The Pack Horse in High Peak

Wonderful pub, cosy, friendly welcome and delicious food....we will be back 😄

Lovely pub and a cracking roast!

The best Sunday dinner I've ever eaten. I had the pork chop, which was thick and perfectly cooked. My partner had the lamb and loved it. Everything on the plates was beautiful. Staff were super friendly and very attentive.

This place is my Chagrin, praised by our kids, but such a disappointment when it mattered. Don't believe the hospitable charm that attracts you as you approach and enter. Treat the claims and accolades with a big pinch of salt. This place will leave with a bittersweet experience.

We absolutely adore this pub and have been many times with our dogs after a long walk in the neighbouring hills. The food and service is fantastic. However, at the last visit, for my 30th birthday, the sous chef was incredibly rude to us about our dogs. My experience of this venue has always been a dog friendly one, so this came as a bit of a surprise. But in any case, some politeness on the subject would have not gone amiss. I’m afraid to say it put a bit of a dampener on our celebrations and tainted our view of this establishment.

Nothing pretentious about either the food or service, but both are high quality. A place where quality of ingredients is paramount

Dear oh dear oh dear ..... took friends having recommended it. What a mistake. A once great 'pub with food' has lost it's way chasing a Michelin star .... for whose benefit? Certainly not the punter's. Having visited regularly since it first opened and always enjoyed the food and atmosphere it's now inflexible, a poncy menu choice, deadly dull and too expensive. Requested they drop the mash on the pie dish, not a fan, and replace with chips .... 'I don't think we can do that'. Why not, does it upset the Chef's sensibilities? They didn't. Had to order chips as well. Friend asked for a soft-boiled egg, for some protein, to add to his Salad .... 'I don't think we have any eggs, if it's not on the menu we won't have any in stock'. They didn't have an egg they could soft-boil. A Michelin star chasing restaurant that didn't have an egg on the premises. Made it seem like the dishes were poly-bagged and flown in .... couldn't be adapted. 'Open-kitchen' doesn't work .... we had 90 minutes watching 4 staff looking miserable. Totally inappropriate music for a restaurant .... we weren't in River Isalnd. Dessert .... 'Honey cake, poached plums, crème fraiche sorbet' .... looked like it was out of a box from Waitrose's dessert section. 'Cake' was hard, assumed it would ooze honey .... couldn't finish it, indigestible. Cheapest wine .... £30 Most expensive .... £190 Very, very disappointing. Walk in the area regularly and it's always been a post-walk treat .... taken friends and family many times, Christmas and New Years Day visits too. Never again.

Good place for a post walk beverage, and I felt a lot of positivity for my Palestine pin 🇵🇸

Fantastic food and service exceptional.

Visited the pack horse last night with my partner as a birthday treat. My partner had been wanting to visit for some time as he had heard rave reviews. Unfortunately just before the main course I began to feel unwell and on the way to the toilet fainted. Memory is a bit hazy from there on but from what I do remember and from what my partner tells me the front of house staff were excellent and extremely friendly and kind and went out their way to make sure I was ok. The food that we did have was also beautiful. I was unable to eat my main and this was knocked off the bill without us asking. Extremely disappointed that we didn't have the evening as planned and hopefully we will be back soon as my partner is devastated he didn't get to try the custard tart. Thank you again everyone at the pack horse and when we return I promise to not cause as much disruption

We came here for lunch after hearing rave reviews and, sadly, the experience didn't anywhere meet expectations. When we arrived there was us and one other table. We ordered drinks and the main meals - chicken and bacon pie with garlic mash and cabbage x 2. This is when things started to go downhill. I asked to change the cabbage - no, they don't do that, I had to order another side, which were £5 upwards (for carrots). Then the food prep began - in an open kitchen we could see into. In general I've no issue with this style, I actually like it. There were three chefs, one of whom spent time on his phone, chewing a fingertip, before going back to work. Lovely. The front of house staff kept coming over for a chat, including when the chefs were plating up. One stood over our food, talking and wiped her nose on her sleeve. The food, when it arrived was reasonable enough (except I found two bits of chicken gristle). It was consisted of pie, some cabbage and scoop of mash with a thin gravy. Once finished we waited for our plates to be cleared as we were going to have dessert but changed our minds when no-one turned up. So we went to the bar to pay. By this time (1pm on a Friday) only four table were occupied, quite a surprise given how supposedly popular it is - or maybe not given our experience. The bill was £55, for two coffees, two mains and a bottle if water. It wasn't the overall cost but the value for what we had simply wasn't there. Perhaps this is why many of the recent reviews are relatively poor? What a disappointment.

Everything is simply exceptional, from the staff and drinks to dessert! Highly recommend, we will be coming back

Didn't eat here, but other people's dishes looked lovely. There's a good selection of beers and wines, and the pub is dog friendly!

This was a disappointing experience. The environment just doesn’t quite work. The open kitchen is far too close to the small restaurant area and the tables don’t feel private at all. We were very much seated at a table in the middle of a corridor for the staff walking from the bar to the kitchen, despite booking several weeks in advance. The menu is limited, particularly for vegetarians and I don’t think there even was a vegan option which in the current climate is just not acceptable. ‘Vegetable tart’ turned out to be a glorified omelette with roast trimmings. The food was average at best. Some of the younger bar staff were friendly and considerate but the older blonde woman who seemed like she was in charge was very cold and abrasive and you really got the feel that she wanted you in and out as quickly as possible. We were there less than an hour. There is so much competition for food in this area and quite frankly I’d rather spend my money elsewhere.

Stunning food,had the 3 course set menu all the food was amazing. I recommend the cote de boeuf it was cooked beautifullly and melted in the mouth. The Manchester egg is a must too, we couldn't not try one. Very attentive staff, the kitchen was the smoothest running kitchen I've ever witnessed . And Lola the dog is just ♥️

Our first time for my wife’s birthday lunch- warm welcome, prompt friendly service (signed bday greeting from staff nice touch) and amazing food- best roast beef I’ve had dining out in a long time , price reflects the high standard of cooking. Will be back!

Fabulous food and great atmosphere. Very attentive staff and the very cute Lola. Kitchen was immaculate. We had the 3 course set menu it was stunning. I recommend the cote de boeuf ,such melt in the mouth deliciousness it was perfect. The best beef I have ever had. Definitely have a Manchester egg they're so good. Amuse bouche was homemade bread and gazpacho ,I had chicken confit terrine on brioche as starter and dessert was salted caramel tart with almond delice. My partner had crab starter and creme brulee dessert. The pack horse deserves their place in the Michelin guide and on the gastropub top 50. Will be visiting again

Lovely meal tonight staff were very accommodating and the food was amazing. Thanks.

Lovely food in a very pleasant part of the Peaks. I'd certainly go back when in the area. The hosts deserve to succeed.

An excellent meal, well worth the price. You pay for what you get and in this case it was superb. Attention to detail great, flavours sublime. Service excellent too, very friendly and helpful. My allergies dealt with beforehand and a special typed menu for me!

A great pub in heart of the village.

Fabulous expensive food and drinks. £3.60 for a glass of diet coke

Sunday roast is a robbery at 28 quid. Unbelievable.. was an insult to be served that fit that price. Bar staff should at least wear balaclaveas when robbing me

Excellent roast dinner with a good range of wines and beers. Staff were very welcoming and the overall experience was excellent. Service was a little slow but this was likely due to how busy it was.

Have eaten here on about half a dozen occasions and it never fails to disappoint. The food is always cooked to perfection, the staff are very attentive and knowledgeable and the price for this whole experience is very good value. Would recommend this place to anyone

So, with the pub being Michelin recommended, expectations were high and the food almost lived up to those expectations. The meat was excellent and perfectly cooked, heritage vegetables and Yorkshire puddings likewise. Roast potatoes a little tough, though. Gravy superb. Dessert a little disappointing, good but not excellent. Overall, very good indeed.

Friendly service, delicious food and relaxed atmosphere. Visited after a hike up Mam Tor, 100% worth the slight detour.

We had a lovely evening. Great service and FANTASTIC food. Thanks for my Birthday card and delicious treat too! Will definitely be coming back soon :)

Best onion rings I’ve ever had in my life (they were pickled).

We had a lovely lunch here and great drinks selection

The Pack Horse is a rare gem that seems to balance being BOTH a terrific pub full of locals and tourists, AND a Fine Dining Experience without any hint of pretention. Pretty much everything about our experience was great. It is quite expensive, but IMHO it's worth it. We had a cocktail each - a cocoa espresso martini and a signature old-fashioned. Both were outstanding with surprising flavours that really worked. The 3 course menu is £52pp (August 2024) and definitely worth it, in that it includes a pre-starter (we had a fantastic gazpacho with home-baked bread and herby butter). The wine list is quite pricey but there are excellent choices by the glass. Service was great. This is not just a(nother) gastro pub.

Booked for 9 people and had amazing service and food. Sorry if we were noisey. But it was also a busy night with other customers. Highly recommend and would return.

The first time visiting the pack horse, the staff were very friendly. lola, the pub dog, was cheeky asking for treats that were on the bar. It was very funny to watch the food was not cheap but worth the money it was delicious and well worth a vist if you're in the peak district

Awful 962903975 Why this place is mentioned in the Michelin guide is beyond me. Extortionate prices for average food in average surroundings. £5 for 8 chips, £6 for 6 carrots, £10 for a glass of house white. It’s a pub not a fine dining restaurant.

Great service and outstanding food, highly recommended!!

Just had a drink, not serving food as after 2.30

We went on a Saturday for lunch, very average food for what they were charging, some of the staff seemed disinterested, we ordered a 2nd round of drinks and they never came, and the venue was cold where we were seated at the back.. We were in and out in just under an hour and £80 lighter for the experience. Personally speaking we would not go back. Perhaps we chose an off day to visit because most of the reviews I’ve read are very positive.

Sunday roast to die for, excellent service, team and quality. Only trouble is you want it to start over again…. The gravy was the best we’ve ever tasted in a restaurant. Fantastic. Can’t wait to go again. Have a cheeky Manchester Egg as well….

Just had a wonderful meal at The Pack Horse. Tasty, refined, but unpretentious food. Everything was delicious and fresh, made with high quality ingredients. Sardine starter was a highlight, as was the hake main. But the blue cheese leeks were the ⭐ of the show. Service was wonderful. A lovely treat for those passing through the Peaks 👏🏼🥾

Absolutely amazing food and wonderful service. Highly recommended!

Nice atmospheric pub in the centre of Hayfield with a decent selection of beer all served with a friendly demeanour. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The only gripe I have is the usual post-COVID limited opening hours.

Quite simply wow. The food and the level of service was just amazing. We turned up a family of 4 and a dog. Welcomed and given just the perfect level of service by Gabby (Sorry it’s taken me a while to write the review). Her service was just second to none and really should be used in a training video it was that good. The food is amazing so fresh and vibrant. We had pork and hazelnut terrine, bread and (lovage) butter, homemade chips and green beans with herb butter. In short recommend and we would definitely go again if in the area and we plan to! Only thing we regret is not borrowing a blanket 😉.

We had planned, based on reviews, to have our last lunch in the Peak District at The Pack Horse, Hayfield. We changed to dinner when we saw they had a one-off 6 course tasting menu that evening. We chose to have the £35 per person 'wine flight' to accompany the £65 tasting menu. We looked at Facebook, Insta and the pub's website for more info about the menu. Facebook and Instagram didn't mention the tasting menu but did inform us there was a focus this week on English wines so we assumed the menu would be small tasty dishes focussing on local produce, accompanied by at least some English wines. The menu had an Italian theme and was poorly designed. Overalll the meal did not 'flow' and lacked cohesion, balance and complexity of flavour. The savoury dishes were heavy in the salty, fried food area with no fresh salad or vege and the only meat being pork meatballs. The chocolate salami at the end was not palatable. The portions were large but we would have preferred quality rather than quantity. I know it's a pub but expected more of a pub that was recently rated 19th in a list of the 20 best gastropubs in England . The night turned out to be great fun due to chatting to a lovely couple at the next table but overall a disappointing food experience.

Great quality food and service. Nice setting in a lovely village. Starter choice was a bit limited for me hence the star drop from 5 to 4.

The standard of food here is a cut above what you would expect from any ordinary pub. What you will receive here will rival some fine dining restaurants in London (albeit within reason!). The carefully crafted menu utilises quality ingredients, cooked to precision in a kitchen that patrons have a clear view of. The fish dishes were fantastic (despite distance from the sea!), while the ham presse deserves an honourable mention. The staff are attentive without being overbearing, while the atmosphere is quiet but homely. And who doesn't love Lola the dog?

Stunning! Great food, great wine, wonderful staff. I know it’s quite expensive but it really is worth it. You could have a lovely lunch at an affordable price but why not treat yourself and have 3 courses and matching wine? This is one of my all time favourite places to eat.

What a fabulous pub! Fine Gastro dining or a warm welcome for a damp walker wanting a pint and a bag of crisps! Just lovely, and can't wait to return to sample the menu!

Amazing food, friendly service, beautiful pub.

Nice pub, good beer selection Didn't eat there , but food looked good

If eating in the presence of dogs is your thing, this place is perfect. It appears that non-dog owners avoid this place. I saw one table of foreigners who were dogless. Won't be returning any time soon.

Lovely food slightly expensive but reasonable value as it is quality.

The pack horse has a place in the Michelin guide, so we were hoping for an excellent meal to celebrate my mum’s 80th birthday. They certainly did not disappoint! We arrived early so had a drink in the bar area (the high peak Old Fashioned was superb) the bar and beer garden are relaxed and welcoming, with a good mix of clientele. There’s folks in for a stop over on a bike ride or a walk, but there’s also others dressed up for a special meal. There’s no stuffy atmosphere and no matter what you’re there for, you’ll be made welcome. The staff are great, friendly and welcoming but also well trained and knowledgeable, able to answer detailed questions about the food and a chap who really knew his wind and helped us pick the perfect bottle to accompany the food. On the night we visited, they had an issue with a potential gas leak. They had to evacuate the restaurant for a short time while the gas engineer confirmed it was safe. On the busiest night of the week, it mushed have been a nightmare for the owners but they kept us all informed and we were able to wait outside with our drinks in the evening sunshine. The staff remained professional and kept us informed and within an hour we were reseated and our first course on its way. The menu is compact but everything was cooked to perfection. I had the isle of white tomatoes, how they managed to make what could have been a simple dish into something that had such depth and complexity of flavour speaks to the skill of the kitchen staff. For main I had the lamb, which was cooked perfectly (it was nice and pink in the middle as it should be, for those who wrote the negative reviews about it not being cooked, if that’s your view, then maybe a KFC is more your thing) others in my party had the stone bass which was excellent, as was every one of the dishes served. One person had the chicken Kyiv which they said was just a little bit dry, but tasted great. The desserts were fantastic too. I had the Barron Bigod cheese which was absolutely sublime, especially with a nice glass of port. Despite the challenges of a potential gas leak, the Pack Horse delivered an amazing evening of great food, great drink and fantastic service. An absolute gem of an experience which ranks in the top five dining experiences I’ve had (and I really do love my food!)

Wonderful meal. Calm kitchen. Friendly staff. Not forgetting the lovely Lola!

Lovely inside and great to have outside seating. However £7.20 for two small diet cokes in plastic glasses was overpriced. I questioned the girl at the bar and she said "how do you think we feel" We went round the corner to a cafe for lunch and a glass of diet coke was £1.65. l appreciate that costs have risen in pubs but l've never been charged £3.60 for half a diet coke even in London.

Great lunch. Delicious wine Excellent service, staff knew about the dishes & were very helpful. My only slight issue, is I'm fine with dogs in bar area, but not in the dining areas.

What an amazing food experience at PH Hayfield. On entering we were first greeted by Lola the front of house friendly dog before quickly being seated and served the perfect plate of food from a first rate menu. The food was amazing showing great chefing skills and worthxy of earning a place in the Michelin Guide.

Absolutely fantastic experience at The Pack Horse in Hayfield. Absolutely worth the drive to try the food here. Serving staff were very attentive, dishes came out quickly and Hayfield is perfect for a scenic walk before or after your meal. Will be coming back again when I have room for more 🫃🏼

Attentive service,outstanding food. Great experience

Visited for the first time on Friday night, an exceptionally friendly welcome. The staff and locals are great, a proper warm local welcome. But the real highlight is the food, wow, it's in a different league, local produce cooked to the highest levels. I will be returning, and couldn't recommend it highly enough.

Moved to the area 6 months ago & my first experience at The Pack Horse. Very friendly, great atmosphere, lovely attentive staff & a great selection of ales, spirits & wines, also dog friendly. Didn't eat on this occasion but the food looked delicious & was well presented. Highly recommend & will be returning again very soon.

Top quality food cooked to perfection. Would highly recommend.

My first visit here where family and I had agreed to meet up. Had a nice welcome upon arrival and showed to our table which we had reserved in advance. Ordered drinks and food which was all delicious and well presented. Overall we had a lovely time... great service from all we had contact with and very nice food. It did get a little noisy but I guess that is testament to how busy and popular the place is. I will make sure I visit again.

An outstanding pub. Our food was delicious as was the wine. Service ex excellent. Highly recommend.

Beautiful food. Time has obviously been taken on the menu. The food was well presented and delicious. A little more choice for children (on a Sunday) would be nice but it worked out well for us as our veggie child tried something new and loved it!

Excellent, thank you. Deservedly one of the best gastropubs in Derbyshire.

Staff and food were impecable. Recommend to anyone who enjoys great food in a relaxing atmosphere.

Amazing Sunday lunch. Fantastic service from start to finish

Lovely welcoming pub. Lots of seating.

Lovely food and they managed to fit us in without a reservation but normally do need a reservation

Really great experience from start to finish. The welcome was warm, the service was very friendly, smooth and not fussy (as it should be) and the food was very, very good!

The food was good and the staff were friendly, would definitely come here again

Superb atmosphere, phenomenal food. Definitely worth a visit. We will definitely be back.

One of the best dining experiences I have had in the Peak District. Both the food and staff were amazing, I would not hesitate to recommend The Pack Horse

Popped in for a pint after a 10 mile hike. Ok beer selection, friendly enough staff. Not a big enough seating area, primarily caters to diners. Understandable as it's Michelin star standard tbf...

The second time we stayed in Hayfield and it was purposefully because of The Pack Horse. Fantastic gastro pub, brilliant food and drink and wonderfully friendly staff.

Exquisite food, relaxed atmosphere, friendly service.

Decided on a cold January afternoon to try out this well reviewed pub. But sadly after standing at the bar for 5 minutes and being ignored by staff, while they had a lovely conversation with what I think was a wine sales person, we made the decision that our lunch was clearly not going to be had here. There were only 4 other customers in the building, so not the busiest of times either. In the hospitality business, customers' money is vital, alongside good reviews. Please inform your staff that ensuring customers are served is important. Sorry, it is unlikely that we will be back.

We went with a group of 15 for a late Christmas celebration. The staff were excellent and organised. The food was delicious. We will definitely be visiting again.

Had a lovely meal in a pretty the High Peaks village of Hayfield.

An absolutely outstanding experience from start to finish. The food was impeccable with fantastic flavours built delicately and served in good portions. The whole atmosphere of the restaurant was relaxed without being slapdash, which was helped by the service being on point but not pushy. I’d recommend this to anyone even remotely in the area, a true gem. I can’t wait to visit again.

The Pack Horse is a delightful pub set in a beautiful village . Very clean and a credit to the owners .

A decent pint of beer, but expensive food, nevermind the Michelin Star!

Flawless, talented passionate team front and back of house

We dined her for Sunday lunch and we left feeling thoroughly satisfied. Two of us had the lamb, three of us had the Beef….. all of us were extremely pleased with the meal. The wine was also delicious, and the service was top notch too.

We decided to have a Sunday lunch at the Hayfield when we went to Buxton for a Victorian Ball and visited a friend who lives in Stockport. She suggested a few pubs and we decided to go to the Hayfield. It is a very dog friendly pub so my friend was able to take her adorable dog Daisy with us. We had a delicious Sunday Roast and a lovely dessert. The food was beautifully cooked and presented and the pub itself had a very friendly atmosphere.

Get yourselves here immediately! Came here to celebrate a birthday and it's now #1 on my list of favourite dining experiences. It's a really cosy, friendly and atmospheric pub. The staff were attentive and just genuinely really lovely. The food was exceptional and everything blew our minds. Really good list of booze too - we fully dipped our bread with everything, but it doesn't have to be a dear do. We honestly cannot wait to return, we've already told our friends and family!!

Called in after Kinder Scout Hike. Lovely place, busy and cosy. Didn't get food, just relaxed with a pint. Fire was lit, heating was on.

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention & other readers a deeply distressing experience my partner and I had at your restaurant recently. While I commend your team's initial professionalism and understanding when we were running late, I must express my grave concern and disappointment with the way a severe allergic reaction was handled during our dinner. To provide context, I failed to disclose my severe nut allergy during the booking process, an oversight for which I take full responsibility. However, I was alarmed that neither our server nor the kitchen staff inquired about allergies when we placed our order, a standard practice that could have averted the unfortunate events that followed. I ordered the Stone Bass fillet, and upon taking the first bite, I immediately sensed an allergic reaction—my ears itching and throat tightening. Concerned, my boyfriend asked the server to confirm if the dish contained nuts. After a brief check, the server assured us that there were no nuts in the dish, and gave a thumbs up afterwards. Trusting this information, I continued to eat, only for my reaction to intensify. In the midst of my escalating allergic response, we expressed our urgent need to leave and requested the bill. Shockingly, another server insisted on the mandatory 2-course minimum for the set menu, despite our plea that I was unwell. This felt like an inappropriate and callous insistence on a policy rather than a genuine concern for our well-being. I want to emphasize that our complaint is not entirely motivated by financial concerns; we understand and respect restaurant policies. However, it would have been appreciated if we could have just paid for what we ordered. The lack of sensitivity and understanding during a medical emergency is deeply troubling.We both work in healthcare and we would expect a higher level of care and compassion from your establishment. The situation was aggravated by the absence of an allergen sheet, a standard feature in reputable establishments. Instead, the server texted the list of ingredients, which did little to alleviate our concerns and added an unusual element to the already tense situation. I sincerely hope you take this feedback seriously and use it as an opportunity to reevaluate your team's approach to customer care, particularly in instances of allergies. Imagine if this were a life-threatening situation involving your child, I would trust you would agree that compassion should always take precedence over policy. I urge you to consider implementing better training for your staff regarding allergy protocols and emergency situations. Your restaurant's reputation is at stake, and I believe a commitment to improvement will not only salvage customer trust but also contribute to a safer dining environment for all patrons. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I sincerely hope you take the necessary steps to prevent such distressing incidents in the future.

Food is lovely, very reasonable pricing and great service ! Certainly a little gem. We have the Fish & Fizz deal, two mains and a bottle of wine for just over £30. Will be back next time we are passing through. One of our party was gluten free and was well catered for.

Wow!! Absolutely amazing food, excellent service! Dog friendly, get booked in!!

Went for a celebratory meal with our 10yo daughter. They wrote her a card which was signed by the staff which made her feel special. Food and service was amazing. Can't wait to go back!

We love this place for the warm welcome and amazing food.

What can I say ? Absolutely blown away. We have attempted to get in here a couple of times but never been successful. Currently staying in the area, so booked in advance and I cannot explain how glad I am, the food and service were literally anazing. I was worried that they would not meet our expectations, but they exceeded them !! Thank you so much, we will be back very soon, with friends x

Amazing food experience. Lovely environment and staff.

Amazing food and friendly atmosphere. The staff are very pleasant and helpful. Thank you for the extra padding for the high chair. We really enjoyed our meal and will be returning again soon.

Absolutely brilliant food beer and fantastic staff very very friendly 😀

Such a cosy pub with a real family feel. We feel the staff were very attentive and welcoming. They selected an excellent wine to go perfectly with our meal. The food was delicious and seasonal. The pie was a highlight for me and my husband loved the Manchester Egg. We would definitely return.

We couldn't reserve a table online until 8.30pm which was OK, however we did feel abit rushed as obviously the last table.

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant 👏 👍

This restaurant is a must if in the area and worth the journey if not. we eat out in nice places regularly so know when a place is really doing a good job. Service, hospitality, drinks all fabulous and the food has the wow factor you want. lots of gastro pubs claim high standards but this place has it in spades. very very pleased!!. our bill was £230 for x2 including tip and great value for money. a £300 dinner easily in town