Bentley Brook Inn

Completely restored, this substantial farmhouse was created in 1805 from the shell of a medieval building that served the local manor. The impressive gabled, timbered frontage surveys the three acres of gardens and grounds, where beer fans will revel in the annual beer festival, held in late May or early June. Settle by the central open log fire in the bar and play dominoes, cards or chess, or peruse the menu. In the restaurant, which overlooks the terrace and garden, locally sourced, seasonal menus might offer starters of tempura prawns with chill jam or deep-fried whitebait dusted with paprika. Main dishes take in home-made steak-and-ale pie with suet pastry crust; rib-eye steak with pepper sauce and hand-cut chips; and ale battered haddock and chips. Eleven bedrooms make this inn the ideal base for exploring the peaceful Derbyshire Dales.