British, Modern Restaurants in Matlock
1. Fischer’s at Baslow Hall
British, Modern restaurant in Baslow
Calver Rd - DE45
The future of this well-known Edwardian manor house seemed in doubt when it went onto the market in mid-2023, but instead longtime guardians Max & Susan Fischer (latterly handing the reins to son Neil) have leased two of their pubs – the Prince of Wales in Baslow, and Bulls Head at Foolow – to Nick & Jemma Beagrie of the Bakewell bakery, and refocused their interest on Fischer’s, so far kept afloat thanks to lucrative new deals with the likes of luxury giants LVMH, who will oversee a new summer champagne bar (part of their wider expansion plans). Given such exciting events, there was the odd blip this year, but the general tenor of reports was still upbeat (“never had a bad meal here”; “best meal of the year”).
2. The Cavendish Hotel at Baslow
British, Modern restaurant in Baslow
Church Lane, Bakewell - DE45
“High-end dining without pretension” is the promise at the Gallery restaurant, whose ‘10-mile’ menu features many ingredients grown on the Chatsworth estate, of which the hotel – “beautifully refurbished” at a reported cost of £3.5 million in summer 2024 – is part. The more casual Garden Room with a “beautiful newly extended terrace” also offers “lovely food”, while a proper afternoon tea is served on “delightful Georgian-style china”.
3. The Bulls Head
British, Modern restaurant in Holymoorside
New Road - S42
“A traditional-looking pub serving non-traditional food” – this Peak District inn with rooms continues to inspire nothing but positive feedback for its ambitious modern cuisine. “We had the signature tasting menu and it was superb!” – six courses are £89 per person: “ingredients are top-quality, all perfectly cooked, set in imaginative dishes and beautifully presented. Head chef, Mark Aisthorpe, was present in the kitchen and made the Yorkshire rhubarb dish by the table using liquid nitrogen. It was pure theatre and lots of fun!”. (There is also a range of cheaper menu options).
4. Stones
British, Modern restaurant in Matlock
1C Dale Rd - DE4
“A lovely restaurant by the River Derwent serving well-executed food at good prices”, run by head chef Kevin Stone, wife Jade and sister Katie Temple. Perhaps not as foodie as some nearby rivals, but “for the quality and the friendly and efficient front of house, the place takes some beating”. “In warm weather try to get a table on the terrace overlooking the water”.
5. The Fork & Furrow
British, Modern restaurant in Alfreton
The White Hart Inn, Inns Lane, Moorwood Moor - DE55
After undergoing a £50,000 renovation in March 2023, The White Hart Inn restaurant became brand new restaurant concept – The Fork & Furrow.The expertly designed menus offer culinary experiences to surprise the senses, partnering with local suppliers to...
6. The Tickled Trout
Fish & seafood restaurant in Dronfield
33 Valley Road - S18
The Tickled Trout pub is proudly independent... owned by Chris Mapp and nestled in the idyllic Derbyshire village of Barlow. Chris couldn't believe his luck when his old local came up for sale, and has worked tirelessly to transform this run-down country drinking hole into a s...
7. The Horseshoes Long Lane
British, Modern restaurant in Ashbourne
Long Lane - DE6
“Pleasant old pub, with a modern dining room at the rear, in the Derbyshire countryside near Ashbourne”. “Very competent” cooking emerges from the kitchen of chef Gareth Ward, “including top-class fish (from the same source as sister establishment The Cow at Dalbury) – not often do you find both turbot and halibut on offer alongside good-quality local beef and lamb”.
8. Restaurant Lovage by Lee Smith
British, Modern restaurant in Bakewell
Bath Street - DE45
“Correctly described in last year’s guide as ‘What the Peak District needed… and now has” – this “warm, welcoming” and unmistakably ambitious venture (crowdfunded five years back) occupies the cosy setting of a converted stable block. Chef-patron Lee Smith oversees the modern British cooking, based on “really good locally sourced produce (meat is from a real farm shop next door)”, and “tasting menus are not obligatory” since there’s also a “good à la carte” – plus the £23 per person ‘Market Menu’, which will have you in and out in under an hour. Whichever you go for, it’s all “exceptionally good” and “definitely worth the detour” if you’re heading up north.
9. Rafters at Riverside House
British, Modern restaurant in Ashford-in-the-Water
Riverside House Hotel, Fennel Street - DE45
The River Wye is the river in question, and this attractively located period restaurant with rooms (dating from the 1600s) sits nearby, complete with walled garden. It doesn’t inspire huge volumes of feedback, but fans are enthusiastic: “a fabulous meal here to celebrate an 80th birthday – wonderful food was beautifully presented”.
10. The Blind Bull
British, Modern restaurant in Little Hucklow
A “very enjoyable and original menu of small and large plates is eaten with a great view of the countryside” (particularly from the conservatory, though you can also eat in the bar) at this “always superb” 12th-century inn – Visit England’s pub of the year in 2023, and – even more impressively – the fifth oldest pub in the land. PS – if you want to linger in the Peak District, they now have five luxury bedrooms as well as a stand-alone cottage, ‘The Barn’.
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