Packhorse Inn, Bakewell

A stonebuilt pub in a little terrace in a small village close to the Monsal Trail in the Derbyshire Peak District. Three rooms, with the bar in the middle,flagstone floors,open fires. We visited on a frosty Wednesday lunchtime in December: several drinkers with their dogs, and a couple of groups enjoying a hearty lunch. The pub prides itself on its use of local produce, and our various meals were tasty and good value. A freehouse, this pub acts as a temple to Thornbridge beers, brewed down the road at Bakewell. Some folk claim that they aren’t what they used to be: I cannot comment, as I’ve only recently discovered them, but I found the three available on our visit-Jaipur, Kipling and Wild Swan-to be in excellent condition and eminently drinkable. This is a cracking little pub, dog and walker friendly,run with pride and affection:the kind of pub I’d like to claim as my local.

The entrance is through the first room of three, with a couple of longish, scrubbed pine tables. Round the corner a corridor leads past the bar and kitchen to a dining room at the top end of the pub. In between, the small bar area has a few small tables, stools and bench seats, plus a shelf in the corridor, so space is at a premium. On the bar are five hand pumps, one of which was empty on my visit. Three had local Thornbridge ales, of which I am not a fan, which left me with the Black Sheep Bitter. Now I know some people mock Black Sheep, but to me it's a fine example of an old fashioned northern ale with none of your fancy flavours of grapefruit and lychees, so I enjoyed it. There was music playing at that annoying volume that is not quite loud enough to enjoy but not quite quiet enough to ignore, so I got out my MP3 player and spent a pleasant half hour with the Guardian crossword. Food is available up to 9pm for those who are interested, in the range of £8 to £14, but I only saw one vegetarian option on the blackboard. There's a small fireplace in the bar, which must be very welcome on winter evenings when, the sign outside suggests, there would be a fire in it.

Official site of the Packhorse Inn, contains menu and real ale details - www.packhorselongstone.co.uk

Official site of the Packhorse Inn, contains menu and real ale details - www.packhorselongstone.co.uk