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Away Fans⭐ 4.1 (3177 Google Reviews)

The Merlin

📍 0.3 miles from Pride Park Stadium

About this Pub

The Merlin sits opposite Pride Park Stadium, making it a convenient pre- or post-match stop for Derby County fixtures. The pub shows live football on big screens via Sky Sports and TNT Sports and promotes match-day viewing, so you can catch other games before or after the one you’re attending. Football Ground Guide lists The Merlin among pubs to consider for visiting supporters near Pride Park, indicating it’s an away-friendly option. With full food menus and serving hours across the day, it’s practical for a hot meal around kick-off as well.

Why it's great for Matchdays

Matchday Menu

Last updated from Google: June 15, 2026

▶ View Full Menu & Prices

Starters

Crispy King PrawnsServed with lettuce and a sweet chilli dip.

Halloumi StripsServed with a sweet chilli dip.

Garlic Breaded MushroomsServed with a garlic & herb ranch dip.

Onion BhajisServed with lettuce and mango chutney.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Garlic Bread

Sharers

Ultimate Big ComboBuilt for sharing: scampi **, onion rings, garlic bread, chicken wings, southern-fried chicken goujons, crispy chicken strips, chicken nuggets and salsa-topped nachos. Served with Texan BBQ sauce and mayo.

NachosTortilla chips drizzled with nacho cheese sauce and topped with salsa, sour cream, guacamole and jalepenos.

Onion Ring Horseshoe StackerOur signature stacker. Served with Texan BBQ sauce, sour cream, and salsa dip.

Wings 'N' Things

Wings 'N' ThingsMix and Match Your Favourites: Chicken Wings Crispy Chicken Strips Impossible Nuggets Then pick a sauce or seasoning: Korean BBQ Sauce Texan BBQ Sauce Peri Peri Sauce Sweet Chilli Sauce Garlic & Herb Ranch Sauce Tingly Ted's Sauce ...

Subs - Classics

Chicken & Bacon SubToasted sub roll with sliced roast chicken breast, bacon, red onion, lettuce and mayo. Served with chips.

Southern-Fried Chicken SubToasted sub roll with crispy southern-fried chicken goujons, lettuce and mayo. Served with chips.

Impossible BBQ SubToasted sub roll with Impossible nuggets, coleslaw and Texan BBQ sauce. Served with chips.

Subs - Signature

Philly Steak SubToasted sub roll filled with rump steak, peppers & onions, Cheddar & Emmental melt, Texan BBQ sauce, and topped with crispy onions. Served with chips and onion rings.

Nacho Cheese Chicken SubToasted sub roll filled with crispy southern-fried chicken, bacon, lettuce, mayo and nacho cheese sauce. Served with chips and onion rings.

Classics

Steak & Ale PieTender pieces of steak in a rich ale gravy, encased in a shortcrust pastry. Served with peas and your choice of chips (444 kcal) or mashed potato (252 kcal).

Classic Fish & ChipsHand-battered fish and chips. Served with your choice of peas (60 kcal) or mushy peas (111 kcal).

Greek SaladLettuce, cucumber, red onion, cherry tomatoes, orzo pasta, feta and black olives, drizzled with yoghurt & mint sauce.

Classic Chicken New YorkerRoast chicken breast topped with bacon, melted cheese and Texan BBQ sauce. Served with chips, onion rings and peas.

Roast Veggie LasagneA classic roasted vegetable lasagne, served with a fresh, dressed garden salad.

Chicken Tikka MasalaServed with basmati rice, poppadom and mango chutney.

Classic Beef LasagneServed with a fresh, dressed garden salad

Classic Scampi & ChipsWholetail scampi and chips. Served with your choice of peas (60kcal) or mushy peas (111 kcal)

Sausage & MashPork sauages, mashed potato, peas, Yorkshire pudding and gravy.

All Day BreakfastPork sausage, rashers of bacon, free-range fried eggs, a flat mushroom, baked beans, and hash browns.

Mac 'n' CheeseServed with a fresh, dressed garden salad.

Burgers - Classic

The Gravy OneCrispy southern-fried chicken burger, topped with melted cheese, hash brown and smothered in our speciality burger gravy.

Southern-Fried Chicken Burger

Bacon Cheeseburger

Cheeseburger

The K-BBQ BurgerImpossible burger with Cheddar & Emmental melt, Korean BBQ sauce and crispy onions.

Impossible BurgerImpossible burger in a toasted seeded bun with mayo, red onion and lettuce with chips

Burgers - Signature

Triple StackDouble bacon cheeseburger topped with crispy-fried buttermilk chicken and nacho cheese sauce

The Smoky RancherDouble crispy-fried buttermilk chicken topped with melted cheese, smothered in Texan BBQ and garlic & herb ranch sauces, finished with crispy onions.

The Tingly TedsterDouble crispy-fried buttermilk chicken tossed in tingly teds sauce with ranch slaw, halloumi fries and garlic & herb ranch sauce.

The Big MeltDouble beef burger with Cheddar & Emmental melt, BBQ beef burnt ends and crispy onions.

Korean BBQ ChickenDouble crispy-fried buttermilk chicken tossed in Korean BBQ sauce, with sweet chilli slaw. Served with salt & pepper chips.

Grills & Sizzlers

Full Monty Mixed GrillRump steak, pork sausages, roast chicken breat, and gammon steak, with a free-range fried egg and grilled pineapple. Served with chips, onion rings and peas.

Mini Mixed GrillRoast chicken breast, pork sausages, and gammon steak, with a free-range fried egg and grilled pineapple. Served with chips and peas.

16oz* Rump SteakTwo 8oz rump steaks. Served with chips, onion rings and peas

8oz* Rump SteakServed with chips, onion rings and peas.

8oz* Grilled GammonTopped with a free-range fried egg and grilled pineapple. Served with chips and peas

FajitasServed on our sizzling skillet of peppers & onions. Served with tortilla wraps, cheese, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and tortilla chips.

Burger Sizzler ComboBacon cheeseburger, chicken wings, and a rump steak with Texan BBQ sauce on our sizzling skillet of peppers & onions. Served with chips.

8oz* Smothered Steak SizzlerRump steak on our sizzling skillet of peppers & onions, topped with flat mushrooms, melted cheese, and peppercorn sauce. Served with chips, onion rings and peas.

Salmon SizzlerGrilled salmon fillet on our sizzling skillet of peppers & onions, served with corn on the cob and sweet chilli dip.

Roasts

Duo of MeatsHand-carved roast beef and turkey.

Hand-Carved Roast Beef

Hand-Carved Roast Turkey

Vegetable TartShortcrust pastry filled with roasted vegetables and topped with mixed seeds. Served with gravy.

Mix It Up

Mix It Up1: Pick One Main Southern-Fried Chicken Skewers Chicken Skewers Southern-Fried Chicken Skewer and Chicken Skewer Crispy Chicken Strips Impossible Nuggets 8oz Rump Steak Halloumi Fries Grilled Salmon Fillet 2: Add Two Sides Buttered Jac...

Big Plate Specials

Lamb Kofta FlatbreadA warm flatbread, loaded with lettuce, cucumber, red onion, cherry tomatoes, orzo pasta, feta, black olives and sweet potato fries, topped with lamb koftas. Drizzled in yoghurt & mint sauce.

Impossible FlatbreadA warm flatbread, loaded with lettuce, cucumber, red onion, cherry tomatoes, orzo pasta, feta, black olives and sweet potato fries, topped with Impossible nuggets. Drizzled in yoghurt & mint sauce.

Chicken Tikka Masala PlatterServed with basmati rice, naan bread, poppadom, vegetable samosa, onion bhaji, mango chutney and a yoghurt & mint dip.

Katsu Curry FeastBreaded chicken schnitzel smothered in katsu curry sauce, served with basmati rice, salt & pepper chips and extra sauce for dipping.

Chicken ParmigianaBack by popular demand. Breaded chicken schnitzel topped with Neapolitana sauce and Cheddar & Emmental melt. Served with coleslaw, a fresh, dressed garden salad and your choice of cuttered jacket potato (252kcal) or chips (444 kcal).

The Loaded New YorkerA larger portion of roast chicken breasts, topped with bacon, melted cheese, and Texan BBQ sauce. Served with chips, onion rings*, peas and coleslaw.

Sides

Salt & Pepper Chips

Cheesy Chips

Sweet Potato Fries

Chips

Buttered Jacket Potato

Mac 'n' Cheese

Fresh, Dressed Garden Salad

Onion Rings

Coleslaw

Bread & Butter

Pudssss

Baileys Caramel Profiterole SharerProfiteroles layered with chocolate and vanilla flavoure ice cream, Baileys caramel sauce, chocolate flavour sauce and fluffy cream.

The Ultimate Big CandymaniaChocolate and vanilla ice cream with cookie dough pieces, topped with candy-coated milk chocolate, chocolate flake, fluffy cream and chocolate flavour sauce.

Trifle Baked AlaskaA vanilla sponge, layered with raspberry sauce and frozen vanilla custard, topped with toasted meringue. Served with fresh berries.

Lemon Meringue PieServed with vanilla flavour ice cream and raspberry coulis.

Millionaire's CheesecakeVanilla cheesecake with chunks of chocolate cookie dough, topped with caramel and chocolate fudge sauce. Served with vanilla flavour ice cream.

Indulgent Chocolate TorteA cruncy chocolate biscuit base topped with an indulgent chocolate mousse with a hint of mocha, served with fresh berries and drizzled with chocolate flavour sauce.

Chocolate Fudge CakeA signature chocolate and caramel fudge cake, drizzled with chocolate flavoured sauce, served warm with vanilla flavour ice cream.

Sticky Toffee PuddingServed warm with custard

Apple CrumbleServed warm with custard

Mini Millionaire BrownieA mini chocolate brownie topped with caramel, coated in chocolate flavour sauce and served with vanilla flavour ice cream.

Mini Baileys Profiteroles3 profiteroles with Baileys caramel sauce and vanilla flavour ice cream.

Ice CreamChoose 3 Scoops Vanilla Flavour Ice Cream (97 kcal, per scoop) Chocolate Flavour Ice Cream (113 kcal, per scoop) Strawberry Frozen Yoghurt (88 kcal, per scoop) Add a Sauce Chocolate Flavour Sauce (55 kcal) Strawberry Flavour Sauce (63 kcal...

Recent Fan Reviews

Rosie's Balloons Derby9 months ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a must visit pub for any occasion. The food is very tasty, good value for money and service is top notch! Quick service and friendly atmosphere, will be coming back here for sure!! I had a burger sizzler combo and it was absolutely amazing, the portions are large and even though I complained about my steak being too "well done" the staff handled it immediately and I had the best lunch here. The burger had a thick layer of beef and it was lush! Thank you so much, complements to all staff, well done guys!!!

Isobel Macworth3 months ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Me and my son popped into the Merlin for a quick meal and the food was absolutely fantastic! It came out really quickly and tasted fresh. We were served by a young girl behind the bar called Heather. She was very attentive and polite from the moment we walked in right up until we left. Would definitely recommend the Merlin to anyone local in the area or just passing by!!!

Richard Kolkman3 months ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The service was excellent. Amy who took our order told me that if I order an adults meal kids eat for £1. She provided me with the most cost effective and cheapest way of ordering. Whilst I appreciate the business may have lost a few £’s because of this, this is the type of customer service you expect to receive and because of this you have a returning customer who will be coming more frequently. Great work Amy

Amy Podmore4 months ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I recently visited and had such a fantastic experience! The atmosphere was welcoming and lively, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy the day.The food and drinks were spot on, but what really made the visit stand out was the service. Amy on the bar was absolutely amazing — friendly, attentive, and incredibly professional. She handled everything with a smile, even when it was busy, and made sure we were well looked after the whole time. Her great customer service really made the day special. I’ll definitely be coming back and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a nice meal in Derby!

Drew Smallie3 months ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We come for a meal and drink before every Derby County home game, despite the pub being exceptionally busy the staff will always recognise us and we don’t have to ask anymore for extra butter, it just arrives. Great service, nice food at great value. What more do you need.