Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

The Miner's Arms is reputed to be one of the most haunted buildings in Britain, perhaps not altogether unsurprisingly when you consider that the village of Eyam put itself into quarantine during the Great Plague, at the end of which only 90 of its 350 inhabitants remained alive. In happier times the pub has served as a meeting place for the Barmote Court, the gathering which sorted out disputes amongst the local lead-mining community.

Nowadays another son of Derbyshire, fresh from his success at Skibo Castle, the Scottish resort for the incredibly and almost entirely nouveau rich, has returned to familiar pastures, there to reconnect with honesty in gastronomy. His name is Ashleigh Hooton.

As a result it looks as though simple unpretentious food is to be the order of the day, with dishes drawn extensively from France, the Mediterranean and North Africa. A great admirer of Rick Stein, it seems not unlikely that the fish van will be regularly finding its way to the centre of England. So watch out for Moroccan tagines and the simplicity of Stein's fish dishes with their built in dislike of over-handling the basic ingredient.

Quite how the unquiet spirits of the Miner's Arms will take to all this has yet to be seen, but my guess is that the live inhabitants will be beating a path to Ashleigh's door with great despatch.

Located in the grounds of Eyam Hall, a historic Elizabethan manor in deepest Derbyshire, is The Stables at Eyam, a delightful first-floor restaurant that overlooks the Hall's gardens and the world famous Plague Cottages.

Managing Director and Executive Chef Eric Boocock, together with Restaurant Manager and daughter-in-law Hannah Rowett ensure the restaurant always offers a relaxed atmosphere to diners. This they achieve through the use of gently-lit exposed wooden beams and stone walls, church candles, and tiny tea lights that make the dining area look magical when complemented by soothing music.

Chef Boocock offers exciting Anglo-Mediterranean dishes on the à la carte that could bring starters of crab and sweet-potato cakes with smoked paprika mayonnaise followed by hearty whole-tenderloin of pork en croute with prosciutto, cheddar, and thyme, or halloumi-filled baked pepper with chilli dressing and pine nuts.

End with a fantastic caramel apple pie served with thick dairy cream. A short but well-defined wine list supports the menu. The ground floor Eyam Hall Buttery offers fresh bakery products, jacket potatoes, panini, baguettes, and brunches.

The 16th-century Chequers Inn is situated below Froggatt Edge amidst the spectacular beauty of the Peak District. Owners Jonathan and Joanne Tindall ensure customers always receive a warm welcome, and have a relaxed and enjoyable time of dining or staying.

With its original oak beams, open fires, library chairs, and high-backed settees, the seductive little bar encourages you to forget the cares of modern life and indulge in a tasty traditional meal of, say, confit of duck leg with braised red cabbage and roasted plums, a main course of pan-fried calves liver with mash, pancetta and fruit chutney, or swordfish with wild mushroom, artichoke and port reduction, and a decadent dessert of orange and passion fruit tart with mulled fruits.

The inn's traditional ales and reasonable choice of wines rarely disappoints. The accommodation is warm and simple, with five thoughtfully furnished and well kept ensuite bedrooms.