Mainsail Restaurant in Derbyshire Dales

Enjoyed a fabulous afternoon tea in the Mainsail Restaurant after a stroll around Carsington Water. Great value and fabulous sandwiches, cakes and proper scones with a generous helping of clotted cream.

We had a afternoon tea, 2 years ago as a birthday treat and came back this year as we’re on holiday from the West Country and again we’ve had a afternoon tea which was 5 stars. The staff have gone all out as we didn’t realise we had to book. Thank you to the staff who were very polite and nothing to much trouble. You’ve made our day xx

Lovely Sunday lunch for a good price. But a small dessert bowl of vege between two seemed quite mean! Possibly we were given a bowl intended for a single diner by mistake as others seemed to be treated more generously!

Lovely food with relaxing surroundings. Great to sit outside if nice weather 🙂 Good selection of food so breakfast, light dishes, mains and tasty bakes like scones .

Nice friendly staff and lovely food at a reasonable price. Not happy to be hit with a £6 parking charge for just over 2 hours.

Food is always tasty and reasonably priced. Restaurant needs refurbishing, as it's very dated. A refund on car parking charges when ordering food, would be nice. Jam on both sides of the scone please. Staff always pleasant and friendly.

Lovely restaurant in this beautiful reservoir , we visit as least once per month do do the round walk then lunch - it’s consistently good , which is nice to know . It’s good value , the staff are welcoming and friendly and the food is fabulous.

Warm and friendly greeting from the staff, lots of tables reserved but they managed to squeeze us in, very good lunch at a decent price, just what we needed before carrying on with our walk.

What an asset this restaurant is to Carsington Water. It has incredible views of the water, and is suitable for walkers, bird watchers etc as they are clearly used to boots and rain coats. The food is excellent, well cooked, plentiful and good value. The staff were both friendly and efficient.

The food and service were excellent - 5* for those. However, discovering when we arrived that we had to pay for parking on top of the price of the meal was an unwelcome shock. I can understand that if you're just visiting the site and taking advantage of the scenery a parking fee will help to maintain the site (although I suspect Severn Trent profits would easily cover that) but, when the only thing you do is sit in the restaurant, eat and leave, I don't think it's appropriate to charge for parking. I didn't see anything on the Mainsail website that mentioned it - perhaps it would be a good idea to include it somewhere on the page. Be warned, taking a leisurely 2 hour lunch will cost an extra £6 for each car.

Very pleasing to see so many vegan options. Seemed relatively clean. Friendly service. Lovely views and very spacious interior. Will definitely use again.

Had Sunday dinner here today, we are staying in Hopton, a few minutes’ drive away. The meal was lovely, we both had Turkey roast, followed by Lemon Meringue. All were delicious

Was really looking forward to visiting the restaurant having read reviews and chosen the garden burger from the on line menu. It was OK. Restaurant is a bit of a stretch tbh, had much more of a cafe vibe with ordering at the till with your table number. The advertised air con didn't seem to be on, as we both got rather hot, uncomfortably so for eating. Husband enjoyed his chicken burger, which was big. Both plates had plenty of very nice side salad, and middle of the road frozen chips. Both the foccaia roll and the soft roll were nice. I was however quite disappointed that there was no mention of chilli for the garden burger, which I hate and therefore couldn't eat the burger. With a strong distinct flavour like chilli, wouldn't it be better to mention it on the menu? In my little head, I was expecting the garden burger of broad beans, peas and spinach to be full of fresh herbs, rather than chilli. Becks on draft was a bonus and the views from the restaurant were lovely.

Whilst walking around the reservoir my wife & I went to the Mainsail restaurant for a coffee before returning to the car. We have visited the restaurant a number of times before & it has always been excellent. However this time it was a disappointment. The lady behind the counter didn't really seem interested in serving us. My wife asked if they had any plain chocolate & the lady responded what is that. We ordered two coffees. My wife had an americano & I had a latte. They were not very good. The coffee was tasteless & weak & they were only just warm. Not sure if we would risk another visit to the cafe after this.

We visited for lunch on a very busy day. The staff were so helpful and got us a table very quickly. The restaurant seemed very well managed and all the staff had a smile. The food was great too. We particularly enjoyed the Derbyshire Oatcakes. The jacket potato was not so good (but then jacket potatoes can be very variable). We really enjoyed our visit and would certainly return and recommend.

Such a well organised restaurant. Beautiful views, clean tables, varied menu, beautiful cakes and scones. Food came out very quickly. Extremely friendly staff. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Would highly recommend!

After a walk round the lake we had a meal in the restaurant. Food was fantastic. Very tasty, great potions and reasonable price.

A really enjoyable & good value Sunday Lunch. Having stayed just up the road at Knockerdown Cottage we spent Sunday at Carsington. Haven’t been since I was a kid and lots of positive changes. Great interactive water museum that the kids enjoyed before. Walk in the cold air accompanied with a brew from the cafe downstairs. We nipped up to the restaurant to book a table before starting our walk as there were 8 of us. Good service and found the 2 course Sunday lunch good value. The kids had a smaller portion £7. Looked to be a good choice on the menu and dessert finished us off. Friendly and helpful staff. Really busy on the day with a constant stream of visitors coming to the restaurant

On a wet and windy bank holiday the restaurant was very busy but the staff managed to fit us in even though quite a few of the tables had been reserved. Decided to have a spot of lunch as the menu was inviting and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

We arrived to the reservoir completely shrouded in mist, so we decided to have an early lunch. The sausage sandwich was great but the Derbyshire Oatcake breakfast wrap was amazing. All ingredients were of a great quality but the local laid fried egg was the best I have had for a while- perfectly cooked. The service however was the standout part of the experience- everyone was friendly and attentive even though they were very busy. Thanks for a great experience even though the fog obscured the view.

Disappointing meal but good menu and dining experience. After having a very disappointing time at their takeaway downstairs, I was pleased to see an immaculate restaurant - warm and inviting. We were greeted and seated pleasantly. Cake counter looked lovely, spotlessly clean and there was plenty of delicious looking specials as well as the main menu; not to pricey either considering the current climate. I had one of their ‘top picks’ which was ‘posh beans on toast’ in a spicy tomato sauce. Unfortunately this was possibly the blandest thing I’ve ever eaten. Absolutely no flavour or spice. Very disappointing. However, I would visit again and possibly try one of their ‘Specials’ as they did look very nice.

We booked a table for our family gathering including two young children. Good choice of food to suit their ages and space. We find this a good place for family meetings near to home.

This is not a restaurant but more like a cáfe with good selection of hot food. The 1st floor setting provides a good view towards the reservoir. We had lunch. The food servered was freshly prepared and portion was generous with a very reasonable price tag ( bear in mind that we had snacks/lunch in Chatsworth House yesterday). A circular walk of 12km around the reservoir took us just over 3 hours with lots of wild blackberries to pick along the path. Unfortunately the restaurant and ice cream parlour was shut at 5pm so there was no reward for boys to complete the walk.

We visited Carsington on a hot June day and initially had intended to just have coffee and a snack. However, we were not tempted by the menu and the exposed tables in the courtyard, so decided to seek some shade in the upstairs restaurant. To...

I have visited this Mainsale facility many times and had a pleasurable experience. Unfortunately this latest one was a disappointment. My wife and I had sandwiches which are usually excellent. The ones we had on this occasion were very poor. The bread was stale and...

It would have been quicker if I’d have runs into the kitchen, cooked my own cakes and served myself. Incredibly slow service by a lady who was obviously out of her depth, but made no comment to apologise on the shoddy service, but instead took...

Tasty, freshly made to order sandwiches and salad swiftly served up. Good service, good food and a clean and spacious cafe/restaurant with views over the reservoir. We also tried the bakewell pudding with custard! All recommended.

The Mainsail restaurant at Carsington Water is a real asset to the venue. The room is bright and clean and comfortable. There is a good choice of hot and cold food suitable for a family visit. The staff are friendly and efficient, dealing very well...

Nice place to stop for lunch after completing the 8 miles circular walk if the reservoir. The restaurant is clean, bright and has wonderful views over the reservoir. The menu was good with additional daily specials also available. Drinks arrived a while before the food...

A really well designed Autumn menu, nicely presented, hot plates, friendly and professional staff, lovely views across the water at both sides of the restaurant.

We had a walk around the area today and then stopped off for lunch at the restaurant. Delicious food and very friendly staff. Recommend a visit there.

Such a shame. We ordered steak pie and it arrived cold. We called over a waitress to explain and she looked disgruntled. They did take away and return with hot food.. but no apology. At the end of the meal a man who we thought...

Lunched with friends. We all had the roast salmon with fresh vegetables. The fish was very well cooked being moist but with a crispy skin. The fresh vegetables were excellent. Price for a tourist attraction was fair and portions huge. My only complaint was that...

we only popped in for a coffee but the food looked so good we stayed for lunch, we were not disappointed! the food and service were excellent!

Part of the main building at the Carsington complex this is an excellent cafe/restaurant. We had a couple of sandwiches which were made with lovely fresh bread plenty of filling and a super fresh salad and coleslaw. The have a nice sun terrace as well...

You would never tire of sitting on the terrace with a view over the water enjoying a welcome drink/bite to eat. Good menu choice, tasty well priced/presented food with excellent service from the staff and not that busy, its a winner.

Super tasty lunch at a reasonable price 😀. Had a special of roasted new potatoes, with a tasty pork chop, served on peppercorn sauce and topped with crispy onions, side of 4 veg. Definitely recommend and will return soon.

Booked for a quiet break on Sunday lunchtime. Booked table overlooking the water. Very hot and busy, but still a lovely place. The food is good and also offers fresh sandwiches etc to take away. The service was excellent and the portion sizes good. Not...

Driving back from Ashbourne, we fancied a spot of lunch and having eaten here before, we knew that it's good quality food, well served by pleasant staff in a nice atmosphere. we weren't disappointed, it all lived up to our experience. well done, keep it...

We have eaten at the restaurant before and this time we chose the autumn dining. There was a fair choice on the menu and the service was good and friendly and they are clearly taking the Covid restirctions seriously. However the food was only average...

The Mainsail restaurant at Carsington Water does beautifully presented good tasty food at reasonable prices. The staff are friendly and helpful and the views of the water are stunning. It is always of this standard.

Really lovely food and great service! The staff were very friendly and made it easy to follow the guidelines. ☺️

Had their 3 course special lunch. Each course was superb. Have to say that their approach to Covid-19 was exceptional taking our contact details upon entering the restaurant. Made us feel like they really cared

Decided to pop in here on spur of the moment after a short walk around the reservoir with my partner and 7 month old daughter. Very busy due to it being the last day of the eat out help out scheme. We were welcomed by...

We haven’t visited here for some time but returned today for mid morning drinks. Very good service. In the afternoon we called back in having walked all the way round Carsington Water and in need of more tea, and sandwiches as well. The assistant was...

We have been to this restaurant many times over the years and it has always been ok - nothing special but acceptable. However this wasn't the case this time. The restaurant had reopenened after lockdown, so we thought we should support it.l The setting is...

Excellent quality and service - friendly staff and hearty portions. The cakes are particularly worth the trip.

It was the short walk at Carsington. At the end the promise of a breakfast to see me on for the walk back. On entering, the staff greeted us and explained the menu and seating arrangement. I'd looked on line and was sure the full...

Set in the very attractive visitor centre the Mainsail restaurant has panoramic views over the water to the hills. Light and well spaced. It is very popular and booking for meals at peak times is recommended. Only critical observation is that the counter service can...

Have been here twice in the last two weeks after a long gap. Although the main menu seems the same, the specials seem more imaginative and the food seems better. It might be that it's overall a more pleasant experience because it's not as crowded...

Not a pleasant eating experience. You wait to be seated (this was prompt by the way) note your table number, pick up a tray and order at the counter.The tables and chairs are packed in tightly, so you are very close to everyone around you.We had a slice of custard tart, it was not that nice (rubbery) like it had been on display for too long, the Derbyshire burger was nice but the chips & onion rings served with it were cold and the coffee was OK but nothing special. I would have informed the staff and asked for a fresh meal, but there were only two staff around, both were on the tills at the counter trying to serve a huge queue of people, so we just left as time was running out.

Visited the Mainsail restaurant on New Years Day for breakfast. The food was to a good standard but I would particularly like to commend the staff, as they dealt with a high volume of customers with a variety of needs with politeness, good humour and...

Booked a table since it was their Xmas lunch menu. We didn’t choose the Xmas menu instead went for their normal main course meal. Beef and ale pie and fish meal, both excellent and good quality. Service was friendly and despite them being busy with...

Carsington Water is one of our favourite family destinations, and this is the second time that we have all met up for an early Christmas get-together in the Mainsail Restaurant. Once again were not disappointed. Having pre-booked we knew exactly what we were getting -...

The place, customer service and the food are great! Our family very enjoy it. The price is reasonable.The toilet is clean. I will definitely go back!

The Mainsail is perfectly situated to capture the stunning Derbyshire views as it provides a varied menu to cater for all ages. The morning breakfast is a substantial start to the day, the lunch menu has plenty of temptations; the scones and Chocolate Brownies a must, once you’ve dibbed into its varied menu. The staff are helpful and professional. A lovely place.

The Mailsail Restaurant is on the first floor of Severn Trent's information building at Carsington Reservoir. This reservoir is one of the "jewels in the crown" of Severn Trent, set in the a valley in the Derbyshire Dales. A super place if you want a quiet place to walk or sail or watch birds, and the Restaurant is well placed as you have views in two directions, both up and own the water.The company that runs this restaurant for Severn Trent also runs the restaurant at Draycote Water, near Rugby in Warwickshire - another lovely place to visit.You do have to pay the parking fee of £3.00 even if you are just "popping into the cafe".The food is suitable if you have a healthy appertite - the large scone with cream & jam was very generous !

We ahve been before, several times for full blown meals, and the food has been superb. This time we just wanted a snack and a drink though. As ever the staff were friendly and professional, the environment is comfortable, but there are no frills.

Scones are wonderful. Perfect environment. Just needs the coffee improving please. But still a great venue.

Had not been here for some while now, so we were really delighted with our meal. The salmon was cooked to perfection and the Mediterranean vegetables really good too.

Visited for Sunday lunch ........ it's a cheap deal just under £12 per person for 2 courses, don't expect too much, food is all pre prepared and heated up. Quite basic.

Tepid goats cheese dry burgers burnt sausages in the children's meal. Awful will never go there again.

We visited for lunch after completing an eight mile walk around Carsington waters. Nice bright & airy restaurant with a lovely view over Carsington waters. Lots of window side tables and plenty of other seating as well.

Visited for our wedding anniversary as the restaurant overlooks the lake and has wonderful views. The food was deplorable! Dry pork layered onto dry bread! Dry frozen chips. Tired wilted old salad. Brown lettuce and brown celery served. So ok we’d try the delicious looking scones.

Called for lunch on the way to Matlock. View over the lake from the restaurant lovely.Service prompt despite being very busy! Wonderful food. Staff all very pleasant and polite. Definitely recommend this place

Great place to pop for a meal. Daily specials are good. The service and quality is first class and all the staff are very happy here.

Excellent view OverThe water, good selection of cakes , coffee was very smooth and it was clean . Sadly dogs definitely not allowed, ask and risk a meg scowl, I fact it’s the only restaurant , cafe or pub in the area that I’ve visited where the staff did not smile and are weren’t particularly welcoming :-( . Sad as the cakes, coffee and view should have made it an awesome Father’s Day treat

Good selection of food and choice of drinks in a pleasant cafe with wonderful views of the water and an outside seating area on a terrace.

Went in for Breakfast ....following a visit to the Plant sale What we had was very good and tasty.....the SAUSAGE was outstanding... only downside was NO TOAST available.....otherwise 5 Stars within 30 mins of opening it was virtually FULL....as we was

This place is a good option if you want food. The restaurant itself is up stairs and offers good views of the lake. I don't know if dogs are allowed in the restaurant itself but we came up the outside stairs to sit on the open veranda.

Stunning views in spacious restaurant- which is not on the ground floor. Good choice of food. At busy times please note this is extremely popular- visited May Day bank holiday and by 1.00 there was s substantial queue formed. Always worth a visit.

After walking along Carsington Water we were hungry. When we got there we were told the restaurant is full and we should wait, which is fine. About 5 minutes later we got shown to a table that we were warned was reserved for 2pm, but the sign on the table was 1:45pm so we felt rushed.

The Mainsail Restaurant at Carsington Water's Visitor's Centre had a lot going for it - not least the 1st-floor setting & lovely view over the reservoir. Last Sunday it was very busy and so the service was a bit slow but the menu offered us a good range of sandwiches, Plougmans, burgers etc and our group were all happy. Worth dropping in.

after 9 miles on the bike I stopped for tea at the restaurant. I only had tea but the cakes looked amazing as did the lunch.dishes that passed by my table. lovely views too.

Popped in here for a cuppa and some cake after a pleasant walk round the reservoir.

We booked in for lunch on Mothering Sunday accepted a late booking for 2.30pm but was told there would still be a FULL menu and also checked this 2 weeks before. When we came to order there was no Roast Beef or Yorkshire Puddings and the veg was uncooked the cauliflower and broccoli being almost raw. As this was a special occasion taking our children and grand children. We feel very disappointed and would expect the restaurant having told us previous of no problems to have fulfilled their commitments.

The main eatery at Carsington Water. No booking required but can get busy so you have to wait to be seated. Got a table with view to the reservoir and could watch all the people doing various water sports. Decided to go for the cheese sharing platter, basically a ploughman’s but with homemade piccalilli and bread rolls. Good portions and tasty. Would have awarded very good but let down by the the scones with cream - bit dry and not real clotted cream but from a can. Overall wouldn’t stop me coming here again, I’d just choose another cake!

Had lunch after a walk here and as always the service and food was great. It was a wet day and busier than my last visit but still speedy friendly service. Good quality food and well presented. Will definitely return.

A post Christmas play at the park and walk at Carsington was rounded off with delicious coffee and cakes here. 6 adults happily gossipped while the children counted boats on the water. Various cakes were enjoyed; particular praise went to the cheese scone and enormous flapjack. We didn't stay for lunch but as plates went by to other tables it looked delicious, maybe next time!

We booked here for the Winter Lunch menu, three courses for £11.75, for ourselves and some friends. We had drinks, including a bottle of red wine, and the total bill for the four of us was about £65 - excellent value.

We arrived at the optimum time - we were able to walk right in and find a table. Shortly afterwards it became incredibly busy and people had to queue to wait to be seated. The staff were very pleasant and tolerant of our grandkids taking for ever to choose their own lunch boxes.

Amazing food, very well presented. The staff were very helpful and pleasant and the table settings really nice. Nice touch to have a card of corny jokes on the table. Well done to everyone, we will be back again.

The scones here are superb. This time I thought I’d try the cheese scones, but was amazed to find I had to pay 15p extra for a small butter. The lady serving was quite rude in demanding I pay the extra for the butter. Okay after she pointed out there is a sign stating the price somewhere I now understand but she could have been less antagonist.

Those of you with bus passes, you will get 10% discount only Monday to Friday! Uncomplicated food at reasonable prices and a lift for those less mobile. A mixed range of foods at lunch time and homemade cakes to finish it off. Nice place.

The menu looked excellent and we chose the ‘ploughman’s pork pie and cheese platter for 2’ . It was tasty and the portion was more than enough for 2. The surroundings were beautiful and we will definitely be going back for more dishes from this lovely establishment.

Excellent views aver the reservoir, able to eat outside if weather is kind.It is on 1st floor but does have a lift. Food in restaurant is good but cakes on display are not fully covered and can dry out during the day. Staff efficient and helpful.

Called late afternoon after having 3 hours at Brackendale spa. Were absolutely famished and had chicken and chorizo pasta which was lovely. Only downside was having to pay £3.00 to park.

Upstairs at the Carsington Water visitor’s centre is the Mainsail restaurant and café. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available, all with excellent views across Carsington Water.

Very friendly staff and fast service, the views from the restaurant are amazing. You have the option to sit inside or outdoors, will visit again

We went with two elderly relatives and two yound people with good appitites!! The menu had really good vegetarian options - always much appreciated. We all really enjoyed our food and would very much recommend it as a place to have a good meal.

went in for Elevenses...........speaking to the assistance i wondered if she was MUTE....and i apologise if she is

I visit often usually for a main meal. I went for tea and cake this week and like a previous review I wish they would cover the cakes which is why they only get 4 stars.

Visited lots of times, but first time we had one of their beefburgers. Superb quality and a fair price too. Followed up with one of their scones which are also excellent. Probably the best is Derbyshire alongside Wheatcrofts Wharf in Cromford for scones.

We used this restaurant while on a visit to the reservoir. The staff were really friendly and keen to help. The food arrived quickly and was both tasty and well presented. I agree with an earlier comment on covering the food in the chiller.

Amazing place to get a bite and amazing amazing service. Nothing bad to say! The food was great and of good quality. Everything you need after a long day walking around in carsington.

After kayaking and paddle boarding we decided to come here for lunch. You order at the counter and the food is delivered to your table. We ordered a range of lunches from millionaires sundae to halloumi and roast veg with sweet potato chips. We worried that it was a bit pricey but once we received our food we were happy to pay as the food was delicious. Fish and chips were great, as was the soup and sweet potato chips. All the staff were so friendly. It's definitely worth a visit - outstanding views too!

Lovely restaurant, but whilst I was deciding which cake to order, I saw two flies crawling all over them!! They are in an open display case with not even a cake cover or cling film on them. To say I was horrified was an understatement ...

You can’t go far wrong here. We both had the Steak and Mushroom Pie. A good pie, with quite a strong flavour of rosemary, with nice chips and freshly prepared veg - certainly not the limp, over cooked ‘greens’ you get at a lot of similar establishments. Good quality, and a fair price - comparable with pub prices. Lovely spot, with views over the reservoir.

We went to Carsington just for a nice walk in the sunshine, as it’s lovely just wandering round the water park and watching the boats, but we decided to try the Mainsail because the menu looked so good. What a great decision! Plenty of choice of hot food from breakfasts to roast dinners to burgers and wraps, and plenty of interesting cold food, fresh sandwiches, wraps, and salads. Lovely puddings and lots of fresh cakes and scones and a good choice of hot and cold drinks. Very pleasant staff and a super view across the water park. Absolutely loved it and will definitely go again. Recommended.

We stopped here for drinks and cakes after a walk around Carsington waters and it was lovely. The luxury hot chocolate was delicious and they have a wide range of cakes, but it’s worth knowing that they stop doing other food at half 4.