The Okeover Arms, Ashbourne

Steve of N21 left this review about The Okeover Arms

The Okeover Arms is an18th century, Grade II listed pub in the small Derbyshire Village of Mapleton.
The layout is still as described below as you enter from the end into a stone flagged bar room with the bar on the right and then beyond this is more of a dining room with a very impressive map mural of Derbyshire on the main wall detailing exactly where you are in the county, if you didn’t already know.
It’s a very modern décor with a lot of light wood, some exposed brickwork and the usual gastro pub pastel colour scheme. Then outside at the back is an extremely large green garden space which is large enough to accommodate a lot of seating and several kids play areas without them imposing on your alfresco drinking.
The bar now has three ale hand pumps that were dispensing Cheshire Peak District Wincle Beer Co Hen Cloud English IPA alongside Oakham Citra and Timothy Taylor Landlord. We tried all three during the evening and they were all well-kept, and as a country pub for a pint I thought it would be fine day or evening. However, the fun really starts when you look at the food menu, which was the primary reason our party of 14 were here. And that’s because in 2022 the pub was taken over by a family with Asian origins who have layered on a Desi pub feel to the food experience. Yes the usual country pub crowd pleasers of Fish and Chips, Pan Fried Sea Bass and several variants of homemade pies are all there. But these are interspersed with Indian Fish and Chips, Indian Mixed Grills, Indian Sizzlers and Traditional curries. We must have had nine or ten different mains amongst the fourteen of us and all of them were winners. And this was all combined with excellent friendly service levels both behind the jump and in the restaurant section. As a country pub for a pint it probably warrants the 7 I have rated it, but as a Desi pub experience in a little village in the middle of Derbyshire, it is really up there.

On 21^st July 2024 - rating: 7
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