AD – North East Derbyshire District Council has launched its first ever Food and Drink Trail to showcase the diverse and delicious offering from passionate producers, fabulous farm shops and the region’s best restaurants, cafés and tearooms.
The exciting project is being led with help from four highly skilled and experienced ambassadors: renowned chef Chris Mapp of the Tickled Trout in Barlow (probably my all-time favourite place to eat ever), regional finalist of BBC’s Great British Menu, Mark Aisthorpe of the 3 AA Rosette accredited Bulls Head in Holymoorside; Stephen Thompson of Moss Valley Fine Meats in Norton and Rowan Adlington of Figaro plant-based café bistro in Wingerworth.
There are currently 17 businesses taking part in the trail, selected for their good reviews, quality and atmosphere.
New foodie finds
To launch the trail, I was invited to sample the delights of Dronfield Hall Barn. The historic building dates back to 1430 and has been lovingly restored to a community hub with bustling café, set in carefully maintained gardens.
I couldn’t resist sampling the sharing platter which came laden with delicious hand cooked ham, generous portions of cheese including the creamiest brie and tasty cheddar, perfectly complimented with caramelised red onion and tart pickled onions with a vibrant fresh salad.
There’s an impressive cake counter laden with a tantalising array of sweet treats. Scones are freshly baked in house each morning, with a range of local bakers supplying most of the other treats. I enjoyed a delightfully dense pistachio and raspberry blondie, with satisfying pops of pistachio and sweet freeze dried raspberries.
The emphasis is on using quality local suppliers. For instance, the freshly ground Italian Fairtrade coffee is sourced from Arden Coffee who are just 13 miles away (and who are also taking part in the trail). I enjoyed a well-executed flat white and then a sweet, creamy mocha.
In fact, Arden supply numerous local cafés with their coffee, machines and barista training. An award-winning, family-run business, Arden are the official sponsors of Ashgate Hospice’s Care for a Cuppa fundraising events.
Discover new favourites
I like to think I know about food – so found it reassuring to see lots of my favourite places (Tickled Trout, Bulls Head, Devonshire Arms, Host Coffee, Red Lion at Peak Edge, Stretton Hall Farm Shop and Tearoom and Perfect Peaks Patisserie have all previously appeared on my blog) on the map – but I also love to discover new places and the map will definitely help with this.
For instance, at a glance, it’s possible to see that from Dronfield Hall Barn, it’s not far to the Devonshire Arms in Middle Handley, a cosy village pub with excellent food offering; the English Wine Project where one can book a tour of the historic vineyard and Renishaw Farm Shop which specialises in home-reared Aberdeen Angus beef.
Food and drink days out and short breaks in North East Derbyshire
In the south of the district in Clay Cross, it’s possible to walk from venue to venue. Start at Host Coffee, enjoy a walk through Kenning Park and then head to the cosy, inviting tea room at Cup & Saucer (my blogging friend, Coco Travels did just this – check out her Instagram Reel) or build up an appetite with a bracing walk through the countryside to Stretton Hall Farm Shop and Tearoom.
Fancy a weekend in the area? Check out food vloggers, Meats and Cheats guide to 24 hours in North East Derbyshire – enjoying the tasting menu at the Bulls Head, staying at Hunger Hill Farm Studio in Ashover and a hamper full of treats from North East Derbyshire’s finest artisan producers including Hogg Norton fruit liqueur, Bear Cool Honey, award-winning loose tea from Cup & Saucer and much more.
Something for everyone
The trail also caters for people on specialist diets. For example, Figaro is a popular plant-based cafe bistro offering a sustainable and seasonal menu with a zero waste philosophy.
Supporting local has never been more important and the North East Derbyshire Food and Drink trail is an excellent resource to help us discover more of this area. Check out the trail – and start exploring!
The trail has been funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the aim of attracting visitors to the area, therefore supporting small businesses and helping the local economy to thrive. It’s currently free for businesses to join, contact: tourism@ne-derbyshire.gov.uk to find out more.
