Rutland Arms Hotel, Bakewell

A large and imposing building situated right in the centre of Bakewell, I’m not normally a fan of hotel bars unless it’s perhaps somewhere to go for a cocktail at the end of the evening, but other reviews on here seem quite positive, so we decided to give it a go. It’s a bit of a rabbit warren inside, with multiple interconnected rooms, and we found the main bar area at the back on the left in a relatively long and narrow room. Décor wise this is quite elegant but with a bit of a contemporary feel to it. There were dark wooden boards on the floor, cream plasterwork on the walls with khaki green wood panelling down below, and royal blue paint on the long wood-panelled bar counter. Much of the wall space was filled with old black and white photos that were presumably of people who had worked or stayed at the hotel in years gone by. An old fireplace with an open hearth and a couple of copper kettles was on the back wall, whilst the lighting was mostly chandeliers. Other rooms were broadly similar in terms of décor, and still with a plethora of photographs on the walls, although they were perhaps a little cosier with carpet on the floor, cornicework on the ceiling, plenty of upholstered arm chairs and a few stag’s heads on the walls. Beers on tap were still Thornbridge Jaipur and Lord Marples, whilst ciders were Inch’s Riverside and Old Mout Berries & Cherries. Overall, not at all bad for a hotel bar, but I’m not convinced it’s worth making a special effort unless you’re staying here.