant green mushy peas is part of the dirty food deal, right? You can’t knock their home made chips which are fabulous, it’s a tad tough to manage a full portion but that’s the only problem you’ll have in general here.
My colleague demolished the Chorizo burger with Wookey Hole cheese and judging by the lack of left overs there were no complaints there. It would be nice to see something on the menu leaning slightly less towards a cardiac arrest but this is a pub not a health food shop after all.
If the Deramore lets itself down on areas of its menu it truly comes into its own with its spectacular and generously portioned Ploughman’s and Cheese Board’s. It’s worth the wait for the warmer months when you can sit in their beer garden, squinting in the sun with a cheeky naughty lunchtime half.
Failing that their Monday night pub quiz is a riot of fun though keep your expectations for winning in check, there are some seriously large student brains that will give you a run for your £1 entry fee.

Today I was treated to terribly rude service when I went there. I made a polite complaint about the food, which any normal business-​owner would appreciate as feedback, even if they didn’t want to offer a discount or provide a sort of apologetic recompense. I paid eight pounds for what was essentially a pile of not particularly interesting vegetables (and cost them a pittance as well, as it was the same vegetables that are given as gratuity, effectively, with the roasts) covered with melted cheese. And was told it was an ‘open pie’. An open pie still retains some element of pie-​ness to it — pastry, for instance, or a mashed potato top. I know how petty and ridiculous this sounds, but this was the exact explanation I tried to give him, to articulate my dissatisfaction and why I thought the menu was misleading, and he responded very rudely by openly arguing with me and getting angry.
My friends had the Sunday roasts, which they thoroughly enjoyed, but theirs were cheaper meals and they got a cut of meat, a Yorkshire pudding, gravy, more potatoes than me, and vegetables for that! Whereas I got two measly potatoes and a pile of melted cheese. It didn’t even pretend to be a cheese sauce; it was just a mound of veg stuck in a sticky, greasy goo of melted cheddar. So a disappointing meal. But what made it worse was the landlord’s complete failure to apologise or offer any remuneration when I told him of my dissatisfaction. I said I didn’t think that it was good value for money, and he told me that that was my problem, argued with me, rejected my opinion entirely, dismissed me and then ignored our table for the rest of our stay there. I hate complaining, and didn’t want to cause a fuss, but I am completely outraged by the basic lack of courtesy that man afforded his customers. I won’t be returning on a matter of principle. I tried to be as polite as possible and frankly, am offended. (Plus, I am a student, so can’t afford to pay eight pounds for a pile of melted cheese!)

This charming country lane pub has been my local for just over a year now and has delivered some of the most memorable events of my 1^st year as a student. Situated in the small village of Heslington the Deramore or to us «the Dery» offers a small selection of Yorkshire ales and standard lager’s. Being a 1^st year, cooking was not our strong point and after many burnt or destroyed meals the Dery would be our saviour. The food is excellent and reasonably priced but I am yet to find anyone to finish the «deramore challenge» which is the biggest burger known to man (see photos). Summertime this pub really comes into it’s own by the large beer garden available at the back of the pub with a bbq on special occasions. I am saddened not to be living near this pub next year since the staff are really friendly and get to know most of the students. In my opinion distance makes the heart grow fonder and can see myself coming back again and again.