Monsal Head Hotel, Bakewell

Went to the Stables Bar where they had two ales from Pennine Brewing Co. on. Monsal Gold in average condition. As you would expect, lots of families, with free range kids running riot.

Of the seven hand pumps available, five were in use on my recent visit, serving two from Bradfield, two from Buxton and Black Coral Stout from Hornbeam brewery. The stout was OK, but the Stable Ale, the "house bitter" brewed in Buxton was excellent. It was pretty quiet when I was here, though I know it can get packed out at the weekend, with tables in the courtyard out front full of day trippers. The massive solid fuel stove must have been a boon for the horses on cold winter nights here, and wouldn't have gone amiss in this dismal summer, but it was unlit. One huge plus mark for me: no music! However, I have to say the service was dreadful, the one serving person disappearing into the back room for various reasons and not keeping an eye on the bar. The layout of the place, with booth seating in the original stalls, is not conducive to a proper pub atmosphere, but as a spectacularly sited tourist watering hole it does just fine.