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The Engine Room restaurant in Derby - The Engine Room, Derby City Centre, Derbyshire

The Engine Room

4.3 (68)
£26 to £40
Global, International
Riverlights, Derby City Centre, Derbyshire DE1 2BB

Make a booking

A photo of The Engine Room restaurant

The Engine Room

4.3
£26 to £40
Global, International
Derby

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 22 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for groups
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
The Engine Room blends bold flavours with a relaxed, industrial‑chic atmosphere in the heart of the city centre. Our menus celebrate seasonal cooking and sociable dining, with crowd‑pleasers designed for sharing alongside heartier mains from the grill.

Expect comforting favourites and big flavour touches throughout, from indulgent small plates to burgers and expertly cooked steaks, finished with classic desserts such as date sticky toffee pudding. We also offer a range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten‑free options, so there’s something for everyone at the table.

On Sundays, you can also choose from our take on a traditional Sunday Roast offering, alongside the full menu.

The full menu is available from noon, with a small selection of additional lunch items available until 4pm, complemented by hot drinks made with beans from local roaster 200 Degrees.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Global, International, Grill, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 07:00–23:00 Breakfast Daily 07:00–09:30 Bar Daily 11:00–23:00 Main Menu Mon–Sat 12:00–21:45
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    The Engine Room main dining room can be transformed into a private space ideal for celebrations, corporate events or special occasions. With a stylish setting and flexible layouts, our team will help create the perfect atmosphere for your gathering, whether large or small.
  • Area
    Derby
  • Cross street
    Morledge
  • Parking Details
    None
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

All Experiences

  • Festive Platter for Two 🎄🍴

    GBP 10.00 - GBP 20.00 per person

    4 - 10 people

    27 Nov 2026 - 24 Dec 2026
    Gather your friends, family or colleagues and enjoy our Christmas Celebration Platters, inspired by the traditions of a classic festive dinner and reimagined with The Engine Room's signature flair. Designed for sharing, each platter serves two guests and can be combined for larger parties and celebrations. Choose from our Meat, Vegetarian or Sweet platters, or mix and match to create the perfect festive feast for your Christmas party, end-of-year gathering or seasonal get-together. Featured Festive Dishes Include: Turkey & Stuffing Roll, Striploin of Beef and Pigs in Blankets Nut Roast and Beetroot & Goat's Cheese Filo Tart Garlic & Rosemary Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Puddings and Festive Vegetables Baked Camembert with House Bread Christmas Pudding, Mince Pies and Baileys Cheesecake on our Sweet Platter Available daily from 12 noon to 9:45pm from 27 November until Christmas Eve. Advance booking required. Perfect for sharing, celebrating and making festive memories around the table. ✨🎅🍽️ FESTIVE MEAT PLATTER - £40 for two people Turkey and stuffing roll Striploin of beef (gf) Garlic and rosemary roast potatoes (gf, v, ve) Yorkshire puddings (v) Pigs in blankets (gf) Roasted sprouts with bacon (gf) Marmite-glazed, roasted chantenay carrots (gf*, v, ve) Baked camembert (gf) House bread (gf*, v, ve) Gravy dip (gf) VEGETARIAN FESTIVE PLATTER - £35 for two people Nut roast (gf, v, ve) Beetroot and goat’s cheese filo tart (v) Garlic and rosemary roast potatoes (gf, v, ve) Yorkshire puddings (v) Garlic butter roasted sprouts (gf, v) Brie bites (gf, v) Marmite-glazed, roasted chantenay carrots (gf*, v, ve) Baked camembert (gf) House bread (gf*, v) Vegetarian gravy dip (gf, v) SWEET FESTIVE PLATTER - £20 for two people Christmas pudding and brandy cream (v) Mince pies (v) Cranberry and orange compote (gf, v, ve) Gingerbread men (v) Candy canes (gf, v, ve) Baileys cheesecake (v) Honeycomb (gf, v, ve) gf – gluten free n – contains nuts v - vegetarian gf* - gluten free substitutions ve – vegan v*- vegan substitutions. Trace allergens may be present in our kitchen. Please speak to your server for advice. Weights are approximate uncooked weight.
    Festive Platter for Two 🎄🍴 photo

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at The Engine Room.

4.3

4.3
(68)
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.0Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Engine Room offers a welcoming atmosphere with "lovely service" and a convenient location. Guests appreciate the "unique and unusual" dishes like Zebra, and the "wonderful" cocktails. While some dishes need improvement, the restaurant's attentive staff and excellent service make it a favorite for many visitors.
68 Reviews
  1. Ruth

    Derbyshire7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Ambient atmosphere. Delicious food with great service. Excellent value. Highly recommended. All cooked fresh on site with their own smoking oven.

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  2. Anna

    Derbyshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 23 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We needed a table that we could book for 8, then 9 people on the day in Derby city centre for 6.15 pm! The venue very kindly did not insist on deposits even though we increased the numbers. We had friends coming on foot, by car, train and Uber. The whole experience was very comfortable for a chilly rainy evening in October, lovely service, cocktails and food! The special dish was Zebra which is both unique and unusual. That raised a lot of interest. Recommend the beef dripping chunky chips! Thank you very much, we had a lovely evening with our friends.
    The Engine RoomResponded on 29 October 2026
    We're so pleased you had a lovely evening with friends and that we could accommodate the increase to nine without a deposit. We're glad the space felt comfortable on a chilly, rainy October night and that you enjoyed the cocktails, the unique zebra special and the beef dripping chips. Thank you for the recommendation and for coming to see us.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Norfolk/Suffolk2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 22 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The staff were lovely - really friendly and helpful. Food allergy concerns were treated swiftly and they were ready to advise. The food was good - we had the duck and the wild boar lasagne. Both dishes were a little dry and lacked sauce and seasoning (the lasagne was really small for the price). However, I would go back as it was a nice dining experience.
    The Engine RoomResponded on 23 October 2026
    Thank you for your thoughtful review. We’re glad the team were friendly and handled your allergy concerns promptly. We’re sorry the duck and wild boar lasagne felt a bit dry and lacked sauce and seasoning, and that the lasagne seemed small for the price. We appreciate that you would come back, and we hope to welcome you again soon. Kind Regards Omar Mahroof Operations Manager

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  4. Andrew

    Cornwall3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on 14 October 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Sorry to say this but went last night We noticed the diners had to keep calling the staff to be served including ourselves on every course. Staff were not clearing the tables fast enough if anything nothing fast enough it’s as if whenever you needed anything you had to ask the staff rather than them coming over to you. Food nice I do feel if they neglect diners like this they won’t return but a bit of back ground music happy staff ansd tentative service it could be lovely won’t return.
    The Engine RoomResponded on 16 October 2026
    Thank you for letting us know about your visit. We're sorry that the service felt inattentive and that you had to call for every course while tables were not cleared quickly. We're glad you enjoyed the food. Your suggestions about background music and a more upbeat atmosphere are helpful. We appreciate the feedback and hope to welcome you again. Kind Regards Omar Mahroof Operations Manager

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  5. Chris

    Derbyshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 14 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We love The Engine Room. So convenient for the bus station. It means we can ride into town have a meal, have a drink enjoy a theatre event and get home without driving. The food is good, prices are fair and the staff are lovely. Warm yet professional.
    The Engine RoomResponded on 18 October 2026
    Thank you so much for your lovely review. We are delighted that The Engine Room’s location by the bus station makes it easy to come in for a meal, enjoy a theatre visit and get home without driving. We are pleased that you enjoyed the food, found the prices fair and felt the team were warm and professional. We look forward to welcoming you back.

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  6. Dawn

    Staffordshire2 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on 14 October 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    My friend and I wanted pizza, but there were issues, so we were advised pizzas and flatbreads weren't available. I ordered a small plate instead, lamb kofta with a side salad. 2 lamb kofta arrived, brown on the outside, raw inside and cool. When these were removed, the manageress came over, apologised, saying that wasn't the usual standard and that I wouldn't be charged for my small plate. She did exactly the right thing, and our waiter was lovely, too. So...rubbish food but great customer service.
    The Engine RoomResponded on 19 October 2026
    Dear Dawn Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your visit. We are sorry the pizzas and flatbreads were unavailable and that your lamb kofta arrived undercooked. I’m pleased a member of our management acted promptly and that your server was lovely. We appreciate your feedback and hope you might visit us again. Kind Regards Omar Mahroof Operations Manager

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  7. Shilah

    Derbyshire1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 9 October 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    They had changed the menu 2 days before my party of 10 but it still told me to send my the pre orders before they changed the menu I asked several times to re-send the payment link and they never did in the end. The food lacked seasoning it wasn't the best food I definitely think the old menu would of been much better i had to ask for sauces because without them there was no seasoning taste. But the homemade chilli sauce was good the service was great although it did take a while for all the food to be made it was a good experience.
    The Engine RoomResponded on 18 October 2026
    We appreciate you taking the time to leave feedback. We are sorry the menu change two days before your party and the missing pre-order/payment link caused frustration. We are pleased the service felt great and that you enjoyed the homemade chilli sauce. We apologise the dishes lacked seasoning and took a while. We appreciate you sharing these details and hope to welcome you again.

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  8. Helen

    London2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 2 October 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had Scotch egg starter and enjoyed this Manchurian cauliflower was ok Fish and chips enjoyed this Korean chicken burger, bland and more like a crispy chicken burger Prawn pizza, not much on the pizza, bland and lacked seasoning Vegetarian aubergine, half a small aubergine in a bland tomato based sauce and a mountain of quinoa. Overall poor value for money Staff were very good however.
    The Engine RoomResponded on 18 October 2026
    Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. While we’re pleased our team provided good service, we’re sorry that several dishes fell short of expectations and that you felt the overall experience did not offer good value for money. Your comments have been noted and will be shared with our team as we continue to improve. We appreciate your honest feedback.

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  9. Graham

    Derbyshire10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 2 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    First time here . Very good food , great service and reasonable pricing
    The Engine RoomResponded on 18 October 2026
    Thank you for choosing us for your first visit. We're delighted that you enjoyed the food, found the service great and felt the pricing was reasonable. We really appreciate your kind words. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another enjoyable meal.

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  10. John

    Derbyshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 12 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good food, great ambience. The only disappointment was the portion size of the mussels dish we ordered.
    The Engine RoomResponded on 19 October 2026
    Thank you for your kind words about the food and the ambience. We are sorry the mussels portion fell short of your expectations. We appreciate you letting us know about the portion size. Please tell us next time what you prefer and we will be happy to suggest other dishes that might better suit your appetite. We hope to welcome you again soon.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Global, International, Grill, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 07:00–23:00 Breakfast Daily 07:00–09:30 Bar Daily 11:00–23:00 Main Menu Mon–Sat 12:00–21:45
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    The Engine Room main dining room can be transformed into a private space ideal for celebrations, corporate events or special occasions. With a stylish setting and flexible layouts, our team will help create the perfect atmosphere for your gathering, whether large or small.
  • Area
    Derby
  • Cross street
    Morledge
  • Parking Details
    None
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

The Engine Room is a relaxed, industrial‑chic spot with stylish, welcoming decor and a warm, modern dining-room feel, reviewers regularly praise its comfortable, well‑presented space.

Yes, The Engine Room offers an all-day Sunday Roast plus special menus and experiences such as a Graduation Menu and a Graduation Brunch, and there are dedicated kids' Sunday lunch options.

Guests describe portions as sensible and satisfying, many mention plates being just right or sensibly sized, leaving diners happy and full.

Sunday lunchtime is a lovely pick, The Engine Room runs its all-day Sunday Roast and several guests praise the Sunday roast while noting Sunday visits can feel fairly quiet.

Yes, The Engine Room is a great choice for a special evening: guests report anniversary and celebratory visits, praising the attentive service and stylish, relaxed atmosphere.

Casual dress is the guide, comfortable, informal clothing is appropriate for a visit to The Engine Room.

Yes, families are well catered for with a dedicated Kids Menu (and a Kids Sunday Lunch), and guests report visiting with children and enjoying the experience.

Sundays are a standout, The Engine Room runs its Sunday Roast menu all day, and guests frequently praise the roast and the relaxed Sunday atmosphere.

Private dining isn't part of The Engine Room's offering, private parties are not offered here, with the focus on the open dining room and convivial atmosphere.

The Engine Room fills up during peak visits, several guests report long waits and busy service at busy times, while Sunday evenings are often much quieter and more relaxed.

The in-house smoked pork tomahawk is a frequent guest favourite, several diners praise the juicy, perfectly cooked tomahawk on the menu.

Yes, the drinks list is extensive, with bottled and draught beers, a full wine list and sparkling wines, a long cocktail list, and whiskies and other spirits.

How FAQ content is generated

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Make a booking

A photo of The Engine Room restaurant

The Engine Room

4.3
£26 to £40
Global, International
Derby

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 22 times today
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