[dave]

Alright you rimlickers

It just struck me that there's never been a real hub on here for recomendations and discussion of the relative merits of various peak (and peripheral) pubs vis a vis the standard of eating experience you can expect. This came to me after recently having either firsthand or secondhand tales of previsouly good pubs getting shit and vice versa.

So heads up, and everyone chip in with some knowledge. I'll start the ball rolling with:

The Millstone, Hathersage: I was always used to like this place, but lately it seems to have gone off the boil, like they've given up putting any effort in. The specials board never changes for a start. Famous for its sausage&mash mix&match combos, but the last one I had was shit. 2 tiny hard venison sausages (looked pre-cooked then quicky reheated, I'm sure they used to be bigger and better), a pile of what was described on the menu as "bubble & squeak" but was really just mash mixed with some bits of veg, not fried at all, bearing all the hallmarks of just having had 2 mins in the microwave, all sat in a large "yorkshire pudding" of the horrible brittle frozen type. And not cheap. And theres no slouchable seating. (That said, the ale is good with some peak locals.)

The Little John, Hathersage: Not the finest food going but decent, unashamedly massive portions and fairly cheap = very cheerful. Plus a good range of ales. Comfy seating.

The Dore Moor, Sheffield: last time we waited over 2 hours for shit food and left without paying. Avoid.

Any more for any more?

[jfw]

the grouse near froggat

do good simple pub stodge, real fire (greati n winter)

also do a cheaper small portion if you don't want phelps/feltz size portions

nice deuchars IPA

[Jaspersharpe]

Think The Millstone's changed hands or something. I know the guys who ran the Terrace restaurant when we had our wedding meal there two years ago aren't there anymore. This could explain the downturn in standards.

The Red Lion in Litton - only been for food once on a Sunday quite a while ago. It was cheap and very good in an Old Skool sunday roast style. I can't imagine it's altered much as Litton is in some sort of 1930s time warp.

The Fox House is fucking shit now. Used to be a great pub.

The Chequers is expensive (for a pub) but the last time I went it was still well worth it. I've never had a bad meal there.

[ChrisC]

Anglers Rest, Millers Dale - Good food - Pie night especially on a Thursday eve, finishes a bit early if your at the Tor though.

Red Lion, Litton - Top pub, top food, friendlt staff.

Three Stags Head, Wardlow Mires - A Shit pub in all respects.  Unless you like the Countryside Alliance, grumpy service, beer that tastes like it was made from mud and an air that smells like the Yorvik Viking Center.

Re The Grouse, it's what the Fox House should be (or was...) Totally aggree with the above - Its a toss up between the Red Lion and The Grouse for the best pub in the Peak for me.

[dave]

I think scouse told me the Fox House was shite recently.

Chequers was always good when I've been (i.e. when parents were paying...).

Eyre Arms, Hassop: Not been recently but was always very good food, a bit expensive but worth it on occaision. Very cosy setup.

Angler's Rest, Miller's Dale: Again I've not been super recently but have always found it friendly, nice oldschool food and good beer previousy - hope its still the same. Got a walker's room for those in mucky boots. (just seen punter's post, great minds etc).

Was gonna ask if anyone had food at the 3slags heads? I always thought it was OK, might not be to everyone's tastes but at least its different, and I have never been able to fault the beer.

[Bubba]

The Monsal Head Hotel - Used to be quite good but the last couple of times it's been pants. Last time I went there I ordered some sort of Spanish salad but all i got was a lot of tired, limp lettuce and greens, some flavourless tinned artichokes and a few measly bits of not very good chorizo. Very unsatisfying.

The Chequers Inn - Always been good.

The Moon - Not bad but nothing great.

[Sloper]

The Little John, utterly shit how they managed to get into the good beer guide amazes me.
Red Lion and The three Stags heads are from memory top pubs.
The Grouse, fine beer but never eaten there,
The Scotsman's pack is shit.
The Robin Hood below Birchens has been taken over and the beer is now drinkable, don't know about the food.
Norfolk Arms, I haven't been in since the makeover but I reckon it will be bust in the new year.
The Fox House, it's a plastic pub so you know what to expect.
The Miners Standard, still a good country boozer

[ChrisC]

Ok, maybe a bit harsh on the Three Stags - but when you phone rings as you walk into a pub and someone demands a quid for "Charity" without so much as an explanation, and then says that "Charity" is the Countryside Alliance they can fuck off.   Its hardly cancer research.  I believe a similar incident happened to Irish Si and some friends a few years ago where he locked them in the pub until they agreed to pay for their beer?

The Bulls Head, Ashford in the Water  - Never eaten, but supposed to be good, nice atmosphere and nice beer.

The Moon - I think it changed hands recently, supposed to do a good curry night now (Tuesdays?).

Re The Little John, I've never forgiven them for serving partially frozen lasange, taking it away for 15mins, and then bringing it back nuclear hot with cold chips.

I ate at the Robin Hood last weekend - Reasonable food at resonable prices.

[r-man]

Three Stags Head, Wardlow Mires - A Shit pub in all respects.  Unless you like the Countryside Alliance, grumpy service, beer that tastes like it was made from mud and an air that smells like the Yorvik Viking Center.

So wrong. Best pub in the peak. Best if you camp there for a night, then you can stay long enough to enjoy the music, and whatever else happens to happen. Impromptu folk dancing lessons (including a traditional arse kicking dance) made for one of my favourite nights there.

I was stung by the quid for phone tax once. I argued but then paid. Countryside Alliance is probably something they made up to wind you up. It's worth a quid just because it's such a brilliantly obnoxious country rule.

[Jaspersharpe]

I must admit I can see why you'd be put off. No amount of folk dancing would compensate for someone trying to force me to donate money to the Countryside Alliance, joke or not.

[cofe]

i don't remember the fox house ever being any good. same chain as dore moor, no? the latter is v shit.

red lion litton good - went the other week. beware they don't welcome people with babies or kids under 6 - weird.

i like the grouse nr froggatt. simple and honest and a good fire going when it's cold.

travellers rest nr buxton/roaches is good. not eaten there for a couple of yrs though innit.

used to like millstone for sausages and mona lisa smoking reefer in toilet but got ill from eating there last time so haven't been back. that must be over a yr ago etc.

[dave]

beware they don't welcome people with babies or kids under 6

Shirley all babies are under 6 by deffinition?

I must admit I've always found the food in the Grouse to be "good" rather than amazing, but the whole ambiance of the place is alluring, and the location is a winner, you can pop out and solo tegness pinnacle while waiting for your main course. I just wish their range of beers was just a bit wider than just Banks and Deuchars IPA. Beware I think theres one day of the week they don't do food (if you're just turning up on spec), I think its mondays.

Another good one almost in the peak is The Sportsman at Lodge Moor. Good food, homely vibe. Popular too, so worth booking for a meal, especially on weekends.

[lagerstarfish]

Sir William in Gridleford has always satisfied me. Good food, good service, nice views, tables outside for when its not raining. I think they are due to do some refurbishment work soon?

[grimer]

The Strines is a nice pub for drinking in, nice atmosphere, although not thought the food was great.

[slackline]

Perhaps delineation with regards to beer quality and food quality is required....

Pub	Beer Quality	Food Quality	Other Comments
Fox House	Passable, varying selection of real ales	Over-priced and generic	Useful car-park for Burbage South
Millstone Inn	Good & varied selection of real ales	Only eaten once a month or so ago and the meal was enjoyed by all	Closest pub to Millstone
Little John	Beer selection isn't great, but its ok	Massive portions of what generally appears to be freshly prepared meals	Good value for those on a budget
Yorkshire Bridge Inn		Can't comment, haven't eaten there	Friendly Place, nearest pub to Bamford Edge
Ladybower Inn	Not much choice on ales	Foods home-cooked, but nothing special	Better off at the Yorkshire Bridge
Strines Moor Inn	Fair selection of ales	N/A (Haven't eaten there)	Nearest pub to Dovestones/Back Tor
Bridge Inn, Curbar	Good selection of beer	N/A (Haven't eaten there)
The Moon	Good selection of well kept beers	N/A (Haven't eaten there)	Very friendly, curry nights on Tuedays (till 21.00)
Three Stags	Only drank there once, and had shandy as I was driving, so can't comment	N/A (Haven't eaten there)	Quite small, but camping available outside.
Monsal Head Hotel	Not a very wide selection of ales, but mostly local brews	N/A (Haven't eaten there)	Very slow service
Rising Sun	Excellent varied selection of well kept beers	N/A (doesn't really serve food)	Good alternative when returning from Burbage/Stanage if you don't mind cutting through Fulwood
Chequers Innd	Don't remember selection of beers	Excellent food	Closest pub to Froggat (depending on where you park), food is pricey though.
Grouse Inn	Passable selection of beers, generally well served	N/A (Haven't eaten there)	Also close to Froggat (depending on where you live), seems to have strange opening hours (i.e. closed when I tried calling in once!)
Robin Hood Inn	Good well kept beers (now0	Haven't eaten there for a while, but used to be good and a sensible selection of sandwiches	Closest pub to Birchen, sells nice honey behind the bar. No longer has the naval theme.
Peacock Inn	Small selection of beers, generally well served.	Very nice food, but quite pricey	On the way home from Gardoms/Baslow/Birchen/Curbar.  Entertainment on Saturdays/Sundays watching boy-racers pull whellies on their motorbikes.

Here's a sample table for others to use, simply quote this post then copy and paste the following and fill in the relevant sections (if you can be bothered)...

Pub	Beer Quality	Food Quality	Other Comments

[dave]

The rising sun does do food, not that I've ever had it. Superb pub.

The Ladybower used to do brilliant food - had a few very good meals there, and early last December I went with the shortie and we had the xmas menu, it was amazing. however recently I've had reports of it being totally shit. Was residing squarely in mediocreville last time i went early this summer.

Yorkshire Bridge food is good, not amazing but pretty consistent, and will give you a free basket of bread if you ask (always pays to read the menu fineprint....). Specials board regularly changes. Very good Copper Dragon ales - currently Golden Pippin and 1816, plus Old Peculiar and another one (bombadier?). Written (and illustrated) letter on the wall from Rolf Harris who ate there in 1998 praising the food, and was evidently so satiated he was unable to spell the name of the establishment correctly. Can you tell what it is yet?

[slackline]

My mistake, only saw sandwich menu at lunch time the other day and didn't think it was worth mentioning.  Its now the nearest pub to where I'm working and will no doubt become a regular 

[SA Chris]

i don't remember the fox house ever being any good. same chain as dore moor, no?

Last time I went in there was 1997. Had great food, loads of beer, and pitched the tent out the back. It all went south not long after, never been back.

[Bubba]

Yeah, the Fox House used to be a real pub a long time ago.

[cofe]

i used to walk past it en route to burb sth after getting off the bus from sheff back in '97. can't remember going in. it says a lot for a pub when its best feature is its car park.

[Fiend]

Food-wise, The Plough @ Hathersage, Derwentwater something or other @ Calver and The Barrel @ well wherever it is, the big ridge above Grindleford, piss all over most of those, except the Chequers but they don't count as they're a bunch of snotty cunts in there.

In the South East Peak and slightly more upmarket, Le Mistral in Wirksworth is excellent.

[Jaspersharpe]

I've never been able to tally this "The Chequers is run by snotty cunts" attitude with the actual experience of eating / drinking there. I've been going for years and have only ever had good service and excellent food.

I guess others must have had bad experiences as it's an oft touted line. Maybe I've just been lucky. 

[cofe]

the old bowling green in winster. remember it having good food and beer. plus they sell our books behind the bar. good stuff.

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

We've eaten at the Strines quite a bit, always rated it. Not amazing but good home made pub grub. Their chips are rather special. Fox house is pretty souless nowdays but the food is alright.

[Bonjoy]

I'll throw in a vote for The Plough in Grindleford.
The Gate in Brassington used to be amazing, but it's a few years since I last went.
The Devonshire Arms in Beeley - top food, excellent beer, roaring fire and on the way back from Cratcliffe. What could be better for post bouldering visit?