The Best Restaurants in Alkmonton, Derbyshire, United Kingdom (2025)

The name was what initially drew me and then the menu of pies. Can't go wrong with pie. When in doubt the middle one is always a solid choice and we weren't disappointed. The pastry was lovely and crisp, flaky, and flavoursome. The mushrooms were chunky. They had body and were in a beautifully creamy sauce. The veg was lovely and fresh and the chips? - crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. As they should be. Such lovely people running the place, welcoming, relaxed but interested and really care about what they offer. We were really impressed. Thank you.

A lovely pub with a great atmosphere and beautiful Christmas decor at the time of visiting. The pub is split across two floors so there was plenty of room even when it got busy. It was nice to see a Hobgoblin stout available and they have an extensive selection of crisps! We were made to feel very welcome and I look forward to returning again.

We didn't have any food, very friendly staff and very clean the tables were cleaned after every customer which was nice to see. The drinks are a fair price and the beer was well kept. Dog friendly and a good atmosphere. Will definitely be going back.

Popped in for our first time. There was live music playing and we had a warm welcome. We all had pies, which were really nice, served with chunky chips and tasty veg. And the beer was good too. Thank you!

My partner and I had a wonderful experience here last night celebrating a belated anniversary. The food was incredible - our particular favourites were the 4 courses to start and the two desserts, but we weren’t disappointed with even one dish. The service was another highlight, everyone was very attentive and polite, however one of the service staff in particular (I apologise for not remembering her name!) went above and beyond with her drink recommendations, her attitude and conversation, answering any questions we had, and thoroughly helped elevate our experience even more! I cannot wait to come back again to try their different seasonal menus, this has been a real find and I really hope they get their Michelin star soon as they really deserve it. Thank you for such a wonderful and memorable evening!

The Lighthouse's Summer 24' menu is extraordinary . We thoroughly enjoyed all dishes which went very well with the drinks pairing. Every dish, from the Japanese Milk Bread with butter to the Orkney Scallop with massaman and chili lime cashews, was thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented. Overall, the Summer menu at The Lighthouse is a testament to their culinary excellence and I'm looking forward to returning again soon.

Our second time here, first time trying the grazing menu. Food was absolutely outstanding. Louis made our experience special and memorable. Sam and Sadie were very efficient too. Totally recommended. Big thank you for our Instagram competition prize.

My wife and I were celebrating her first Wednesday off for 18 months following the end of a contract! An excuse to explore somewhere new but local. The Machine Inn, Ashbourne, was quiet, Wednesday lunch in September, but very pleasant. It didn't disappoint at any moment. The service and food was good and a fair price with a lovely menu. We will visit again with friends during an evening next, when there will undoubtedly be a different atmosphere.

We went today for a girlie lunch which I have been for food and drinks many times and I can say that we received great food and the service was spot on. Hannah T met us and asked if we would like drinks first which we did, then she showed us to our table. Without having to ask she brought us a bottle of water and poured it out. Absolutely nothing was too much trouble and the standard of service that we received was exceptional. It’s good to see that the service has in my opinion improved greatly. Thanks as always and of course we will be back.

Such an amazing pub! The food was delicious! Highly recommend if you have a kid! My 2 years old loved the pasta and everyone was so polite! Well done guys!

Wonderful, lovely, and charming staff. Spectacular Indian cuisine paired with really good traditional pub food. Excellent wine list with some really interesting choices for those who like to try something new. We came for lunch and it was good we booked for dinner as well.

Went here for our anniversary meal out and it did not disappoint. From the minute we walked in the staff were absolutely outstanding and couldn't do enough for us. They were all extremely friendly, efficient and professional. We had a right laugh with them about something that would take too long to explain, they were brilliant. The food was also exceptional. We had the sticky beef to share to start with, then I had the steak and blue cheese pizza, the wife had the surf and turf pizza and I portion of scoop fries to share, it was all fantastic. Credit to the staff, chefs and management for running a fantastic pub / restaurant.

This place is a little gem. Booked short notice for an evening meal (20:45) and they were able to fit us in. The staff were very friendly and clearly appreciated regulars as well as new guests, the venue is clean, tidy and well decorated. The menu had some great dishes with unique twists (I had the Pizza/chicken burger) such as the haggis and chips (cheese too). Desserts were outstanding also. Highly recommended.

Best customer service in England so far, never seen such well-mannered young staff working in a restaurant. Staff knew the menu very well, and the suggestions were amazing. The food was delicious and fresh. Portions are quite big. We requested a small candle for a birthday, something that is not on the menu. The waitress came with the cake singing happy birthday. How nice and lovely! Thank you to the management for having such a lovely team and a great chef!

We stayed in a hive with our 2 dogs also taking advantage of the hibernation package (pizzas, wine and breakfast delivered to your hive). On arrival our luggage and myself were whisked off up the track in a buggy whilst the dogs were walked up - the walk is pleasant but steep in some places. All fine in the dry but I would imagine it getting muddy and maybe slippy in the wet. The hive was well presented including dogs beds, bowls and a toy for each of the boys. There is WiFi with excellent coverage and speed - we saw 250Mb download speeds! Our pizzas arrived on time and were excellent - could not fault them. After a good nights sleep a hamper was delivered to the door with breakfast. All was very good - would recommend

If you're looking for peace and quiet in an idyllic spot, then look no further. The Hive treehouses are gorgeous, the staff are so attentive, the house is beautiful and relaxing, the food is delicious, and the restaurant is just beautiful. The whole place is just perfect. I can not wait to return

Stayed here last minute whilst my dad was in hospital so I could get a good meal and a comfy nights sleep. Honestly couldn’t fault the team enough, the room was wonderful, quiet, comfy and had all the amenities you could need. Dinner was delicious as well. The hotel staff were amazing, as I didn’t know whether I was staying the second night, they kept my room ready for me just in case. Will definitely be back, this time with my dog to relax and enjoy the grounds

This is an old country pub with excellent rooms. Quaint with quality modern fit-out. Nice selection of beers and reasonably priced wine. However, the food is absolutely top-notch. Friendly service caps it off. 5 Stars!

A positively faultless experience, easily one of the best hotels we've ever stayed in. Super lovely staff, immaculate rooms with romantic flair, one of the most comfy beds we've ever slept on! Courtyard access from the bedroom on the ground floor was delightful (and under-advertised - it was a very pleasant surprise!), room was super toasty and warm (but not stifling). Food was Michelin-star level good, and we felt spoilt for choice despite being vegan - easily one of the best meals out we've had over many years. All the theming and decor is stunning, so much thought and care put into making the place a perfect blend of modern/rustic. Can't recommend enough, the perfect domestic luxury break. Thank you so much for a perfect time.

Recently stayed at The Cow with my wife for her birthday. Overall a lovely place and a great evening meal, however, a couple of things let it down and I don't think the stay is value for money. Our room was lovely however, it was right next to the bar area and opposite the kitchen so was very noisy. There were 4 rooms available when I booked, had known where it was located I would have chosen one of the others and I do think this is something they should make you aware of and the room rate maybe reduced as a result compared to the other rooms. At £220 a night I do think the rooms are expensive for what they are, they're lovely and the Molton Brown bits are a nice touch but with no breakfast included they're on the *expensive* end. Some form of breakfast should definitely be included IMO, some toast, a pastry or some cereal from a self serve section would be welcomed. It's also laughable that you have teabags and a kettle in your room but if you ask for a tea with your breakfast it's chargeable. We went with eggs and smoked salmon on toast with two cappucinos for breakfast which cost us another 30 something pounds. Our evening meal was great, really nice food, environment, staff were helpful and friendly. I had cod which was lovely and I thought I'd make the most of their fresh cornish fish. Potato dauphinoise a little greasy for my liking but overall a lovely meal. Had a really nice sauvignon blanc, can't remember the name but the wine was really good. On checkout I mentioned the room noise and the fact I booked the room based on it's overall look but as above wouldn't have if I'd known it's location. I was met with a very generic, unbelievable apology but no offer of a small gesture or discount. Overall I paid around £350 for a one night stay here with breakfast and dinner which I think is a tad on the expensive side BUT it was still nice though wouldn't rush back.

I visited The Cow on Sunday for a roast with a couple of friends. I have a severe peanut allergy and found out on arrival that there were peanuts present in the kitchen, in the nut roast. One lady in particular was amazing and so kind, I think she might have been the manager. She spoke to the kitchen and gave me really detailed information on where food was prepped and which option would be safest. She then carried my food out herself and gave me my own portion of vegetables. I felt really at ease, thank you! ❤️ The food was delicious too! 😊

Popped in for lunch after a long roundabout walk to the stepping stones, lovely friendly staff. Good drinks menu and had a fantastic lunch menu. Dog and kid friendly. Glad we booked as it was busy and buzzy. We’ll be back in the winter to sit by the open fire and try the winter dishes

A charmingly cosy pub but with a nice modern feel. We didn’t book and chanced it with our dog on a busy Saturday. We sat at a small bar area table but it got a bit crowded and the attentive staff member spotted this and was very accommodating to move us to a better table. Steak and ale pie came out very fast and was delicious. A lovely lively place for food and drinks!

Wow what a lovely pub we stumbled across after crossing the river via the local stepping stones far in the valley below. Back up the hill a five minute drive away. Excellent food (probably the best steak sandwich I’ve ever had and the beef is local), superb real ale, two real fires and very friendly service. If only I was a local! Highly recommend, well done guys.

Absolutely loved our meal here, we stopped in for lunch after a long rainy walk, greeted with a lit fire and cosy surroundings. The food was scrumptious, and I only wish our visit was longer as we were tempted by so many of the dishes! The staff were wonderful and so friendly. I would highly recommend The Old Dog and would happily visit again in future!

Beautiful pub with good food, well placed in a tranquil location near to some really nice walking routes. Our room was really well done and spacious. The only small let down was the breakfast arrangements - you have to book a 15 minute slot to arrive in and so kind of kills your flexibility in the morning. Amazing breakfast though

We loved it. Really delicious and interesting food but not over complicated. Superb apple tart tartin to finish which was enough to feed four but we did our best between the two of us. Great value.

Delightful dinner in beautiful surroundings. Excellent standard of service and high quality food. Large wine selection of good quality. Situated in a lovely village too.

My boyfriend brought me here for the Valentines Day Set Menu tonight and I cannot fault our experience at all. The food was perfect, amazing service and an amazing vibe to the restaurant. Very chilled atmosphere. The set menu was £45 for three courses, sometimes you can go for a meal and feel the food standard was not worth the price, but this was definitely not the case tonight. Definitely returning!

Visited Wednesday 19th July 2023, early evening. Easily one of the best restaurants in the area and one of the best I've eaten at in a long time. Food quality is outstanding, the menu is seasonal; however, there's a sample menu online to get an idea of what's on offer, there's also two options, an a la carte and a fixed price. Vegetarian, vegan and dietary requirements can be catered for. Whilst the food is definitely upper tier the prices are not much more than most other restaurants and represents excellent value for money. The place itself is based around an old country pub with an excellent garden outside providing dining outdoors, they also have a number of cabanas with heating. Service is outstanding; however, it's an informal place so whilst everyone is polite and professional it's also relaxed. Well worth visiting.

Absolutely fantastic meal, we booked for Burns night and it exceeded our expectations! The service was brilliant from the moment we walked in, the team couldn't have been more helpful and genuine. The food was outstanding, presented perfectly and the starter that came with a treacle bread roll was perfect! Having the haggis paraded in with bagpipes was the perfect addition to the evening. It was a really great atmosphere and we will absolutely be going again soon. Couldn't fault a thing!