This year, Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day falls on Tuesday 1st March. Whilst it’s traditional to make pancakes at home (originally to use up eggs and fats to eliminate any temptations over Lent), personally I like any excuse to eat out! Here are some of the best places for pancakes in Derby and Derbyshire.
Lots of cafes and restaurants will be running specials on Pancake Day itself and I’ll be sharing the best on my Facebook group, Derbyshire Food Lovers & Eating Out Enthusiasts so please join that to stay up to date with the best seasonal specials.
For a truly local spin on pancakes, read all about Derbyshire oatcakes.
Best places for Pancakes in Derby
Bear, Derby
Bear have stores on Iron Gate in the Cathedral Quarter and in the Derbion shopping centre (as well as nearby Uttoxeter and Stone). All the stores have fluffy American style pancakes on their regular brunch menu. Choose from either fruit or bacon pancakes. The fruit option is served with fresh fruit, Greek yoghurt, granola and fruit compote (vegetarian). Whilst the bacon pancakes are topped with crispy streaky bacon and buttered maple syrup. Both options cost £8.50. In previous years they’ve also offered some pretty impressive specials for pancake day – so keep your eyes on their social media.
The Book Café in Derby or Belper
Quirky and pet friendly, The Book Café is a popular café with a real emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. Both venues are based in really interesting buildings – the Derby one is particularly lovely Grade 2 listed building, originally built as a bank in 1879. Read more about the Belper venue here.
The Book Café promise a friendly, relaxing and inspiring setting whether you visit alone or with a group of friends and family.
American style pancakes are a regular feature on their brunch menu. A stack of five fluffy pancakes dusted in icing sugar and served with maple syrup and either mixed berries or two slices of back bacon. Both options cost £8.45.
Breakfast menu at Seven at Pride Park
Seven is a beautifully contemporary restaurant on Derby’s Pride Park. American pancakes are a regular feature on their breakfast menu. Buttermilk pancakes are served with streaky bacon, blueberries, maple syrup for £7.25.
Derby Pyclet Parlour
Situated on historic Sadler Gate in Derby’s lovely Catherdral Quarter, this award winning local business sells freshly baked artisan pyclets, Derbyshire oatcakes and pancakes. Vegan pancakes are available with a range of toppings. Prices start at just £4.
Best Pancakes in the Chesterfield area
Qoozies, Chesterfield town centre
Qoozies have a full pancake menu as part of their all day menu. The regular menu includes lots of fruity options, along with options with Lotus spread, Nutella or peanut butter, all priced at £4.95.
Host, Clay Cross
In the short time it’s been open, Host Coffee has quickly become the place to go to in Clay Cross. They’ve just added pancakes to their brunch menu, and they are delicious! Expect stacks of fluffy, American style pancakes served with decadent toppings. No bookings, walk in only. Free parking nearby. Read my full review of Host.
Dunston Hall Bistro, near Chesterfield
There is always a pancake option on the breakfast menu at Dunston Hall Bistro which is served until midday. Last time I ordered them they came with a generous portion of Biscoff spread and the most wonderful caramelised bananas.
Best Pancakes in Ashbourne
F’Coffee in Ashbourne
F’Coffee is a popular, family run coffee shop in Ashbourne. Homemade pancakes feature on their regular breakfast menu (served until midday). Three fluffy pancakes are served with your choice of topping for £7.95. Choices include Nutella, strawberries and white chocolate; bacon, maple syrup and pecans; or Greek yogurt, berries and maple syrup. Keep your eyes peeled for decadent seasonal specials! There is also a pancake option on the children’s breakfast menu.
PS – Note that Ashbourne will be busy for Shrovetide and F’Coffee are running a special Shrovetide breakfast on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd March which must be pre-booked – but usually it’s walk ins only and no bookings taken.
Beaumonts of Ashbourne
Beaumonts in Ashbourne serve pancakes all year round. However, they’re running a reduced menu for Shrovetide on Tuesday 1st March and Wednesday 2nd March. Sadly no pancakes on those days but tables are available inside and outside with great views of The Croft car park where the ball is thrown up! Head here for more details.
Best Pancakes in the Peak District
The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop, Bakewell
The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop has a lovely first floor restaurant with original wooden beams and exposed brickwork Pancakes are a regular feature on the brunch menu which is served from 9am to 5pm. A sweet pancake stack served with maple syrup and berries costs £7.50, with the option to add bacon for £2. Look out for their Pancake Day specials! I’ve got my eye on the Lotus Biscoff with salted caramel or the strawberry syrup with freeze dried raspberries and strawberries.
The Scotsmans Pack Hathersage
The Scotsmans Pack in Hathersage doesn’t normally sell pancakes but are selling them from now until Tuesday 1st March. There are a range of specials include the classic serve of lemon juice and sugar, a Rocky Road version with chocolate sauce, marshmallows and hazelnuts and two savoury options made using Derbyshire oatcakes: cream cheese and smoked salmon; and streaky bacon, mushroom and grilled cheese.
Similarly, the Robin Hood in Baslow also has pancakes on the menu from now until Tuesday.
The rest of Derbyshire
Mad Hatter, Matlock
I’ve not actually tried here myself YET but I wanted to include somewhere in Matlock after the awful flooding they experienced recently. Mad Hatter’s pancakes always look incredible on their social media, but their recent post about their Easter themed special (coming soon!) was next level chocolate overload. They recently had to shut due to the floods so it would be great to support them and the surrounding businesses now that they are back open again.
Notsa, Aston on Trent
Notsa is a café-bar operated by craft family brewery, Derby Brewing Co. Featured on their regular breakfast menu, the American style pancakes are delightfully fluffy and served with dry cured bacon and maple syrup. Wash down with freshly ground barista coffees from Nottingham based 200 degrees. Read my full review of Notsa.
Waffles at The Apple Tree Tea House, Ockbrook
The Apple Tree Tea House aren’t open on Tuesdays, but I think their waffles are worth mentioning… (they’re practically the same thing, right?!). Belgian waffles are freshly cooked on a waffle iron. Generiously topped with your choice of maple syrup and bacon; cinnamon sugar and warm apply compote; white chocolate, cream and raspberry; Nutella and berries; maple syrup and berries. All priced at £6.95.
Seasonal specials for Shrove Tuesday
Riverside Kitchen in Bakewell and Hathersage will be serving pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. As will lots of other fabulous independents. I’ll share the best as I see them.
Remember to join the Facebook group to be the first to hear about seasonal specials as they get released!
If you’ve enjoyed this post, please check out my previous blog post about the best places for Derbyshire oatcakes.
Just outside Derbyshire
Just into the Staffordshire border, in Lichfield, The Pear Tree Creperie is the place for French style crepes and galettes.
Denstone Hall Farm Shop in Uttoxeter is running a delicious menu of sweet and savoury options for ‘pancake week’ from Tuesday 1st March to Friday 4th March.
One reply on “Best Places for Pancakes in Derbyshire”
So many options! Who doesn’t love pancakes?!?