The Cow in South Derbyshire

We knew we were into a good thing when you walk in and it’s so warm and inviting. The food was fantastic - would highly recommend the pork belly (it was truly melt in the mouth). My family love seafood so the menu was perfect for them. Even though I’m not a big fish fan, there were non-fish options and I really enjoyed. Our waiter was exceptional, the service all round was excellent. We took our 16month old and everyone was very accommodating. We had a lovely time.

My partner and I have had the pleasure of dining at The Cow twice in the past couple of weeks – once for a delightful Saturday lunch and the following week for a scrumptious Sunday lunch. On our visits, we were met with exceptional service by Paul and his team and a culinary experience that truly delighted our taste buds. I opted for the Pork with Teriyaki sauce, which was not only fresh but packed with flavour, while my partner enjoyed the flavourful Fish Pie. The following week, we savoured the perfectly cooked Roast Beef alongside deliciously prepared vegetables. And let's not forget about the desserts – they were simply scrumptious! The Cow has truly impressed us with their consistently delicious offerings, and we look forward to returning for more memorable dining experiences.

We ate in the Orangery and just managed to fit in three courses. Menu was very heavy on fish, but there were other choices. Food quality was excellent throughout, lovely atmosphere and the staff and service couldn’t be faulted. Definitely a place to return to. The only issue we had was the quality of the roads getting there, which were poor to dreadful on the route we took.

The Cow is a real hidden gem. The Pub is full of country charm and warmth. With wood burning dotted around, the atmosphere is friendly and informal. The food at The Cow is excellent. A great range of traditional dishes, as well as a seafood specials board with something for everyone. The wine list is is a very good range of options to suit most tastes and to pair with food. I must commend the staff, who were so friendly and helpful. Attentive, but not intrusive. We really appreciated the effort they put in to accommodate our needs. Our room was well maintained and clean, with a very comfortable bed and an ensuite to rival a 5 star hotel. The decor was in keeping with the atmosphere of the pub. Overall, this is a great place for a special occasion, or as a treat to just get away and enjoy some quality time. We will certainly be coming back and I have no hesitation in recommending The Cow to anyone.

Me and my partner visited for a date night. We are big fans of The Horseshoes and Bluebell. It was our first time visiting The Cow. We loved it! The food, atmosphere and service all perfect. Jenny and the rest of the team were brilliant and made sure we were well looked after. We'll definitely be going back.

Fantastic, superb food, great service - very easy thank you. Our customers staying at the hotel loved it all from the rooms to breakfast. 100% recommend.

What a fantastic evening we had at the The Cow on Saturday celebrating a family birthday! It must have been challenging catering for such a large group, however the food was really excellent. The service we received was the best we've ever had. Staff were super friendly and helpful and attention to detail was second to none. We could not fault a thing! We will definitely be returning. A really special evening - Many thanks.

Absolutely amazing experience at The Cow from the moment we walked in; the staff were friendly and incredibly helpful, lovely atmosphere and the food was amazing. We went as a family so had a mix of dishes meat/fish and everything was superb. I would highly recommend 'The Cow' and will be returning myself to sample other delights that they have on their seasonal menus.

One of the best places we've every stayed. Attention to detail with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere; a combination that's difficult to achieve, appears to be effortless here. Nothing was too much trouble, for the staff, who were genuinely friendly. We stayed with a dog (a puppy in fact) and had a large, beautiful room with access to a little terrace - perfect for late night and early morning escapes for the pup. Food was exceptional quality without being fussy. The wine and drinks selection was varied and of equally good quality. We loved sitting in the cosy bar, next to the log fire, for dinner. While the restaurant is light and airy. The setting, in a little hamlet on the edge of the Derbyshire Dales, could have been a million miles from anywhere. In fact, a short drive away is Ashbourne and Derby with their various entertainments. Would love to stay again.

The Cow is a lovely old ‘pub’ with loads of character. We went for Sunday lunch and both the food and service were amazing. Will definitely be back.

Came here for a birthday dinner with my partner after not visiting for a few years. We were pleasantly surprised with how it has changed - the food was superb with a wide selection, also came beautifully presented. Service was perfect and very friendly - just two FOH staff working really hard but still smiling! Really enjoyed the festive touches to the menu as well and the decor of the restaurant is cosy and welcoming. A wonderful experience!

Nice atmosphere good service excellent food, we will definitely return ,the specials on the board for fish are a good choice. Also been for breakfast ,well worth a visit .

A Lovely experience staying here. Traditional setting in a quiet village in the countryside. the ground floor room was very impressive. A big modern bathroom with large bath and 55" tv. fancy teas and coffees. Double doors leading to a private patio and shared courtyard was very nice. Restaurant and pub side was amazing. Fresh seafood based menu with daily specials and a great selection of draught beers and nice wines. The service was second to none and the food was excellent. It was all cooked fresh by a team of talented chefs and kitchen staff creating many home cooked tasty and vibrant dishes. Not to mention the awesome desserts .The breakfast was just as good as the evening meal too. I was very impressed by the cow experience and highy reccommend staying here to others.

The food was lovely. We had a very nice soup lunch and excellent dinner. Rooms lovely too and breakfast good. Would recommend. Only problem was table service. Left with dirty cereal dishes and then plates etc for duration of breakfast. Will definately be back

Service 5 star, ambience 5 star, food 5 star. Will definitely be returning. Steak was cooked to perfection. The fish was so light. The dessert was the best cheekecake ever!

Sadly very disappointed. On arrival our table was squashed directly behind a table of 4 so I ask if possible to move, this seemed very inconvenient but they did it I also ordered drinks at the bar while the cutlery was being moved over which they didn't seem to like either. We sat and ordered starters and mains. I had to get up twice for drinks and ask for a wine menu. Starters were OK I suppose, mains were nice enough and the wine was too. As we ordered dessert we were told both choices were no longer available,surely this should of been told when we initially ordered. Overall food nice enough but no service not even check back on meals. The place wasn't busy at all.We chose not to pay the service charge and let the lady know why,she smiled and said sorry ! Not in a hurry to return.

Extremely disappointed. Grossly overpriced Cannot believe this was presented by a chef. Have been before and wasn’t impressed. Gave them a second chance. Never again.

We were recently camping in Alton in our caravan and decided to go out for breakfast. Having searched for nearby venues we went to The Cow on the Monday but on arrival found they were full for breakfast. However the manager was great and found us a table followed by a marvellous breakfast. All the food was cooked perfectly and staff very helpful and friendly. Having eaten elsewhere during the week it was by far the best meal we eat. I would like to thank the manager for fitting us in

First visit - for a Sunday lunch with friends. Lovely atmosphere, keen staff, nice pace, pleasant surroundings. The food was excellent and well presented. Would have appreciated a couple of further choices on the menu. Recommended.

One of the best breakfasts I’ve experienced. Everything perfectly cooked and tasty. Excellent friendly service. A thoroughly enjoyable experience. Will be back to try the afternoon sea (sic) and dinner. Can’t wait…

We came here in January and had a fabulous stay - really enjoyed it and recommended it to all and sundry. This time, unfortunately, it fell well short of the mark. We stayed overnight. The room was lovely (although REALLY hot - we had to...

Stayed as part of a business meeting having dinner, then bed and breakfast. Everything about The Cow is spot on. The rooms were beautifully decorated with a great bathroom with powerful and hot shower, and really comfy bed..only gripe was the industrial fan coming on...

A wonderful menu with a range of fish and seafood cooked to perfection. Friendly, welcoming staff and a great atmosphere.

We visited with our friends and had the most beautiful Meal in The Cow , the food was amazing , the staff lovely and friendly and the most delightful setting on the village green , we will definitely visit again

I hadn’t been to The Cow for a couple of years. My friend chose it as a half way place for us to meet for a catch up over dinner. Service was so good from start to finish. A lovely warm welcome, which is always...

A lovely pub with very good menu and excellent food. The staff were very helpful and the food, which was very fresh fish, was terrific. Will be back soon.

Myself and husband along with friends arrived today without booking just for drinks.Our friend needed to eat to take medicine and Paul and his team went the extra mile to accommodate us and welcomed us all the Linch was delicious and we would like to...

Came for breakfast. Sat in a lovely room with the doors open- weather beautiful outside. Welcomed by the most charming member of staff - Henry. He could not have done more to make our breakfast here any better. He was attentive and polite. We felt...

First time, what a wonderfull place, lovely meal, lovely staff, mentioned when I booked it was a ruby anniversary treat, at the end we were presented with a lovely gesture, thanks for making our visit more special

We had a delicious Sunday roast here! In fact, one of the best we have ever had. Food was delicious, beautifully presented and a generous portion. Service was very friendly and attentive - our little dog was made to feel just as welcome as we...

Absolutely fantastic. We had Sunday lunch 23rd April & it was one of the best Sunday lunches I'd ever had & I've dined in many pubs/restaurants. Special thanks to Emma and all the other staff who made our visits to The Cow such a fabulous...

My wife mentioned to your lovely waitress that it was our anniversary, and we were given a dessert platter with "Happy anniversary" written in raspberry sauce. Thanks to all for a perfect evening

"First time visit! We had a superb evening in the private dining area for my partner’s 60th with 13 people. The menu was excellent and The Cow’s greeting, service, presentation and professionalism were outstanding. And I’ve eaten and had events in a lot of places....

Lovely food, lovely pub, lovely staff, just loved it, thank you. Also, thank you for taking my partners nut allergy seriously, it’s not as common as you’d expect and really allows us to enjoy our meal without having that worry. We will be back soon.

"A very relaxed atmosphere. Staff seemed happy and were friendly hosts. Super food and the pub has lovely rural decor and features."

Thoroughly loved our stay at ‘The Cow’. The room was beautiful, of high standard and really clean. The food was to die for and the staff so welcoming and nothing was too much trouble. Would highly recommend this lovely place and we would definitely go...

Wow this was our first time here ,and it was sooo good .Amazing food great atmosphere and the staff , well the best ever customer service.Everyone was so happy, such a great vibe loved every minute of our visit will definitely be back.

A lovely warm friendly and luxurious place to stay and the food is simply excellent. The fish specials were delicious and the morning breakfast is probably the best breakfast we’ve had. It’s dog friendly and a great location for walks and to just relax.

The booking was very smooth with Emma . Our dog friendly room was stunning , with beautiful interiors, by their in house interior designer who we were fortunate to meet ! Our evening meal was truly outstanding. I had pigeon to start and fish of...

Amazing food, lovely restaurant and great service. We managed to book a table at the Cow for Sunday lunch and have to say it’s one of best Sunday Lunches we have eaten out !! The food is of the highest standard and expertly cooked, it...

Our friends treated us to lunch at the Cow and we had an amazing meal. The staff were so welcoming and friendly as well as very efficient and the food was top notch. I am a chef myself and can be a bit choosy but...

With two regular visitors to Cornwall, this was going to be a tough test. Passed with flying colours! The fish from the specials board was terrific, menu items were also superb. Atmosphere was great, as was the service. Admirable care was taken with our gluten...

We prebooked lunch for a party of 6 and toddler.Unfortunately 2 of our group could not make it..The staff were very understanding and rearranged the tables without any drama. All 4 of us had a fish dish from the specials menu.We were tempted by the...

Warm and cosy traditional put. We visited initially on a very quiet Tuesday evening and although there were only 5 of us for a birthday, we got the full choice of the menu. It was so lovely and cosy in the pub and the service...

Mothers Day dinner for two - Food was tasty and well-presented but some portions were small and some dishes were massively over-priced. I had the roast beef Sunday dinner, on the usual Sunday menu it's £24 for two courses but on mother's day the mains...

"What can I say but everything was first class. The bedrooms are without fault. The food is some of the best we have ever had in a pub and all of the staff are just wonderful (friendly and very professional). Well done all around. We...

What a fantastic find The Cow was for us. Our party of four stayed in two rooms for the night which included breakfast. We also had booked an evening meal for 8PM The rooms were spacious, fabulously decorated for our taste, clean and very well...

Lovely food a good eye for detail and very fresh produce polite helpful staff and a good choice on the menu

Beautiful food, great service, lovely relaxed atmosphere. Something for everyone on the menu. Would recommend to all.

As always, a delicious dinner, great service and a lovey atmosphere. It’s our favourite place to eat. The menu changes regularly and caters for fish lovers but there are delicious options for those who don’t eat fish. The fish pie is the best I’ve ever...

What a wonderful place! "A lovely atmosphere and setting with very attentive staff and delicious food; nothing was too much trouble. The sunday lunch - hubby had roast beef and I had the nut roast - was delicious. Next visit will be to try the...

Surprisingly good restaurant in a gorgeous pub with rooms. We stayed overnight and had some amazing fish. The chef is Cornish and ships in fresh fish daily. I had the river trout which was stunning, delicately cooked and wonderfully fresh. We will definitely stay again!

We enjoyed a good full English breakfast here. All ingredients were of quality and well cooked. Service was friendly. The pub itself is nicely furnished and cozy. Minor niggles: tiny portion of beans, no hash browns (I asked, but despite there being "Polish hash browns"...

The Cow is everything you would want for a winter’s get away. Snug fires, dog friendly, wonderful food and a great team. The bedroom was lovely. Exceptionally comfy very large bed. Nice lighting. Malton Brown toiletries. So glad we booked this.

Been here today for a meal with my wife The staff are very warm and friendly The food offering was excellent and the quality was superb. It is nice to have a menu that is different from every other pub and left very satisfied Well...

“Beautiful hotel and restaurant. Menu was varied and delicious. Friendly and accommodating staff. Perfect stay

Sunday lunch was simply beautiful. The atmosphere was lovely and the staff were very helpful. I will definitely be returning.

If you don't already know of this lovely little place, I recommend booking a table. Great food, service and atmosphere. They clearly specialise in quality sourced fish, cooked with love. If your not a fish person, like one in our gang, the steak is great...

We had a very enjoyable evening at the Cow , the food was delicious and the service was great. It was very cosy and had a friendly atmosphere. I would definitely recommend it.

“Service start to finish was impeccable, The food was amazing, we had the Plaice and Pollock, absolutely delicious. Highly recommended . We will drop back in next time we come up from London. What a great find this pub was !!”

First time to The Cow for a long time and it will now become a regular for us. The food was delicious, from the popcorn cockles to the meaty seabass (yes meaty seabass!! It was the thickest freshest tastiest piece of seabass I’ve ever had!)...

Visited for dinner with family on a Thursday. We were last here 18 months ago and we were blown away by our experience this time. From the moment we walked in we immediately felt at home. Warm fires and an even warmer welcome from the...

Lovely first visit last weekend, very impressed by the food, atmosphere and service! Looking forward to returning soon.

Went there for Sunday lunch with family and really couldn’t fault it! From the greeting to the food and the service everything was spot on, it was so we went back the following week and was just as good

“Good atmosphere service and environment. Super food and my beer was very good too. We will definitely return”

Gorgeous , ground floor, dog friendly room. Fabulous meal, food was outstanding. Friendly efficient staff. We so enjoyed it. We will definitely return.

We were really looking forward to eating here. The crab starter arrived in a batter. This wasn’t mentioned on the menu and the slaw coleslaw wasn’t Asian , just regular. Really disappointing. The main course fish dish from the specials board also sounded quite exciting,...

Super food. Lovely pub and relaxed atmosphere. Good service. I ordered gurnard which was served as a substantial meal with the side. Very tasty.

Food was good but the table was next to the fire, too hot, not comfortable at all, didn’t really know why the fire was on, it was 16° outside. Service was attentive and friendly, good choice of wines.

Very good all round - excellent rooms with comfortable beds - the staff are lovely (bar service could be improved as it is a bit slow) The food is excellent - the fish dishes are notably good - very fresh fish that apparently comes as...

We stayed for three nights and it was very enjoyable and plenty of room for our small dog. We cannot fault the food which was exceptional as were the friendly staff. We had room 6 which was big with a very comfortable bed but in...

Great Food really tasty. Service was a bit slow and our meals got delivered to the wrong table. Reasonable pricing too. Nice little pub tho would go again.

Came for an over night stay - bit if a romantic treat for ourselves. Cannot fault anything. We were in room 1. Room luxurious and bed so comfy. We had a little terrace where we sat out to have a cup of tea. Plenty of...

Booked Sunday lunch for all the family for mums birthday 14 of us in total service was faultless nothing was too much trouble brought the cake out for us once finished dinner was lovely would recommend the Thai chicken balls for starter Thank you for...

Came here for a Sunday roast. Instagram pictures very well done, but they don’t match the reality. Beef arrived quite cold and the Yorkshire puddings were very cold. The vegetables were hard and possibly the worst I’ve had in a restaurant. The roast potatoes seemed...

Great Stay and a Great Meal. Stayed for a night on a business trip. The room was brilliant and really well furnished. The bar is really cosy and the food was amazing. Great fish menu - we all went for the Ling and it was...

Had a great Sunday lunch at this charming pub . Not large menu but lovely selection and the food was well presented and delicious . The staff were a delight The restaurant manager was very efficient . The food delivered promptly in a busy restaurant...

Where do I start, the pub is in a beautiful quite village on the edge of a green where the sun goes down on the front of the pub so it’s nice and warm in the evening if sunny outside. The two rooms we had...

After a few initial communication issues which were immediately sorted out by the Manager as soon as he knew about them, we had an amazing two- night stay at The Cow, Dalbury Lees, Ashbourne. We were a large family party of 20 people in Ashbourne...

We stayed at The Cow overnight to celebrate our Anniversary. What a gem of a place ! Next to a village green in the small hamlet of Dalbury Lees in the heart of Derbyshire . The accommodation was roomy and stylishly presented. The Fresh Daily...

A real gem. Wonderful food. Luxurious hotel rooms. Really lovely. Staff were excellent and very welcoming of us and accommodating of our dog. A fabulous experience. Highly recommended.

We had a brilliant meal at the Cow. There was a good selection of fresh fish on the specials board, which differentiates from the other pubs in the area. The food was cooked perfectly!

on a recent trip which took us to the Dale's on holiday with the family we got recommended to go to the catch at the cow and what a recommendation. We like our sea food and this was exceptional, during a 2 week trip to...

They keep using my email address for reservations. I keep telling them I did not make the reservations, it must be someone else. Very annoying to be completely ignored.

My husband and I stayed for 6 nights (room 3), last week, June 2022. This was our first visit to the Peak District and what a little gem we found! The food, especially the breakfasts, were just superb! We received a hugely warm greeting when...

Met my son after work for a drink and conversation, when he arrived staff didn't greet him and he waited several minutes to be asked what he would like to drink as bar staff was more concerned with lighting candles. When we arrived FOH manager...

Perfect stopover Scotland to London. Delightful garden room with spacious shower / bathroom. Dinner & breakfast have been excellent. Beautiful village green outside. Ample parking. Fun decor & charming staff. Will definitely return. Highly recommend

We only stayed for 1 night but was very sorry to leave this gorgeous place. We chose to stay here on our way to Carlisle with a stop off to see family we hadn’t seen for 3 years. We had room four - lovely big...

My wife and I spent 3 nights at the Cow. Delicious food, accommodation and service all first class. In fact the service from all the team there was exceptional. My wife left her mobile phone there and they posted it to us first class and...

Came for Sunday lunch. Was very quiet when we arrived and we were seen to promptly. One of the best Sunday Roasts I’ve eaten out for a long time. The pork belly was delicious!

The bags were packed, the dog was ready and then I got a positive Covid Test result. After months of looking forward to a birthday weekend at The Cow, it wasn't meant to be. We contacted The Cow and they were very helpful and cancelled...

We stayed on a Wednesday night in room 6, we had dinner and breakfast. £150 B&B. The good: Lovely old fashioned country pub with lovely atmosphere and some Cow theming, not far from Ashbourne and Derby. Generally very good staff and service, especially at breakfast...

My wife and I have just spent a lovely chilled day & night at the cow. Warm friendly service, fantastic food & a great choice of beers and wine. The rooms are of a very high standard and if you book the special Sunday rate,...

If you're looking for a quaint and quiet place to stay then this is it. The room was well equipped and the bed was very comfortable along with a stylish ensuite. Even with being above the bar we hardly heard anything and slept very well...

Absolutely stunning meal, superb quality and amazing staff. Food was of an incredibly high standard. Can’t really say any more……

This is a gem of a place. The hotel rooms are excellent no complaints at all very comfortable with everything expected in the room including coffee machine and and excellent bathroom. Bed was a super king size and very comfortable. We ate in the restaurant which was amazing the food was first class and the atmosphere was brilliant. This reminded me of the Hand and Flowers and should be top of your list if you are looking for a great night away with brilliant food.

We have just had a couple of lovely nights at the Cow. The staff, service and accommodation were all exceptional. We were made to feel very welcome from start to finish including our little dog Beau. The food was amazing too from breakfast to the evening meals which included an amazing selection of fresh fish. We would definitely recommend this pub to anyone who enjoys a special weekend away, a big Thankyou to all the team.

Fantastic stay in room one. The food is outstanding, i noted there was a very good fish specials board so had Mackerel to start and John Dory for main and my wife had ham hock terrine and stilton and broccoli risotto all of which were very good. One tip, make sure you turn off the towel rail before you go to sleep as you will wake up very warm in the night.

Really nice interior , dog friendly& we were all well looked after. Food was delicious . Had the Prawn Cocktail & Roast Beef ..Toilets are super too , smelt lovely of the Molten Brown hand products . Car Park is quite small but we did get a space .. Felt very relaxed , would of been very happy sat by the cosy fire all night .. Nice seating outside for when the warmer weather is here.

We visited The Cow 2 years ago and it was wonderful then. It has had a change of management since and they have maintained if not improved upon that quality.The room we had was warm, cosy, clean and comfortable and the bed was amazing. The staff were helpful and very professional. The place has a lovely feel to it.The food was simply excellent. The Cow has taken on a more fish-centric menu which initially put me off. However, the fish was the best I've ever eaten and all 3 courses were spectacular and at a very reasonable price.I can recommend The Cow as a place to stay whole-heartedly. But you can also add it to your list of restaurants to try and make a special trip. You won't regret it.A big thank you to the management and staff at The Cow for being able to provide such a good customer experience during such a hard time for the industry. We really enjoyed staying with you.