The Royal Oak Inn in Staffordshire Moorlands

We went here for lunch after a walk to Thor's Cave. We had no idea what to expect but half expected the usual standard pub fayre that has come from a wholesaler. How wrong we were! We had lasagne and chips. My friend had the veggie version. And it was homemade and probably the best lasagne we have ever eaten. Absolutely gorgeous and so much attention to detail with the salad. Not just a token bit of iceberg with tasteless tomato. Far from it. Gorgeous flavours. My friend had a homemade pudding afterwards which again was delicious. I had coffee which was served in a pretty glass cup which also typifies what this pub got right - as well as the beautiful home made meal - care had been taken with everything including how it was presented. It was all cared for and valued and that's rare these days. The cosy fire and polite, gentle service was also a joy. We stumbled on a gem and we will be back! Thank you to all the staff involved.

Thursday the 24th October, Wes arrived at bank house farm campsite early afternoon. The weather was ok and we walked from the site to Ecton and back, all good. We had no plans for tonight so phone on and had a look at available places. My theory is to spread the money around. The manifold inn is across from the campsite but the must attract lots of passing trade so theory applied let’s see what it’s like off the beaten track. The Royal Oak at Wetton, two miles from the site and in a stunning little village, just set back from the road looked very welcoming. It’s a small place with tables dotted about we ended up next to the open fire. Looks to be a family affair with the lady cooking and the gentleman serving and sorting the bar. Service was good, landlord nice and chatty, a smile, good to see. So seated near the fire we perused the menu. The usual pub fair but purports to be home cooked we’ll see We both ordered lasagne from a menu of burgers, steaks, gamon, pie and scampi. There was a veggie option too. The lasagne came, I’ve never eaten a better pub lasagne and yes it’s definitely home made.All in all I am glad we ventured out. I hope more people follow suit. This meal was far more than just a lasagne it was excellent; and looking at the other punters they were all very happy, empty plates all round. So if you’re out this way give the Royal Oak a try Honest,good, food. You won’t be disappointed l.

This pub serves delicious home-cooked food including plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options in a warm and relaxing atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and there is a good range of ales. We will definitely return when next in the area.

We visited the Royal Oak on 10 October with another couple. Bar staff very welcoming. They prepared ham salad for me, even though it was not on the menu. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals and customer service was fantastic. Definitely will return. 😆

Cosy and cute pub. Staff were attentive and friendly and couldn’t do enough for you. Heartwarming home made pies and the sticky pudding is a must! Thank you!

This is the royal oak pub you're looking for, really better than the other one in the area. All made dishes, including desert, original and well cooked. Friendly staff.

Another superb meal at The Royal Oak! The chicken, ham and leek pie was one of best I’ve had, and the chips were spot on. The scampi were juicy and full of flavour. Super pub with lovely people!

Really tasty home cooked food, lovely atmosphere and all staff were incredibly attentive, friendly and helpful. Would recommend !!

A great pub, all staff very friendly and accommodating for our large family group of 10 with baby and 2 dogs, for Sunday lunch. A good range of beers and a good choice of foods. Many home cooked choices. Highly recommend. A smaller party also ate there for lunch and an evening meals. Well cooked and good portion sizes.

We last visited The Royal Oak about 8 years ago and were driving through the village of Wetton during the week whilst on holiday in Stanshope. My husband went in to book a table for the following evening, he said the man behind the bar was friendly and welcoming. He told us dogs were also welcome inside. When we arrived the barman was very pleasant , he showed as to the table and went to get our drinks while we chose our meal from the menu. My husband asked if it was ok to bring the dog in, he told us it was fine. Other people started to slowly arrive and each one received a warm welcome. Our food arrived, I had the Hotpot chicken, ham & leek pie in a cream sauce with peas & fries in their skins, my husband had the Hotpot Steak & Ale pie in port wine gravy. It arrived piping hot and looked and tasted absolutely delicious, the meat in both was lovely a tender. We then ordered dessert , I chose sticky toffee pudding with ice cream and my husband had chocolate orange pudding with salted caramel sauce and ice cream. Everything on the menu is handmade and it looks and tastes divine. The chef who I believe is the owner came out to ask guests if they were enjoying their meals, he quite obviously is proud of what he does and takes on board any feedback if given but I would find it very unlikely if it was bad. It was a lovely experience, we will definitely be back in our next visit now we have rediscovered The Royal Oak. The dog enjoyed his treat too. Many thanks!

I haven't been in a pub like this for many years. Initially I only went in to ask for directions and was help by a very kind local and also the landlord and landlady. I returned later to book a table for the following evening....

I do not recommend This place as the staff are rude the orders are wrong on a regular basis the chefs attitude is rude and she is unhygienic and she refused to speak to me after my meal as I had been served a raw burger and I found a gray hair in my colslaw also there own dogs are in the kitchen so I wouldn’t recommend this pub I will be speaking to inviromental health and health and safety to discuss this further

Stayed near Wetton for a walking weekend and this was the nearest pub. Friendly, warm and welcoming staff, local ales on tap. We ate here two nights running, and had to book for the Saturday. Food was good quality standard pub fare, reasonably priced, and very tasty. Puddings looked lush, but we were too full after dinner. Will recommend.

Used there car park in the morning chef came to us and was extremely rude, refused to take business from 17 ready to pay people, absolutely diabolical wouldn’t recommend it any day of the week.

Lovely old village pub with a friendly welcome. A menu that caters well for people who just want a snack as well as people wishing to enjoy a full meal. The food we had was hot and tasty, chips in particular were fab. We wouldn't hesitate to come back next time we're in the area.

Top pub with warm and welcoming staff, great beer and a brilliant atmosphere. Walked down here from Hope during a weekend away -- both in the day and the evening, the pub ticked all the boxes for us! Prices very reasonable, excellent beers on and we genuienly felt welcome! From our perspective the landlady and landlord are doing everything right.

Knowing they had vegan options, we stopped off here after a long walk.An old skool pub with basic charm-a-plenty, a damp cold rainy January afternoon walk made cosy once in The Royal Oak near one of their fires.One of us had the burger and one of us had the sausage and mash, value for money.The fact this pub has vegan options on the menu shows how forward thinking the owners/management are but still know how to keep that old rustic vibe going.Nice one team!

Reasonably priced and the local ales were good, but the food was dry and very average. Staff were very helpful...

We decided to give the Royal Oak a visit, on arrival we decided to sit in the beer garden with our two young children and dog, only to be met by foul language and racist comments coming from some very drunk campers who took great enjoyment from shouting at each other , throwing tins of bear about, they even had young children of their own.

Upon arrival both service and drinks were fantastic however when it came to ordering food the choices were small to say the least then when the food arrived the soup was cold and had a smell of sick and the potatoes tasted quite raw then when asking for a hotter soup the second soup had a completely different texture but was still cold bare in mind we were being charged premium prices when adressing this with the owner we were told no one else had complained suggesting our judgement was wrong! We used to visit every christmas eve but it seems we will have to change our tradition, highly dissapointed by the whole experience!

Llamado en el lunes de Pascua a la hora del té después de caminar todo el día Dales. Fue recibido por un propietario simpático. Había una buena selección de cervezas y una buena selección de comida casera. Los nuggets de pollo resultó para mí un verdadero ganador con mi hija, así que nos volvimos dos noches más tarde. gracias.

Un pequeño y bonito lugar. Felicitaciones al chef. La cena estaba muy buena y caliente. El personal era acogedor tan pronto como llegamos a la puerta. cálido y amable servicio. Sólo. Vino a este lugar de ver comentarios en Tripadvisor, no me decepcionó en absoluto. Es un lugar pequeño y no tuvimos ningún problema para conseguir una mesa y cena no demasiado rápido y no demasiado lento.

Accommodating staff, dog friendly, warm and relaxed atmosphere with a simple non-complicated menu (standard pub food). We really enjoyed having dinner here - the food was nice but the general feel of the Royal Oak Inn was really pleasant!

Bien Este pub es ideal para servir la tranquilidad de wetton. Situado junto a la iglesia local y antiguo tres vicaria, es una cámara real establecimiento de cerveza con al menos 3 cervezas de las bombas en cualquier momento y proyecto de artesanías producidas localmente decente lager también. La comida es buena cosas completas a un precio razonable, sin embargo, algunas personas no parecen conseguir porciones más grandes que otros.

Reservamos una cena en el Royal Oak durante un corto descanso. Al llegar, nos recibió con un servicio amable y muy bien - después de todo. La comida era increíble! Uno de los mejores bistecs que he tenido, seguido de un budín deliciosamente ligeros pegajosa toffees. Recomiendo encarecidamente que vuelve en si estás en la zona.

Called into this pub while we were staying in Wetton for a weekend break.The food was really nice and my partner was pleased with the choice of ales that was on offer. The owners and staff made you feel very welcome. We returned the following evening for a few more drinks and sat by the roaring log fire. We will definitely return.

Only called by for a drink, didn't eat. My Husbands Grandparents owned the pub in the in the 1980's so we were keen to see it; we received a very warm welcome by the landlord & his staff and this is a proper country pub selling real ales & home cooked food.We will definitely visit again soon!

Unpretentious pub with a great selection of real ale. Welcoming atmosphere and we enjoyed a great value and tasty Sunday lunch.

We booked in for a meal here on Friday evening. Due to weather and traffic we arrived late, but Ian kept the kitchen open and we were welcomed by a roaring fire and a delicious meal, along with mulled wine and a couple of great real ales. Couldn't have been better given the inclement weather. We had a great night chatting to Ian and Lou and rolled out into our motorhome (Ian allowed us to overnight on the car park) rather later than planned. The pub is ideally placed to make the most of the attractions on offer in the peak district. We headed off to Monsal Head in the morning, then cycled into Bakewell and had a swift one in The Red Lion, as Ian had recommended it. WE WILL DEFINITELY BE COMING BACK FOR MORE OF THIS! Thank you.

We booked in for a traditional Sunday roast and were not disappointed! The food was home made and delicious! The building dates back over 300 years and the character is retained. There is even an honours board for past toe wrestling champions! However, one tiny niggle. Unless you get a seat by the one real fire, the other room is freezing, despite the cheery staff turning on an electric heater. But apart from that......brilliant!! Xx

Gorgeous pub we visited walking distance from the old vicarage we stayed at, both were a beautiful combination. Food drinks and a friendly atmosphere with a lovely warm fire.

Stopped over in our campervan. We had a very warm welcome. Mine host, Ian, was most accommodating, finding us a table and recommending his beers. We ate as well. The menu is refreshingly basic with simple well cooked fare.My dog was welcome too which was nice.All in all a good stop that I recommend.

Its like stepping back in time with a welcoming landlord & team. As for the food, i can just say its blummin good. Roaring log fire the whole 9 yards in a traditional un-spoilt by time country inn. And the views WOW , lots of clean air to breath in making you even more peckish & thirsty ( the real ale is well kept and much loved).

Excellent pub, lovely cosy room, great beers, friendly staff. The food is simple, cheap and hearty. Great place to hide from the elements or just enjoy decent beer in a warm and friendly setting. The landlord very helpful and friendly. Really recommended.

Friendly no nonsense pub in a superb location.We only had sandwiches and chips, but they were more than acceptable.Good selection of well kept cask beers.Dog friendly.Super place when out for a walk, but probably not for something a little more sophisticated in an evening.

We called here on Saturday lunchtime for a light lunch having walked our dog. Very welcoming and cosy. Unlike many places that allow you in with a dog during food service, we were not relegated to a back room or the conservatory. The dog was allowed anywhere which meant she could sit by the fire. She enjoyed her visit as much as we did.Excellent food - especially the bacon and sausage roll! Extensive choice of beers including 3 locally brewed. Well worth a visit. We will be back.

Lovely pub with the friendliest locals and owners. Great beers and amazing chat. Highly recommended.

After 4 hours of walking in the peaks we had lunch here. Amazing roast dinner sat next to an open fire! Really cosy and a warm welcome. Definitely recommend.

Cosy friendly independent pub. Owners live on the premises. Food was well presented and well served. Good range of real ales. Pub is very popular at weekends.

Popped in whilst staying in Wetton, and had it not been for there being so many things to do in the peak district I'm not sure I'd have left during our stay in the area. Great selection of local ales on offer, warm friendly pub - just like they used to be !! The owners were very friendly and they seem to be laying on lots of entertainment to keep the punters happy. This would make a great midway point for a hearty lunch on a long walk, or a start/finish location for some of the many walks that you can take from Wetton.(PS - not open on the Sunday night we stayed)We didn't eat here in the end due to various circumstances, but am sure the food would have been top notch....

We visited the pub last night for our date night it was lovely the atmosphere is welcoming and friendly we sat at the bar for drinks first great choice of ales and wine then we had our food and that did not disappoint Garlic Mushrooms that were one of the best things I have ever eaten then steak cooked to perfection The staff are rushed off their feet as the pub is very popular yet they seem to juggle everything so that they are attentive and friendly as well .Nothing is too much trouble and we had another great evening here .well done to Ian and his team the lovely Lou and his bar staff and kitchen staff and the great chef Wilma who manages single handed to turn out perfect food everytime

We visited The Royal Oak a couple of times whilst walking in the peaks. Friendly staff and a good selection of ales. Perfect after a walk drinking next to an open fire with nice music playing and good banter with the staff. Also they sell local art some, with a fun twist.

It was just what we were looking for ... open fire, good selection ales, quirky and funny art decorations , friendly and engaging staff , good food... what more you need for Friday night in Peaks ?

Return visit here, was recommended by the caretaker of the cottage we rented in the village. Great friendly Country pub serving excellent home cooked food. Some interesting ales, I had the porter, that was well kept. There was a choice also of an amber and a golden ale as well.

Very nice location at the mid point of a days walking , Landlord is very friendly ad the food and beer are great .What's not to like '

very helpful hosts who accommodated us at short notice in spite of having a number of sizable groups in.

We stopped for drinks (beer mainly) half way on our walk. We've been to this pub many times over many years and we just love the fact it is traditional - a real gem. The beer was excellent too. Do pop by, if you want to experience a proper pub!

Stopping for the weekend in the lovely village of Wetton, this is a great pub. Shame about there limited opening times on the sunday with an early close by 7.30pm so not great if you finished you walk late and wanted a quick bite to eat and a drink. Food is great and the service is quick. Staff really friendly and a great atmosphere. Will be back

We were invited to play an evening of music in the Royal Oak. This must be the most welcoming pub in Britain. Ian and Lou are just lovely and made us feel welcome and appreciated. We had a meal there which was home cooked and very tasty.We also returned for Sunday lunch!The Royal Oak has also made it into the CAMRA good beer guide 2017, a well deserved accolade. We feel like we made new friends last Saturday. Our only regret is that we don't live nearer!

Away on a short break in Alstonefield and dropped into the Royal Oak for our 'tea'.The landlord was really friendly and had just literally achieved awards from CAMRA, well done! Had drinks and ordered food which came in a timely manner and was good!Good atmosphere and comfortable inside and out.Would recommends!

Lovely pub with very friendly owners. We went for a well deserved meal after a 5 mile walk. Basic pub food but was delicious. They even have a field at the back of the pub where you can go camping. Will go back for another visit.

I've been to this pub a few times now and every single time is like going back to see old friends. Ian and Lou welcome you into their characterful pub with open arms, excited to know what you're up to, suggestions for nearby walks to the cave and testers of their latest delicious ales and beers. The food is proper pub grub to warm your cockles on a winters day or to enjoy in their spacious beer garden in the sunshine. If you are on holiday in the peak, passing through or don't live too far away you must pop in-there's a new story every night from local choir groups breaking into song to toe wrestling! Kelly x

A beautiful pub with a roaring fire, hearty food and excellently kept beers. Ian, the landlord, was very welcoming when I arrived slightly dishevelled from walking across the White Peak and even provides a rack by the door for particularly muddy boots.There were three local cask beers on tap and Ian invited me to try his beer palette of a third of a pint of each. Why can't more pubs do this? The range covered a porter from Springhead, a dark ale from Leatherbritches and a lovely, hoppy IPA from the tiny Whim Ales brewery in Hartington. All local, all new to me and all perfectly kept.The Sunday roast was an excellent beef topside joint with all the trimmings and the special deal including a starter and a dessert (I can recommend the homemade soup and the apple pie) was brilliant value.I was passing through Wetton to reach Dovedale but a friendly local drinker suggested I make a detour the other way to see Thor's Cave, a local treasure, and I'm glad I did.Cheers, Royal Oak! I'll be back soon.

This pub is very welcoming and is very cosy for locals and holiday makers alike. I had the three sausages all local are delicious . They have a good selection of ales, which pleased my husband, so I drove home .

Popped in for a cuppa and a bowl of homemade soup which was delicious,welcomed us with walking gear and all.Very friendly and reasonable prices.

We were staying at The Old Vicarage B&B next door and this was the perfect little pub to chillout after walks, sights and in wet weather! The bar staff were so friendly & helpful, the choice of local ales fab, & even had a decent red wine! The food was really good and the lovely lady in the kitchen even made us food after the kitchen was closed.. Great service!

We went for dinner over the bank holiday weekend. This is an unpretentious local which was bustling when we were there - a nice atmosphere and the landlord and serving staff were very friendly and welcoming. Not very smart and verging on the scruffy. Food-wise the pub offers standard pub fare rather than anything particularly exciting or imaginative - chilli con carne fine but the special sea bass was disappointing. Good beer selection.

Lovely people and cosy atmosphere, always incredibly welcomed and the staff will always have time for you. More than happy to deal with the large party I always bring, and always greeted with a smile! Perfect as a starting/ending/mid-way point when walking through the beautiful surrounding countryside, and the events that are held here never fail to disappoint (the fundraisers and outdoor theatre by the pantaloons were particularly wonderful!)

Have visited the Royal Oak in Wetton many times and have always been made welcome. A nice cosy pub with great food and drinks for good value. The landlord and landlady are very friendly and will do anything to help and make your experience better! Would definitely recommend.

My self and my wife called here after a walking around wetton looked at menu it was a bit short but we tried to meals and and a beer first it is located in a nice village and the view was great the beer was just how it should be but when the meal came it was a little on the small side and a little dry my wife's was very also small it was like a light bite then a meal safe to say we would not say it is value for money but nice location with better local public houses near by

We went to the Royal Oak on a rather chilly August day after a long walk down the dales. We were delighted to find rather unexpectedly that the fire had been lit to keep everyone warm despite it being August! We had two excellent meals, ample portions and both really tasty. We were rather charmed by being offered "sausage of the day" as one of the menu choices. So food and local character were excellent. The only downside was that the seating was rather cramped and we were VERY close to the guests at the next table.

We called at lunchtime. The food was of very good quality, being freshly prepared and representing excellent value for money. A wide selection of well kept hand pulled beers are available and an excellent number of single malts are sold.We found the hospitality to be first class. Thank you very much, we will certainly call again.

An old world style pub that welcomes walkers and provides good food to go with the welcome. If you are walking in the area then this the place to stop for some good beer and food. The sausage lunch with 3 sausages is well worth the money.

Great stop on Manifold walk. Landlord and staff were brilliant, food was great, beer fantastic. Our kids and dogs made very welcome. Just what was needed for us all. Will definitely go back if we are in the area. I wish my local pubs were like that!

We just happened to call at the Royal Oak whilst out driving accompanied by our two dogs. We were made more than welcome and decided to have our evening meal there. Their menu is very varied and covered most dishes and they serve a large variety of ales, wines and spirits. We enjoyed everything about the Royal Oak their food, drinks and the staff were exceptional. During our week's stay at Grindon we visited the Royal Oak three times and each time everything was perfect. Well Done to the owners, managers and pleasant staff. Hope to visit again next time we are out walking in the area.

Had dinner with the family here after a nightmare drive from Blackpool. Had a pint of the house beer - Hartington - and knew everything would be ok! Several pints and a very nice dinner later we all left for our holiday cottage feeling much better about the world. Will be back :-)

We headed to the Royal Oak a little worse for wear on the evening after a rather heavy first night of a stag-do. We were made very welcome, by the friendly landlord and staff and ate good, basic, traditional pub food and enjoyed their excellent selection of well kept beers. There was great live music too. A proper pub.

Nice olde worlde pub with real ales. Called for Sunday lunch. At £10 per head you expect a full beef lunch with accompaniments and that's what the table next to us had! But not us and not the table the table on the other side. We ordered the same meal and it came without Yorkshire puddings. When queried we were just told that they had run out and we were lucky to get the last of the beef. When the table next to us, that didn't get them either, asked for a free desert or some money off...it was not only a categorical no, but followed up with a question "are you from up north...you always expect something for nothing you northerners". That may have been tongue in cheek, however we only expect to get what we order and pay for. When you order a Sunday lunch, roast beef comes with Yorkshire pudding and that's what everyone except us had. When ordered he didn't say it would be missing, we only got the impression we would have to wait longer for Yorkshire pudding. All it needed was an apology for no yorkshires and a few extra potatoes etc to make up for it or a quid off the price. But he was having none of it. So £10 for a beef Sunday lunch without Yorkshires seems a bit overpriced to me, northern or not, especially when served with a lack of customer care!

We happened upon the Royal Oak while planning a walk in the area, so we decided to pop in for lunchtime refreshment.The pub itself is everything you'd want in a typical countryside establishment, backed up with friendly service and good real ales.We both ordered lasagne, chips and salad and didn't have to wait too long for our order to arrive. It was hot, tasty and filled us nicely to continue on our way.Most enjoyable!

This was the after race meeting point for the Staffs Moorlands Wetton Fell race. The pub is traditional and hasn't tried to modernise itself to suit the bistro set. To me it suited the location but it might not suit some. The race had been tough and I hadn't eaten beforehand. I ordered a chicken and stuffing sandwich with chips to fill my empty stomach. The sandwich was tasty but the chips were average which at £3 a small bowl was dissapointing.I had a pint of local beer with the meal which was excellent.The pub had coped with serving a large numbers of the runners and no one seemed to be waiting too long.

Prawn sandwich, bowl of chips, J2o and soda for £12.75. Food very average. Sat in the garden. Food brought out but no cutlery, napkin or condiments offered. Not impressed I am afraid.

Amazing manager, other staff are friendly. Great pub with garden. I had a lasagna that exceeded that of others by far

Great little 18th century pub with traditional character and a great selection of beers. The service is friendly, the pub is dog friendly and plenty of walkers about as its in a lovely area with beautiful scenery and great hikes. The beer garden is gorgeous on a sunny day and Ian and Lou is putting up fun events in the summer months (toe wrestling, outdoor theatre, morris dancers to name a few). Dont miss out!

I visited the pub for the Toe Wrestling with a large group of friends. The food was great, proper pub food. The kids menu is great too. We had a dog with us and she was made very welcome, given dog biscuits and a bowl of water. The village is beautiful too. We will definitely be back soon.

So me an my other half went here. Beautiful area, lovely scenery for a bit of a walk. Landlord was really helpful. We went for Sunday lunch.

An amazing night, a lovely tea in the pub first then a performance outdoors by the Pantaloons. Delighted to see Ian and Louisa are promoting arts in this already thriving pub. A great atmosphere, so much happening. We thoroughly recommend it. Looking forward to going back for the next show.

Great atmosphere, friendly bar manager, superb beer! A must visit quaint pub...food looked good too, the stew was fantastic. Specialist brews kept in excellent condition by the landlord.

This pub could do with a good clean - it was dirty.The food is described as "pub grub" was pretty basic, it lacked flavour and imagination. Akin to eating pre-prepared supermarket meals.The service was either reasonable - the barman or just plain rude - the "cook".My suggestion is if you are in Wetton - drive on to the next village - the food options will be much better.

A very friendly "pub's pub". Great beers on tap and delicious pub grub - we had sandwiches but the hot food we saw other people eat looked hearty and very tasty. It was exactly what we wanted / needed!

Stopped here for lunch after hiking from Dove Dale. Lovely friendly pub with great beer and great bar staff. Food was basic pub grub but very tasty. Service on this Bank Holiday Monday was very slow and if it hadn't been sunny and the beer so tasty I might have been less relaxed. Well worth a visit but avoid Bank Holidays!

We were initially impressed on our arrival at this pub. Internally the decor could best be described as "traditional" but the beer garden, where we had our lunch, was charming, overlooking the Derbyshire hills. The building itself is a lovely 18th century inn and the place seemed to have a lot of potential. Sadly, as a pub, we found the Royal Oak pretty disappointing. We placed our order at the bar, collected our drinks and then proceeded to wait over an hour. One of our party finally asked what has happening and about another 15 minutes later, the food finally arrived. The menu wasn't actually awful, just very dull and average. It's like a pub from the 1970s as one other reviewer on here has noted. If you want things with chips, I guess you might not be too disappointed but they're not even very nice chips; they looked exactly like the ones our local Chinese takeaway uses. One of our group said the ham on her ham, egg and chips was nice, but that was about the only good thing said about the meal. One of us ordered the garlic bread with cheese (see photo) which, clearly burned on arrival, was the low-point of the meal - only one piece was edible. I can't quite believe they actually served it to a customer. But this seeming indifference to the customer (who is paying approx. £10-15 for mains) would fit with the fact that nobody at any point apologised for the very long wait, or even checked to see if we were okay. All in all, a (not exactly cheap) disappointment.

Initial impressions are pleasant of this pub: nice traditional decor, well situated beer garden and friendly service behind the bar.Waiting for an 1 hour 15 mins for our food however (for a group of 4), was not a good impression. Watching people who ordered after you, get served a good 10 mins before you? Also not a good impression. The point at which (we can only assume) they realised that they'd forgotten about our food, was the point at which they should have apologised and offered us something to make up for the wait. Not only did no apology come, but having observed the cheery server asking all the tables around us how their meals were as he cleared away, this question was not directed at us. The food - well, if I'd been served it at a Wetherspoons (at half the price), I would have been reasonably happy. My cheesy garlic bread seemed to me to be the sort you buy in large bags of frozen slices with some cheddar grated over the top. It was burned and barely edible. The salad with my starter consisted of chopped iceberg with one slice of cucumber and half a tomato - right out of the 1970s - they might as well have not bothered.When we arrived, we were looking to book a pub for a group of about 30 of us in a few weeks. They've lost our business I'm afraid!

After a day's walking nothing better that good home cooked food, nothing fancy but none the less plenty of flavour, the local beers are just what was needed as well. Bar staff very friendly & could not be more helpful, the atmosphere is also warm, with plenty of good chat & banter with people eating & drinking which enhanced the visit. With fussy eaters in the party we have now visited to nights on the trot which is testament in itself!

There was no atmosphere to this pub we called in one lunchtime and were extremely disappointed. The menu looked pretty standard pub food so we,ordered but it was very poor in it's presentation it was very 70's. We did not even look to see what sweets were on offer.

An interesting selection of beers, well kept and served. I didn't sample the food so can't comment on that. Very traditional, unspoilt and totally not tarted up, rather like the landlord! Only open till 3pm during the week and I suspect food service stops before then. Miles off the beaten track so well worth a visit to Hollinsclough if you want somewhere that has nothing to do with any of the big chains. Could be worth a try at a weekend. Very welcome and well-earned after doing battle with Chrome and Parkhouse Hills.

This place was just what we were looking for after a long day visiting local sights. The food was amazing and extremely reasonably priced. There is a wide selection of beers/ales/drinks for you to quench your thirst and the best thing of all is how wonderfully welcoming the staff are. If you're looking for an easy going, quick delivering, friendly place to sit down, chill out, have a nice cold beer and wholesome food, you've found the right place here!

Sadly I took the time to write a lengthy review of this place and went into great detail as to why it was a wholly disappointing experience with the food being the worst I've tasted in a long time. Unfortunately that review has disappeared and frankly I can't be bothered to spend any further time writing about this place, so I'll sum it up thusly...Came 2 weeks ago, starters awful - one was inedible, mains equally terrible, never again!!Done.

We had walked up from Thor's cave and stopped at the pub for a drink. The fire was a welcome sight on a day of rain and hail! There was a very friendly feel to the pub - free dog biscuits available and all made to feel welcome!

Very friendly landlord who serves great beers in as good condition as I have had in a long time. The whim IPA was to die for. Also serves good quality honest pub grub. Excellent walks straight from the doorstep.

Our second visit in six years. Change of ownership, change of quality. Average food for unsophisticated palettes in tawdry ancient surroundings. Sad really,given the efforts that free-house owners have to invest to attract trade! Expect walkers in strange garb in large numbers, using the pub as a 'convenience'. Lack of staff and resultant slow service did not enhance our experience. Like any school report "Should do better " especially out in wonderful Derbyshire countryside, it's a long way off, to target and be disappointed.

There was a good choice of excellent beers and the delicious food was served without a wait. Ian and his staff were all very friendly and the pub had a really welcoming atmosphere well worth a visit

The food and good beers went down a treat after a good walk. Food is plentiful and well priced, with several guest beers on offer, the pub had a great atmosphere and character was everything I expected of a country local. Visitors and locals alike all enjoyed the company of the staff who were attentive and welcoming. Dogs and boots are also welcome with plenty of room in the bar area, sun room or outside in the garden. We hope to return soon.

We have visited a couple of times before, but this time was mildly disappointed. The pub is fine, a traditional Derbyshire pub, real fires and real ales and dog friendly. We have always enjoyed the food, but this time it wasn't so great. Apparently the previous chef is now running a tea room in the village. The food was ok, but nothing special...basic pub fare. Portions were on the small side, and it would appear the veggie option meat loaf wasn't the same recipe as before and not as tasty. All in all, there is nothing wrong with the pub at all, but we wouldn't rush back

The beer is very good with an admirably limited selection of guest beers and a three beer sampler available. The interior is 'proper' i.e unfussy and the staff very very friendly; there was a cosy fire on a wet, windy Easter Saturday. Food is served all day and is a little pricey but wholesome and cooked with love and an absence of pretension. Now, why wouldn't you want to give it a try?

Great little pub which offers good food & a great reception to all. Take my advice & walk straight past the Watts Russell down the road & call here instead.

Excellent bar manager, Dominic. Great landlord, Ian. Great chef, food quick to appear for a group of 12. Superb beef stew, fresh and local produce. Excellent real ale. Bring it on!

Lovely pub and very welcoming. Allowed 5 very well behaved Terriers in with their very well behaved owners - even a dog biscuit given. Highly recommend lovely owners and lovely food couldn't do enuff for us thank you.

Nice pub in the miďdle of nowhere.Great atmosphere with a wide range of drinks - especially wiskey...!Ordered the sausage of the day (incl chips & a fried egg - tho no veg (eg peas!)) but for a tenner size vs value was "just" about met!Overall - worth a visit, defo.

Spent a very pleasant Sunday lunchtime in this authentic country pub. It was our first visit to this part of the peak and the pub was a great find. It was a busy lunchtime, but the staff were friendly and the Sunday roast was great, just what we needed after a hearty walk in the Spring sunshine. We hope to be back in the Peak soon.

We were a group of 15 who had preordered our lunch several days before. We arrived at the pub, very friendly staff but long wait for a drink at the bar, the landlord was slow. We sat down and awaited the food and it was such a let down. I had ordered roast chicken. A breast appeared on a plate and it seemed to have been poached. A few boiled potatoes , no roast potatoes. No stuffing or trimmings apart from a bought in Yorkshire. Bowls of veg were put out. Great thick slices of carrots, plain over boiled cauliflower and cabbage. No gravy boats. I have eaten many school dinners in my life and this was below the standard of them by a long way. Others in our group had the beef and I noticed many people left the overdone slices. Such a disappointment as normally pub roasts are great. Will not return I am afraid, they need to really sort out their kitchen staff and menus.