White Hart, Duffieldback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
food is great but expensive , beer drinkable but not great
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yes, not a pub by even the most optimistic of definitions. I sat outside on a wet bench with my beer as that felt like the only option.
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This is now a restaurant and not a pub. Don't bother visiting just for a drink as you will not be welcomed. Once the restaurant serving times have passed, you will find yourself surrounded by people cleaning up, sweeping, etc. At 11:00 on the dot (you can set your watch by it) the bell will be rung, followed a couple of minutes later by the music being turned off.
I cannot comment on the quality or otherwise of the food but certainly don't plan to visit again just for a drink. A pity as it could be really nice - I expect the profits from food dwarf those from just drinkers.
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Posh, nice. Excellent food though pricey.
Have decent beers.
Duffield's lovelies can be witnessed here...
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Visited 29/6/10, 7pm.
Overpriced gastropub. �2.90 for a pint of the house beer from Derby Brew Co. It was cloudy and tasted like it was near the end of the barrel so I took it back and changed it for Landlord, which was acceptable though not brilliant.
Worth a look but a better beer range in the Kings Head.
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In my opinion Duffield's best pub, even though one of the others (Pattern Makers) is Good Beer Guide listed. Ales on offer were Pedi, Bass, Landlord and Derby Brewing Company's White Hart Pale (you guessed it - brewed just for the pub). I obviously went for the latter which was of very high quality, so they must have someone who knows what they're doing with ales. They should probably think about swapping one of the big brands for another local brew. The pub itself has been heavily modernised but there are some old features remaining, eg the terracotta tiled floor and the wooden beams (presumably artificial but nice nonetheless). My only negative comment is the fact service was a bit slow, I was standing at a bar with no staff behind it for about three minutes. Didn't try the food or look at the menu but I'd happily go there for a meal sometime.
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Very disappointing, especially given an enjoyable visit a year or so ago. First problem was the lack of staff - a large recently-vacated adjacent table remained uncleared for a large part of our time there, for instance. Food was ambitiously priced and failed to deliver. The Sunday roast consisted of grey lamb, powdered gravy, soggy yorkshire puddings and, worst of all, potatos and parsnips that appeared to have been cooked in a deep fat frier. The starter wasn't much better. The prawns in the prawn, potato and chorizo salad were tiny and tasteless to the extent of being pointless. The greenery of the salad was a tuft of undressed rocket placed on top.
I know this is a pub, and I would have no complaint if the food was, say, half its current price. But when a pub has the guts to charge �5+ for a starter and �10-15 for a main course it really needs to provide restaurant quality food. Because that's what you're paying for. As it is, it just smacks of yet another place trying it's luck by masquerading as a gastropub.
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Of the 5 pubs in Duffield, (of which 3 are currently listed on BITE), the White Hart is without doubt, the best of the bunch. The King�s Head is dreadful, and I never feel entirely comfortable when I call in for a pint at the other BITE listed pub, the Patten Makers. The atmosphere in the White Hart is much, much better and although it is not perfect, it is clean and comfortable, the staff are very pleasant and in spite of previous comments, I have never had any problems getting served.
There are normally four real ales available � Bass, Pedigree, Landlord and a guest, normally from a local micro. I have never had a bad pint in the White Hart, but at �2.85 a pint it is a tad expensive. The food also tends to be a tad on the expensive side too, but it is freshly prepared and the quality is usually pretty good. There is an interesting concept for Sunday lunch � parties of four or six are served with a whole joint of beef or lamb which they have to carve and serve themselves.
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Smart enough place to go drinking but don't hope to get served in a hurry - the moment it gets remotely busy you're scuppered. Reasonable ale mind, so long as you can get a pint!
anonymous - 13 Nov 2007 12:39 |
Some nice beers. Nice village.
Excellent food especially the Sunday Lunch menu.
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