The Quiet Woman, Buxton

This was the fourth stop on our recent Peak District pub crawl by public transport. The nine of us getting off the bus just about doubled the clientele and almost put a smile on the landlord's face. There are slightly eccentric notices dotted about warning people against blocking the fire or drying wet clothing, or being children after 8pm. Four beers available: Marstons Burton Bitter and Pedigree, Brains Rev James and Jennings Dark Mild. The implied misogyny of the pub sign doesn't appear to reflect the policy of the present owner.

Set in a quiet village, the Quiet Woman has a very grey exterior and a lick of paint wouldn’t go amiss. It has the feel of somewhere that hasn’t changed in decades – ‘unspoilt’ is what the GBG calls it. Maybe the pub sign put the idea in my head but I wouldn’t be surprised if I was to find out the place is haunted. It was a baking hot Saturday afternoon and there were about a dozen middle aged types sat outside in the rough gravel area that passes itself off as a beer garden, overlooking the camping field next door and the church opposite. Despite the weather, the first thing that struck me when I went inside was the smell of the coal fire. Pork pies, pasties and various sweet snacks were available on the bar. The bar room was basic with wooden chairs - what you might call an honest pub. The small window allowed little natural daylight inside. There was also another room just off the bar, that I believe is a games room, but I didn’t venture through. GBG 2010 entry. Cask ales were Grays Dark MILD, Marston’s Pedigree and Marston’s Bitter. I like places with character and I’d rather the nation had a good mix, including pubs like this, rather than some of the ubiquitous chain pubs. It was interesting to see the place. I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to go back but I might have a different opinion if I visited on a cold winter night.