Packhorse Inn, Crowdicoteback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The below post gives an excellent description of this pub which has seating out front and in the steep beer garden at the back.
It was a shame that I was driving as there were several interesting ales on tap, ranging from 3.7% to 5% ABV. Local beers (the only brewery I had heard of was Daleside) as well as one from the Coastal Brewery, in Cornwall. There was also a locally brewed lager and ciders available.
We did try the food which was obviously home cooked, very nice and well priced too. Bit of a wait but that was fine as it gave the kids a chance to burn off some energy in the garden.
Definitely somewhere to return to do the beer selection proper justice.
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Although living in the area for three years now and having driven past two or three times on various jaunts, this was our first visit to the Packhorse and I'm very glad to say it will become a regular fixture for us now. Although normally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, this was open on the Bank Holiday Monday. We arrived at about 9pm, food had just finished being served, although no problem for us as we weren't looking for it anyway. We were greeted by the extremely welcoming landlord (Mick) who promptly ran through all the beers on offer with strengths, tastes and colourings etc. He offers four local independent ales, all at £3.10 and was at p[ains to point out he doesn't carry any of the national brands at all, only the independents. All were sampled and all were in extremely good nick, so much so that we took a two-pint carryout of the Cheshire Brewhouse Galaxy Blues home with us. The setting for this pub is stunning, with what is really just a hamlet cut into a very steep-sided valley sitting on the border of Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
The pub has finally been allocated into a CAMRA branch after a long spell of not knowing which area it fell into, so it is now part of the Matlock sub-branch of the Chesterfield area, which seems a slight anomaly given its distance from Chesterfield, although it is only six miles from Matlock.
Very much worth your time seeking this out - easiest approach is from the A515 at the Hurdlow/Monyash crossroads, and this will also give you the best view of the magnificent scenery as you approach the village from on high before sweeping down a couple of hairpin bends to the valley floor.
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Four of us had a few drinks and a meal here on a Sunday evening in September and all really enjoyed it. The food was tasty, well presented and came in good portions. Three real ales were on, mostly local, and in good condition. The new landlord was friendly and made us feel very welcome. It is obviously slanted more towards food than beer, maybe a bit of a dedicated drinking area would work? We shall definitely be returning for a meal though.
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Really great pub, with good local ales and friendly service, in a beautiful setting on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border. The food we had here was some of the best pub food we've had in a while and it was a real joy to sit outside here in the warm evening sunshine, eating and drinking.
Max is indeed a very fine pub dog also.
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Lovely pub, and a much better bet than either of the pubs in Crowdicote's larger neighbour, Longnor (which is actually across the border in Staffordshire, but only a ten-minute walk away).
The decision to close on Monday and Tuesdays is truly baffling and risky from a business perspective. We very nearly decided not to make the effort to come back, but I'm so glad we did (on both of our two remaining evenings in the area). Three excellent ales (two from nearby, in Hartington and Macclesfield) and good tasty food, a bit above your average pub grub. Not at all expensive and with the added entertainment of Max the black dog, who'll gladly clean up your leftovers in return for a game of fetch-the-plastic-bone.
(The landlord told us he was soon moving back to the Isle of Wight, so I really hope the next boss keeps the Packhorse on the same great course).
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Oh dear what can we say about this pretentious little inn? We went to the Packhorse on recommendation on Bank Holiday Monday and were there when it opened at midday (i.e. empty). Beautiful setting and lovely interior then spoilt within 5 minutes by a stroppy barmaid, being told exactly where we were required to sit (despite no reserved signs), having chairs and place settings taken away during our meal without a comment ('excuse me would you mind if....' would have been polite), meals cleared the second the last mouthful was taken and the ultimate snub (so they thought) - NO MINTS at bill time. We actually laughed all the way home from what was a lovely camping trip in nearby Longnor. Don't go here if you want a good country pub atmosphere as you just don't get it - it is a business designed to get the most cash from the most unsuspecting tourists. A much more pleasant option is The Cheshire Cheese in Longnor - you'll have a much better time and no snobbery there!
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On a Sunday, don't take a car as car park is tiny and very tight, and make sure you book in advance.
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We have included The Packhorse as a lunchtime halt on several country walks in the last year. Now another of our "Top 5 Derbyshire Pubs", the atmosphere, the food and the beer are all very very good. All the staff have ensured a warm welcome on every visit - a gem of a place!
Fagin - 14 Jun 2005 15:17 |
This is a really really lovely pub! It's in a really nice quiet pretty village...and their dog is very friendly!We had lasagne (�6ish i think), really tasty and nice chips with it too! Last time i went they had some mulled cider on, not sure if they have it all the time but it was really nice....they do a fab bailey's hot chocolate too! Can't wait to go again!
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Fantastic food, excellent beer, fabulous & sensible & inexpensive wine list, friendly, child friendly, dog friendly...
Really, perfect!
We had marvellous fish and chips (�6?) (as promised, vvv light batter, and thick, nongreasy chips), and salmon with a prawn and hollandaise sauce (�9?), which came with a selection of fresh and perfectly cooked veg. Both garnished with salad. All thoughtfully presented. Then proper treacle pudding and custard (rather than plain sponge with a bit of golden syrup on top). All washed down with a New Zealand Sav Blanc (�12). Came to a dot over �30.
Rebecca A J Lake - 29 Mar 2005 10:29 |
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