A few months ago, I learned that a Peak District pub, just a short drive from my family home, was getting a six-figure revamp after being taken over by an acclaimed pub chain – and I made sure I got first dibs on a visit over the festive period. For some, a trip up to Owler Bar in the north of the national park may be a little too much for a meal, but its idyllic setting among a plethora of rolling hills offers a number of different walking routes in the area – and a visit to The Peacock could be a perfect way to get some energy before heading back home.
It is the latest addition to Longbow Venues fleet of pubs and joins the Ashford Arms, in Ashford-in-the-Water and The Maynard and The George, both in Hathersage. The pub was originally built in the early 1800s by the Duke of Rutland and for centuries, it served as a beacon for weary travellers along the old turnpike road to Chatsworth House and Bakewell.
The last time I visited was just after Covid and I don’t remember a great deal about it – which is probably a good thing as you usually only remember the bad visits. We visited on a foggy Boxing Day and were pleased to secure a table, with the pub nearly full at around 7pm when we arrived.
Much like The George in Hathersage, The Peacock has adopted a snug interior, with the walls adorned with quirky artwork and your usual country pub trinkets. It also has loads of old pictures of the pub from the early 20th century, a finishing touch that always keeps you entertained while waiting for food.
As for the drinks, it has your usual selection of a few lagers including Madri and Pravha, as well as a few beers from Thornbridge Brewery – a usual hit among Peak District drinkers. It also has a large wine menu with different whites, reds, rosés, Champagnes and sparkling, as well as a range of different cocktails – but we stuck with the beer.
As for the food, we had a huge selection of more than 20 different main courses to choose from, ranging from pub classics to some more ambitious dishes, namely a smoked haddock risotto and a confit duck leg. After a quick peruse, the four of us – including the same coeliac who joined us at The Scotsman’s Pack a few months back – ordered four different meals at my command.
The ossobuco fell of the bone and melted in the mouth
(Image: Derby Telegraph)
My dad – who I’m no longer allowed to refer to as “the old man” in articles – went for the slow-cooked lamb shank in a rogan josh curry, whereas I opted for the slow-cooked ossobucco with truffled potato purree (otherwise known as mash). When it arrived, he comically thought my dish was his, and admitted he was slightly disappointed when they both arrived.
The lamb looked amazing, with a big bone sticking out of the bowl atop a portion of rice, dressed with pickled onions and a mint sauce. My ossobuco, which I only ordered because I had no clue what it was, could have easily been mistaken for a British stew and mash dish.
The lamb rogan josh was washed down with some old man’s bitter
(Image: Derby Telegraph)
Apparently, ossobuco is a type of casserole from Lombardy in northern Italy, including veal or beef – but mostly veal. I’ll admit, I felt a little guilty tucking into some baby cow, but the menu gave me some reassurance by including where all the meat comes from.
The meat comes from New Close Farm in Over Haddon, the fish from RG Morrius and Son, Buxton, and the fruit and veg comes from Winster Foods Chesterfield – meaning you can eat knowing the products are British-bred and most likely lived happy lives.
Our gluten-free guest went for the Chicken Milanese a la parmigiana, the smallest of the dishes on offer but arguably the fanciest to look at. It included a flattened and fried chicken breast with a tomato and basil sauce—with a few potatoes sprinkled over the top.
The Chicken Milanese was the fanciest dish
(Image: Derby Telegraph)
The final guest went for the stir-fried noodles with a choice of meat – which in this case was the marinated sirloin steak, cooked to a perfect medium rare. We couldn’t find a single complaint between us – aside from a rather spooky photo of a dog wearing a hat – but that just added to the atmosphere and gave us a break from the tiring festive small talk.
The beef was perfeclty pink on the stir fry
(Image: Derby Telegraph)
With it being Boxing Day, the thought of indulging in any desserts sounded like a grim proposition – I couldn’t even finish my pint – so we were in and out in less than an hour-and-a-half. The prices were definitely on the expensive side, with dishes ranging from £16.50 all the way to £60 – which can buy you a 34oz tomahawk steak with peppercorn sauce, but I don’t think the Bank of Dad would’ve allowed such a purchase.
Overall, The Peacock seems to be a well-oiled machine with plenty of smiling staff at the helm – and a venue I would certainly recommend to anyone that finds themself in the area. For more details about the pub, including opening times and booking information, click the link here.