The Peak Hotel, Hope Valley

Tight wood-heavy place with a staple shaped interior, a country inn feel and a welcome fire on the go. Five cask on from regionals, I plumped for a pair of Theakos which were both excellent - Bitter (NBSS 4) and OP (4). The missus gurgled over a re-purposed chemists display cupboard which was filled with crisps and chocolate. There’s a little garden out back. I really liked this one – best in town for my money, though there’s a lot of good competition. 8.5

We popped in for a swift half each before catching the bus towards Hope station. Apart from an unfortunate mistake with the till, that saw us charged for two halves and a whole pint (soon sorted out), we had a pleasant 20 minutes or so here. One of the team that run the pub, from Merseyside if we got his accent right, was very friendly and engaged us in conversation about the beers after I complimented them for the really very good Timothy Taylor Landlord (NBSS 4.5). He explained that their turnover is such that they have two or three additional barrels of each beer settling in the cellar - which must be a big one to cope, as there are five beers on (Theakstons Old Peculier and Best Bitter, Wainwright and Bradfield Farmers Blond in addition to the Landlord). Maybe nothing to stir the imagination, but when the beer is kept as well as this, that's excitement enough.