Charles Cotton Hotel, Buxton

Hotel pub but not obviously so, despite the fact you have to go in through reception. Five real ales, one of the pumps was off. Nothing of any strength, I'm afraid.

This is a very smart country hotel, almost off-puttingly smart in fact. To get to the bar you have to pass the hotel reception, but once inside the sight of the row of hand pumps on the bar reassures you that you've come to the right place. The local Hartington Brewery is represented by both Whim IPA and Bitter, there was also Blue Monkey Ape Ale (Notts) and Lymestone Einstein (Staffs), so the contrast in beer menus with the other pub in the village was stark. The list was completed by Marstons Pedigree, presumably as a concession to the less adventurous drinker. This was another non-drinking pub for me, as I was driving, so I had a Fentimans Dandelion & Burdock, but I am certain to come back some time, maybe on the 442 bus, so that I can try a few of the ales. As well as the bench/tables out front, there is some more outdoor seating near the car park at the back, but the description of this as a beer garden is stretching things a little. Inside there are various low tables with deep leather seats and pouffes, and I imagine that taking your drink into the (incredibly smart) dining room would be frowned upon, so maybe this is the place to indulge in a little upright drinking or bar leaning?