Dog and Partridge, Thorpeback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Lovely country pub situated a mile or so from Dovedale and the impressive peak of Thorpe Cloud. A haunt of walkers and ramblers, this pub has had a very classy makeover (used to be called "The Dog & Partridge) along almost puritanical lines… White walls, tile floor, solid wood tables with candles, roaring fires in winter and sheepskin throws everywhere. It all works though... If you are looking to attract walkers with muddy boots you need flooring that can be easily cleaned... Where the pub really stands out is beer, food and attention to detail. Three solid real ales when I visited; Thornbridge Jaipur, Marston’s Pedigree and Jennings Sneck lifter, along with a warming mulled cider. Lagers were also of the high quality continental variety. The food coming out of the kitchen looked great, but we settled for simple Pork pies with Branston pickle and a bowl of pistachio nuts, a perfect accompaniment to Beer, after a lovely walk in the Peak district.
|
The Old Dog now does food. I went in with a groupie ten last Sunday. We booked in advance and the staff could not have been more helpful. The beer is still great and the food matches.
|
Recently re-opened as "The Old Dog". Extensively refurbished inside, with flagstone floors and a real fire. The staff were friendly and the beer as very tasty and well kept. There were several local ales on when we visited in January. They run a loyalty card system so when you have bought 9 pints, you get one free.
We were cycling, so were a bit muddy, but we were made very welcome.
No hot food yet (just pork pies), but the new landlord is looking into introducing some soon. I'll definitely be going back, the pub shows great promise.
|
Visited this pub on today for a light lunch after visiting Dovedale. The pub was rather grimy and not particularly welcoming. The bar staff were not very freindly and refused to accept payment with Scottish notes. However, we ordered drinks with a ploughmans and chip butty. The ale was served in a dirty glass and the food was disgraceful. The salad was unwashed with dirt still visible on the leaves which themselves were wilted and unappealing. The bread for the chip butty was stale and disintergrated when picked up. Upon complaining the bar staff wandered off without saying anything. The "owner" of the pub (also the supposed cook) looked at the plates which we had to bring back ourselves and said she washed the salad yesterday and that mottled and dirty leaves are natural. Not a word of apology was offered by this extrememly rude owner and our request for a refund was refused.
Overall a hugely disappointing visit AVOID AT ALL POSSIBLE COSTS!!!
|
Having read earlier reviews, I still went along to try for myself. And yes, it is rather shabby. The real ale was good, though there is not a very wide choice. I didn't get to try the food as they stop serving at some ridiculously early time - this being on a Saturday afternoon, in the school holidays, in a prime tourist location.
This could be so much better.
|
This place could be a goldmine. Nearest pub to Dovedale car park, which is rammed at weekends, even in winter. Just needs to employ a cleaner and a cook.
|
Where do I start....?
In August my family and I were camping nearby (Ashbourne Heights - Great site!) and were looking for a nice pub to have a Sunday Lunch, firstly I was struck all the signs such as 'No Pushchairs' & 'No children near the Bar area' and then we were told that the carvery wasn't available to be served outside (we couldn't eat in as we had our dog with us), because "We've had trouble with that in the past".....strange. So we ordered off the Bar menu, my wife and I had Lasagne & Chips, our kids had Fishfinger & Chips.......
I ate my meal, it was edible and just about filled a gap, my wife however couldn't get past two mouthfuls of her meal as she found a very long black hair in it (shes Auburn, I have no hair!) Our children's food was deep fried and overcooked...even the dog turned her nose up at the chips....!
And to top it all....there was a wasps nest in the woodwork/rendering on the side of the building which didn't help our experience there.
My wife asked for a refund for the food we couldn't eat, which they handed over reluctantly and we left having had probably one of the most disappointing pub experiences ever.
In summary, a very tired pub with third rate food, borderline rude staff and the only positive thing I can say is that the Dog & Partridge is consistent if nothing else and (despite the economic climate) I'm amazed it is still in business!
|
Shabby and over priced. Can't even provide edible soup - swear it was Cuppa Soup.
|
Following a lovely walk in Dovedale, we called in at the Dog and Partridge for sunday lunch.
First impressions of the place should have rang alarm bells, but thirst and hunger got the better of us.
The lady on the bar was definately in the wrong profession, the Carling was flat and tasted off.
The food, if you like aunt bessies roast potatoes (that have sat round for a bit) along with carrots that if you wore a blindfold and had been asked what had been put in your mouth you would NEVER know it was a carrot, along other well overcooked frozen veg.
We did complain about the beer, and about the food, and about the service.
The manager (landlady?) was so rude it was unbelievable.
Unfortunately cant say anything good about the place.....avoid at all costs !
|
I had the misfortune today of visiting this pub with my family, it was a large party (20 of us) all with the intention of eating, unfortunately within 5 minutes of being there, 4 of our party were asked to leave because they had commited the lowest crime known to man, they had the nerve to enter the pub with a push-chair. I could understand it if the place was full of customers but it was empty (no surprises there!!) perhaps the land-lady doesn't need the custom but to turn away a potential �40/�50 for the sake of a push-chair just seems a bit daft. Anyway the rest of us stayed for a meal (against my better judgement) and what can i say, well not a lot actually apart from the food is overpriced for what you get, which isn't much, the staff are not what you would call a happy bunch and the beer looked like the sort of thing a vet would extract from a horse. so in summary if you are in the area and fancy a bite to eat and a drink, do yourself a favour and take some sandwiches and a flask.
|
Went there earlier this week despite advice from a local, and found it was okay.
Beer was great - Black Sheep Ale, good temperature, clean glass........
Food was okay, had lasagne,chips & side salad - typical catering, not outstanding, but okay and good value for money. Very quick service, depite quite a few diners in that night.
Barmaid was friendly and attentive to all the customers.
Parrot was hilarious - noisey when you sat down, butstatue-like when anyone went to see him!
|
I have seen the reviews and felt I should comment. We visited this pub 1st June, beer was fine and service was friendly. They still close at 3pm which is a bit rubbish at weekends (particularly sunny ones) but I suppose in winter it is very quiet. We then went back the next day (sunday) as we had noticed the sign regarding the carvery at �6.75. This is served in a seperate restaurant area at the back of the pub and i must say that both the food and the service were excellent. Portions were plentiful and excellently presented. Whilst there have been moans below, I suggest you take a chance to go yourselves, particularly on a sunday for sunday lunch, you wont be dissappointed
|
We were a party of 9 adults and 3 children (all under 6) who had the misfortune to go to this establishment on a bank holiday Sunday afternoon. After getting our drinks we all sat outside, my pint of Black Sheep was fine and there were no complaints from anyone else in our party. Then things went all wrong. At ten past three or thereabouts ( they stopped serving 10 mins earlier), 2 of our female contingent went to the loo only to find it locked. They went into the bar to ask if it could be opened as we had a long walk back to where we were staying. They were met by the landlady, who made it quite clear that she wouldn�t open the loos as she had set the alarm. When they politely asked if she could un-set the alarm for 5 minutes whilst those that needed to could use the facilities they were met by a rude, insensitive and aggressive response. After further pleas to open the loos and complaints that we were not happy with the service, the landlady said she would find out where we were staying!!!! Make of that what you will.
Suffice to say we took our leave never to darken her door again. Any pub that will not let women and CHILDREN use their facilities after having bought �25 worth of drinks there half an hour earlier does not deserve to get patronised. This person needs a lesson in customer service. There are plenty more pubs in the area that will welcome your custom - AVOID THIS ONE.
|
Please read the review of this pub noted in the Derby evening telegraph dated 23rd February 2007. I visited this pub last summer and can only agree with the comments made in this review. I have picked out a few captions and would like to share them with you all. "I was met with a terse word her and a begrudging hand there", "the plates seem deliberately small to make sure you dont eat them out of house and home", "scruffy edge to the whole establisment, with the look and feel of a 1970s working mans club" !! HOW on earth this place is still in business is beyond me its AWFUL.
anonymous - 5 Mar 2007 20:07 |
We visited the dog and partridge a few weeks ago for a drink after a long walk in the surrounding area. It looked to be a reasonable place from the outside but when we stepped in side and saw the d�cor, it looked like something from the 70�s. The faces waiting to greet us behind the bar were far from inviting, the lady owner was quite rude when serving me and I found the bar man quite intimidating standing starring at us. We asked for two drinks, 1 pint of Pedigree and a dry white wine. The wine was warm and sweet and the beer was far from being cask quality, being debatable it was Pedigree. The atmosphere in the pub was depressed and it smelt damp and fusty. We left the pub a little subdued never to return, wiping our feet on the way out. What a Dump!!
|
I am surprised at the negative reviews posted as I frequently take refreshment at the Dog & Partridge on my way to/from Dovedale, with one exception have always found the place most agreeable.The only negative experience being the behaviour of a group of customers.
I note that the 'beerintheevening.com' team have yet to visit, maybe they should!
|
We were a group of ten including two young children who visited this pub on Friday of the August bank holiday weekend and I must say that I agree with everything that Kate Locke reports.
Ridiculously small portions, obviously no freshly prepared food. My starter (�4) comprised 6 small breaded mushrooms with a measly salad and a small ramekin of garlic dip and my liver and onions main course was I suspect straight out of a supermarket ready meal packet. The salmon goujons which both my daughter and daughter-in-law ordered were served on a small oval plate about the same size as a tea plate with chips. (This was supposedly an adult main meal!!!). A meagre plate of salad whic was listed as part of the meal was only brought grudgingly after complaining to the surly waitress.
The reaction we had when we complained was exactly as described by Kate with a totally negative attitude by the bar manager who accused us of being freeloaders and because we stood our ground and refused to pay our bill unless a reduction was offered he decided to call the police who duly arrived in force (four officers).
We reluctantly had to settle the full amount of the bill for these awful meals so beware anyone who hopes to get a good value for money meal at this establishment. Our total bill including two rounds of drinks and two childrens meals was in excess of �150!!!
I presume our nightmare preceded the one posted by Kate by only a few days so the bar manager must have an extremely short memory if he managed to forget us or perhaps he has so many complaints that they now simply wash over his head.
|
We visited this pub last weekend hoping to enjoy a decent carvery after a long walk in the surrounding area. The alarm bells should really have been ringing after receiving curse and quite frankly rude service from the barmaid making us feel distinctly unwelcome in her pub.
However, we were hungry and as the car park had been full we agreed that the place must have something to offer and went through into the carvery dining room. What a mistake! We received poor service (rude, moody and extremely unfriendly) atrocious food (like hospital food but worse) and, following a complaint about the aforementioned issues, an argument with the manager. We were told that no one else had EVER complained about the food there (obviously a lie judging by the other reviews) and we were told that we obviously didn't know what good food or service was!!!! We left very quickly after he shouted 'Get out of my pub' and vowed never to return. I would implore anyone even contemplating a visit this pub to reconsider.
|
I cannot praise the staff at the Dog and Partridge more. Excellent service and the food is great value.
We go the the pub around once a month when we take a trip out to Ashbourne and its in the perfect location to enjoy Sunday lunch in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.
A1 service and A1 food. Highly recommend - but remember to book!
|
Looking forward to a family get together and a nice meal on a Friday evening (UNFORTUNATELY WE CHOSE THE WRONG LOCATION!!!)our evening was totally ruined. The bottle of wine we ordered was wrong but we drank it. Then came the MEAL. 2 of the meals came on childrens plates with no salad, the lamb dish tasted of steak & kidney the steak was raw(I don't mean rare) not medium. When we complained the waitress was rude and unhelpful. We then went to pay for the meal and requested that the 2 meals served on childrens plates should have some discount, the bar Manager was very abusive and said they had had 180 customers in the previous weekend and no one complained about their meals (I BET!!!) it was obvious they were not going to oblige in any way, the Manager repeatedly called us Freeloaders, after half an hour we gave up, paid the bill and escaped. PLEASE DO NOT VISIT THIS PUBLIC HOUSE AVOID IT .
anonymous - 4 Sep 2006 18:45 |
3 friends and I went for a carvery this sunday.
Food = stale, dry, rationed, school dinner like, badly presented.
Service = Served by a waitress who asked how our meal was, and when we complained shrugged her shoulder and walked off. After informing the bar manager, he got agressive and told us 'No one else has complained'. (He clearly has not seen this website then!) and listened to our complaint whilst interupting with words like, 'whatever'.
And if that wasn't bad enough, bought two 80 year old laides into our complaint but trying to conduct some sort of food survey with the punters.
There are plenty of beautiful pubs in this area so there is no need to waste a good visit on bad food and appalling service.
|
I arrived at this pub on a Sunday afternoon at 2 minutes to 3pm only to be be told quite bluntly that it was now closed. Despite my plea that I had just walked in excess of 10 miles and that I was dying for a drink they would not relent. There were still customers inside finishing their drinks 15 minutes later. I would have drunk my pint in 2 minutes.
I had nothing better to do than sit outside waiting for the bus and I could not help noticing that the place was badly run down - quite shabby on the outside with dead flowers in the tubs and window boxes. In the 45 minutes I had to wait for my bus I counted at least 50 potential customers who came and left again to go elsewhere.
If you are next in the area and you intend to stop - give it a miss - there a plenty of lovely, inviting pubs nearby which will welcome you.
|
|
