The Barley Mow in Derbyshire Dales

Loved this place. Good hospitality and nice welcome. Pie was top of the shop.

I completely concur with anyone that has previously given a low rating to this establishment. Upon arrival we had a very warm welcome from the landlady contrary to the barman/ landlord who was arrogant, surly, rude, impolite & illmannered. It was an effort for him to acknowledge us or even speak to us. Consequently we changed our mind about having a meal & then left. In an era where pubs are frequently closing you would think he would be glad of the custom. A real shame because the beer was good & the menu although limited looked promising.

If you like pubs. And you like pies. Then you haven't lived until you've been here. An absolute hidden gem.

Collette and Mick are very friendly down to earth hosts. Good food, great atmosphere, cosy establishment.

Anyone who makes pies while reciting poetry by the bard Cooper-Clarke gets a thumbs up from me. Communication was amazing booking the table. Service was ace. Food was superb. We sadly couldn’t stay for the band, but will be back the next time we come to the Peak District. Loved it.

Landlord and landlady were very accommodating. We met up as a family for lunch and to discuss our dad's final business after his passing last year. The landladies father joined us for a while and he chatted non stop about his younger days in Gorton. Lovely bloke.

Lovely pub, great atmosphere and staff and the food was delicious 👌

It's a lovely pub with good food, great ambiance, and brilliant service. We received a very warm welcome from the lovely landlady, and we will definitely return soon.

Wonderful welcoming hosts (Collette and Mick) and the pub had a lovely atmosphere, Food was great would definitely recommend a visit here if you're visiting Matlock in the Peake district area.

A very warm welcome from Collette and Mick today, backed up by a roaring log burner. Fantastic atmosphere and selection of drinks. The Barley Mow has some of the best pub food I've ever had. All home cooked and everything on the plate was perfect. Get a pie. They are all phenomenal. You cannot be disappointed.

Great old pub, with a fantastic atmosphere.

As others have noted, the barman has a truly awful attitude that is clearly not just a one off. Within 5 minutes he'd found several things to moan at me about, including sitting on the wrong table and asking for a taster of an obscure, low% real ale that anyone who isn't local would obviously have never tried before (I've genuinely never seen a 'no tasters' policy at any pub in my several decades of life - it's even written on the beam above the bar... just a terrible first impression). Basically, just lighten up a bit mate? It's a service industry. That said, the food was truly exceptional. The pies were hand made and deeply filled, served by a lovely landlady who takes a lot of pride in her work. Honestly, it's one of the best pies I've ever had. But all in all I probably wouldn't come back. The atmosphere was further marred by a group of regulars in the corner by the bar heckling visitors placing orders at the bar. As I well know as an escapee to greener pastures, this level of entitlement and small mindedness is just to be expected of folks in the semi-rural East Midlands, so I suppose the pub can't be blamed for that.

Fabulous Sunday roast and a really great pub. It’s small and a bit quirky with bags of atmosphere. Really nice couple / owners. Highly recommend

Best chip cob for ages - perfect cob - spray vinegar to stop soggy bread - go out of your way for this one

Highly recommended - had my dad’s 80th here on Xmas Eve. The place has huge amounts of character, fostering a warm and eclectic vibe that I loved. The food was wonderful, the Christmas pie was to die for, and the range of local ciders were much appreciated. Huge thanks to the team for handling such a large group on Xmas Eve.

Food was fantastic, landlords really friendly, log burner roaring away, would highly recommend

Brilliant pub great welcome food and beer. The landlady loves spaniels! So do I. Interesting art in the loo. The landlord and landlady were great fun and entertained us fabulously.

Staying in Matlock, read the reviews and booked in for ‘Pie Night’. We were glad we did. Firstly it’s a proper pub serving food, not some pseudo bistro. We had the Christmas Pie special and a steak and ale pie. Both were great, as they claimed on the menu, they were ‘proper pies’ not a stew with bit of pastry on top. Both were beyond generously filled with tasty ingredients and packed with meat. My wife ranked the Xmas offering as her #1 Pie of all time, I loved my Steak pie but regret not ordering it too. Turkey, pigs in blankets, stuffing all in a pie! If it’s on offer when you go, grab it! Chips were great, gravy was tasty and I love a mushy pea! Portion was massive. I’d go back in a heartbeat. Good job.

Visited with family for a pre Christmas meet up, and what a wonderful relaxed find! Owners are brilliantly friendly, frank and warm. They are very clear about what they can or can’t provide. Food was beyond excellent, everything was well cooked and delicious - exactly what is wanted from a pub. Range of ales and ciders were good. I wish I’d had space for dessert, but Dad had gone back later that evening and sampled the sticky toffee pudding - apparently the best ever! The pies were excellent, served with lashing a of gravy. The homity pie was a delicious vegetarian option, although I was spoilt for choice as they all looked lovely! Will definitely be returning when we’re next walking that area.

Best Pub in Bonsall Derbyshire and Matlock! Owner is caring attentive and it's a family owned business. We didn't have food but wished we did as it looked and smelled amazing. Have live acts on through the month and love being here! Great guest ciders and ales

Very friendly and welcoming pub with a great atmosphere. The prices are amazing, and the food is delicious with generous portion sizes. Drinks are equally impressive—tasty and reasonably priced. Highly recommend this spot for a great experience!

We've been before, and will come again, absolutely faultless food and service. It's a proper country pub, dog friendly, with a relaxed vibe. Ace.

Amasing place. The ambiance is incredible. You can see the owners have really tried to make the pub very cosy. I never had such great food before...pies are home made and everything is made of love.

Great landlord and landlady, dog friendly

Brilliant lamb Sunday dinner and pudding was great too. Good beerand the Barman has a good sense of humor.

Amazing food, and very friendly staff. They were so great with our 3 small kids and we all had such a great evening

I decided to get my hubby a train driver experience in the Peak District for his 60th birthday. Because of this, our daughter decided to add to the experience by buying us a gift voucher for the Barley Mow pub in Bonsall. We turned up and were greeted by Mick, who was extremely busy serving customers their food orders and drinks. It was pie night. We were made very welcome and the food, pies, were delicious 😋. We had desserts too which were also great. We met Collett a little later, who is the landlady and cook. She's very hard working and runs a brilliant pub. They're having hard times with everything that's going on with small businesses at the moment so we were more than happy to give them our custom again on another night. The atmosphere in this little pub is great and I hope it remains that was always. Thanks for a great 2 evenings. Keep up the good work Mick and Collett.

Great Pub, great food and a fun atmosphere. We enjoyed a meal of homemade pie, chickpea curry, minted lamb burger and gammon steak. All faultless and really tasty. The gravy here is practically a food group in its own right and amazing. We have already booked our return visit. Wonderfull

Proper village pub, went for pie night. Brilliant home made pies with proper gravy. Service was fab even though only one person working bar and food service. Top notch

Loved this place. Great decor, food, and vibe. The owner was run off his feet but still made us feel well cared for. Head over if you're in the area.

Whenever I come to the peak district to visit my Dad, a trip to the Barley Mow is an absolute necessity. This unique and marvellous place has more personality and warmth than any pub I know. Food is great, beer is well kept, cider selection is off the hook. The decoration and posters on the walls sing both of the histories the Barley Mow preserves and of the communities it so ably serves. Most highly recommended.

Lovely traditional pub. Very good food and excellent Real Ale. I've moved into a village not far from here and will be visiting regularly.

Fabulous pub! So glad we went. Great food, friendly staff, great atmosphere… quirky and cosy. Husband loved the beer! We will definitely go back and would highly recommend.

Amazing quirky pub with a warm welcome. Food was outstanding. Great beer and fabulous to have such a choice of cider. Will definitely be back

Great atmosphere and live music! Landlord very friendly and helpful. Tasty selection of ciders.

Booked a sun roast here after reading lots of reviews. Arrived and met the landlady and I was instantly taken back to a time when pubs had these fun, friend flamboyant characters running them. I read a few reviews noting that the owners aren’t friendly, I just think people forget sometimes that the pub owners put up with a lot of nonsense from customers and I feel like if you came to this pub with an attitude you’d be sent away again. It’s how a pub should be run, if kids ran riot they’d be told off without a doubt. It’s a proper cosy respectful place. We were turned into instant locals because the landlady made conversation and started telling stories, that sparked the locals sat at a nearby table who immediately started chatting to us. 2 great ales on the handpulls, loads of ciders. Roast beef was absolutely top notch, tender, most incredible gravy, a great plateful too. The veg with it was done differently. See my pics! Forget gastropubs with posh decor, let’s get back to this. Fun boozers that feed their guests top quality fresh grub, great beer, extremely well priced, friendly welcoming and slightly nuts! Oh and dogs are welcome too. Perfect pub.

Just wow! I’ve wanted to eat here for months, and finally made it. Gorgeous and generous plates of homemade food, with quality local produce. Lovely atmosphere in this special pub, with locals and visitors all made welcome. Highly recommend. And I won’t need to eat for a week!xx

Me and my Husband LOVE The Barley Mow. Whenever we are in the area, we pop in for a few drinks and sometimes food. The owners are more than accommodating and are brilliant with my (not so) little boy. I'm always recommending this pub to friends & family!

Seven of us ate on a busy friday, fantastic food, mega pies, chilli, burgers, and great real ale from local breweries. Very cool decor and unpretentious vibe, highly recommended.

The only way I can describe the Barley mow is the Karen's diner of the Peak district. The only thing worse than the service was the decor with dirty mouldy walls and mouldy church pews. The smell of damp, dust and wet dog in the air. The only thing not worth visiting in Bonsall in my opinion.

What a shame that the customer service experience was non-existent on our trip to this pub. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel like we were a burden to the owners of this establishment. The bar man/owner was unfriendly throughout but this got worse when we tried to order food - we ended up walking out when we were sworn at for not pre-ordering even though we had not been asked to do this. Disappointed and could not recommend - I've never been to a pub where I've been made to feel so unwelcome.

Fantastic pub. Stumbled across it on holiday. Cracking food and amazing live music. Felt like a private little pub that no one knew about. An absolute gem of a find!

This place is a hidden gem. Best pie I've had, followed by best Bakewell Tart. Nice bar team and on both night we went we enjoyed excellent live music. Worth walking up the dark road from the village to discover 👏

Lovely little pub, tucked away in Bonsall. My first visit and I was very impressed. Great selection of draught IPAs made for a nice surprise. Dinner was lovely, a great and varied choice of home cooked delights. Fabulous vegetarian options too.

What a pub hidden up a. Village lane wish it was my local

Fantastic pub, dog friendly great live music and good food.

Lovely village pub, nice atmosphere. The service and food were amazing, jealous of the table next to us who had the most amazing looking pie but the venison burger was awesome. If we are in the area again in the future I would definitely come again. Well worth a visit for food.

A lovely little pub, great selection of drinks (Inc tea!), but the pie.. Wow, I had the chicken, leek and bacon pie, mash and mushy peas. Absolutely delicious. 10/10. Must visit more often...

Welcoming and pure quirkiness. We took our two Australian visitors here and they absolutely loved it. The owners made us all feel so welcome. Great beer and food. But you must have the homemade pie it’s a real standout moment and they don’t understand the meaning of small helpings. We totally recommend this well hidden gem.

It's the best pub in the world, we come here everytime we're in the area. Lovely home cooked food, great atmosphere and always something going on! Book a table, it can get busy at the weekend (rightfully so)!

A pub in a small Derbyshire village that is frequently described as the best pub in the world might seem a little of an over-reach but that’s until you try the Barley Mow. From atmosphere to decor this place drips personality and pizzazz, all attributable to its hardworking and super-cool owners. Where to start? The booze is delicious, the food looked exceptional and made us wish we hadn’t eaten already but it was the extras that made it: soundtracked by PJ Harvey and the Rolling Stones on a scorching summer afternoon, surrounded by pictures and memorabilia from bikini kill, cult films and the most fascinating pub bookshelf ever (already ordered anarchism and paganism book so I can finish it!). We can’t wait to go back. And we weren’t even there for gigs and hen-racing. Imagine!

We did a Google search whilst at Matlock Bath and found this place 1.3 miles away. So we had Saturday lunch at Barley Mow. Mick & Coletta cooked our two lasagne meals and I must say, it was perfect! So it's 5 stars from us and we will be back. Thank you - Jon & Deb x

Most certainly the BEST PUB IN THE WORLD

We ate here tonight, when they say “proper pie” that’s exactly what they mean. The food was delicious, the pie (pastry top and bottom) was jam packed full of meat. The slice of pie was huge. The landlord and his team were on the ball and chatty, funny and honest. Defo worth a visit.

This is one of the nicest countrie pubs in one of the nicest village's. It's tooked away so it takes a bit of finding but boy it's worth it. Good fair at a good price. They go to a lot of trouble putting different events on and it's a real local pub packed with caricatures young and old. It's got parking and still has the toilets outside like a lot of pubs used to have. If you want to eat I recommend you ring before hand.

Lovely home cooked food! Staff and locals are really friendly! Definitely recommend

What a lovely cosy local pub. We were lucky enough to catch Bonsall carnival and watched a few morris dancers 🤩 We all thoroughly enjoyed their roast dinner as well 😋.

Loved the ambience and decor of this quirky little pub. We had the risotto and the hommity pie on our first night and loved them so much that we went back for another meal a couple of nights later. Friendly locals, friendly staff, lovely vibe.

My wife and I visited this week as we were looking for a venue for a family gathering. We'd been impressed by reading the many good reviews and we weren't disappointed when we arrived, as this is a charming little village pub in an equally charming village. But - we didn't get a warm welcome from the host, maybe he'd had a bad day but our polite enquiries about beer options and food availability were met with pure sarcasm. We've been in literally hundreds of pubs and I've only rarely met with unwarranted comments such as this. So, I'm sure this is a great little pub and it's got real character, but such a shame about Mr Angry.

A proper pub with proper beer and food you'd kill for. Add in the quirky bits and you have a place you'd sell an organ for to ensure you're there for opening time. And the pies are unbelievable

Wished I had asked for a child’s portion couldn’t finish it all but what I ate was gorgeous definitely recommend the pies definitely would go again

Family gathering with a fussy eater who wanted a tiny pie… the chap was super kind with sorting this out, made a fuss of her and even offered the bits she didn’t manage to eat as a takeout.. I thought that showed alot of understanding- so thank you 🙂 We all had pie specials with peas and lashings of gravy! One happy mum was all we needed to see!

Helpful and friendly staff, hearty food, felt very welcomed. Atmosphere was great with England winning in the Euros semi final which was cast onto large projector screen in the pub. Was only a 15 minute walk back our accommodation, so able to walk off a few calories consumed!

Coletta and Miguel not only accommodated us last minute but also made us feel welcomed. The best pub in peak district. Five star service and atmosphere. Saturday music night was a perfect way to spend an evening after a long day.

Amazing local pub, was in the village on holiday. Great atmosphere, food amazing, great selection if drinks, will definitely be going agsin

Visited the Barley Mow Friday night whilst doing the Bonsall arts Trail and ended up back there on the Saturday night as well, it was that good. What a fab little pub. Collette and Mick (Landlord and Landlady) and their staff were very friendly and lovely to chat to and went out of their way to make us welcome. We unfortunately didn't eat there as we had already made other arrangements for eating at the weekend but I've given the food a five star just on its looks and the people who were talking about their meal loved it. Good choice of beer and reasonably priced. The cider list was great. The cute pub cat (think his name was Taffy) can't go without a mention either. One of the most cutest and friendliest cats you'll find giving you the warmest of welcomes if you sit outside. Lovely, atmospheric pub, well worth a visit. Thank you for a fab weekend

Love The Barley Mow, great beer, food and atmosphere

A pub experience of the highest calibre. The staff were so welcoming to our group and there was a great atmosphere. Take me back, Barley Mow.

Brilliant pub, stopped here on a pub crawl hike and had a great time on the sunny terrace. Landlady extremely welcoming to all our group, will definitely visit again.

Went on speck on a Sunday evening as premier inn in Matlock were not doing food. Told when we arrived that they were not doing meals until 5pm. Decided to wait and it was well worth it and the beer was good as well.

Outstanding pub, great atmosphere, friendly staff and impressive selection of drinks. Very welcoming to our University Rambling group! We will be back!

Unique pub with one of the best pies we've had! Set us up for an afternoon of walking the lovely Derbyshire countryside!

We really enjoyed the pub, food, drinks, service... Special place, worth seeking out.

My experience at Barley Mow Pub in Bonsall was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment I stepped into this charming pub nestled in the heart of Derbyshire, I felt welcomed and at home. The cozy, inviting atmosphere immediately drew me in, and the service provided by the landlady and landlord was outstanding. Their sharp wit and humor added a delightful touch to the entire visit. The landlady's quick thinking and friendly banter made our visit truly memorable. The interior of the pub is wonderfully quirky, filled with character and a sense of history that perfectly complements the vibrant, lively ambiance they’ve created. The food and drink at Barley Mow was superb. The menu offers a range of delicious, hearty dishes, each prepared with care and beautifully presented. I particularly enjoyed the traditional Sunday Dinner , but there are plenty of modern options as well. The selection of local ales and ciders is impressive and pairs perfectly with the meals. What stood out to me the most was the community feel of the pub. Both locals and visitors are treated like old friends, and it’s clear that Barley Mow is a cornerstone of the Bonsall community. The pub regularly hosts events and live music, adding to its lively and welcoming vibe. Overall, Barley Mow is a must-visit. The dedication and charisma of the landlady and landlord ensure that each visit is filled with laughter, great food, and a sense of belonging. If you’re looking for a pub experience that perfectly blends the best of traditional and contemporary, Barley Mow in Bonsall is the place to be. (We’ll be back - Shaun & Melanie xx

Perfect pub. Great food, great beer, great atmosphere and great live music.

So disappointed. Used to be such a good pub but now the food is really overpriced for what you get and the barman is so unwelcoming. Can see from the reviews that this wasn't just an off night for him.

Super cosy atmospheric pub with amazing warm and welcoming team💕 Delicious food with generous portions, especially livede the pie and local cider selection. Good vibes, will definitely come back

Very charming pub. Felt like a home from home! We'll definitely be back

Great big plates of freshly cooked Sunday Lunch with all the trimmings today at the Barley Mow. Lovely stuff!

A fabulous local pub, outstanding customer service lovely atmosphere,,couldn't do to much for you. The food was great please go when you visit bonsall

They describe their Guinness gravy as world class. If you were to wring the sweat from the shirt of Leo Messi after he downs 15 pints of Guinness you still wouldn't get gravy as good as this. The GOAT of gravy.

Lucky to have this amazing pub as my local.

Delicious meal at this lovely cosy / quirky village pub. Husband and I both chose lasagne, it was the best ever, couple that with superb garlic bread, fresh salad and chips. Beer and cider also excellent. Friendly relaxed atmosphere. Well done to the hardworking staff.

Great cider options, delicious food and a friendly atmosphere. The roast dinner was great and the desserts were great too.

Fantastic pub. One of the best pies I’ve ever had in my life. Nice ales on tap too.

Lovely pub. Owned by some lovely individuals, found this place from tripadvisor and it didn’t disappoint. They served us pies that were gorgeous and some of the best we had ever had. The atmosphere was also great feeling like a proper English pub. The only problems we encountered were that it was quite a small place, they had trouble printing out menus and didn’t have them available digitally so we couldn’t pick what we wanted beforehand with even what was on google being wrongand they didn’t have any WiFi which upset the kids greatly. However all in all a very great pub and a must for tourists.

I went for dinner here with the family. The drinks were good and the food was great! I had the steak and Stilton pie which was exceptional! They really know how to make a pie, the portions were a good size too. I would thoroughly recommend it if you’re in the area! Worth booking

I attended with my wife on early Saturday evening. After sitting at a vacant table the manager, in an aggressive manner informed us that the table was reserved, in 30 minutes time. We moved to another vacant table which was reserved in nearly two hours time. We asked about getting food and told us we couldn’t have any as they only get in what’s needed for the evening?? You must have to pre book your food. We have a little Pomeranian which was sat on a bench seat as there was a much larger dog trying to get to him. The young lady who served us drinks came over chatting politely and stroked him, asking what type he was etc. 5 minutes later the manager came up to us, in the same manner as before and told us to get the dog off the furniture. It was a wooden bench, but fair enough and we did. We certainly won’t be visiting his premises again. He obviously took an instant dislike to us. If upon our arrival he had said that there wasn’t any food, although a couple on the next table had called in just before us and were able to order food, then we would have accepted that. Well done for sterling customer service. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Do not recommend, very ignorant, felt unwelcome, will not be returning

Incredible. 3x vegetarian options - homity pie was amazing, service was perfect. Warm, cosy and everything a country pub should be. Will be back and recommend to anyone we know

Brilliant evening at Barley Mow. I'd been a year ago.One of best steak pies ever and big portions so we could only share the Bakewell tart.Variety of ciders are superb .Quiz night on Wed. added to atmosphere but separated from diners and done quietly. Friendly and welcoming.Just love this cosy atmospheric traditional pub. Wish I lived nearer.

What a gem of a pub! Me and my friend were staying in the local area and this pub was recommended by our B&B host. The pub is lovely & cosy, the landlady Colette was incredibly welcoming and friendly, you can tell she really cares about the pub. We had some lovely wine, beef brisket chilli & a steak and ale pie. The food was amazing!!! We would really recommend coming here. :) For both of the main meals (very generous portions), a bottle of wine, and two medium glasses it was £59, great value!!

Been lots of times before. This time had a very frosty welcome from the landlord which set an unpleasant tone for our the rest of the lunch. They market the place as a destination pub because it’s out of the way but I won’t rush back.

Pulled into the carpark and the landlord literally ran across the road before I'd even got out of my van and told me to park the other way .Absolute misery guts . I said forget it mate there's plenty of other pubs .Never again avoid 😒.

Oh my goodness THE FOOD! Just go To try the pies, unbelievable home cooked food! Great selection of drinks and a high quality band that you wouldn’t expect to see in a local pub of that size! Really cosy, felt very welcome and “part of the village” within minutes! It’s a freehouse, with amazing home cooked food and local ales so don’t expect an endless menu that can be brought to the table at the same time…if you want that, maybe try a Wetherspoons who have an endless supply of frozen meals to be microwaved! Highly recommend and will be back!!

5 Star the staff, ale, and food always spot on. Cheers Gav n Louise

What a fantastic pub! Great atmosphere, good food and very welcoming to everyone that came through the door. The perfect place to have a nice beer and meet new friends if you fancy!

Amazing! A proper pub! The best pub I’ve been to in a long time! Nothing is rushed, really relaxed, welcoming, felt just like being at home! Food is phenomenal, proper Sunday roast and the pie is to die for! Will definitely be coming again!

Best pub in the Peak District (and beyond), we went to the Barley Mow for dinner and a night out and loved the authentic village pub feel, charmingly decorated and great atmosphere. The food was some of the best we've had: locally sourced and beautiful cooked. Mick and Colette were so welcoming and create an exceptional pub and dinner experience

Very disappointing. Very little on the menu - also given a menu with ‘how many’ of individuals items were left. Which meant it was a case of picking an item before someone else did. Surly, indifferent attitude from the landlord - it was obvious that we were an inconvenience - told we only had 15 mins to order and that they were closing the kitchen. What should have been a great birthday celebration, turned into an embarrassing low key event as we waited for our meals to come out - individually (20 mins between first and last served). We didn’t stay for the band - just felt like we had overstayed our welcome. Very disappointing.