[AD] Elder is a brand new wine and cocktail bar in Chesterfield town centre. It’s beautifully aesthetic, and brought to us by the brilliant Bottle & Thyme team. Coffee shop by day and bar by night, there’s a bijou menu focused on cheese… what’s not to love?
The backstory of Elder
Elder is based in what used to be Bottle & Thyme’s home on Knifesmithgate. I moved to Chesterfield just before Bottle & Thyme first opened and watched with interest as the landmark building was renovated and then opened. I have such fond memories of visiting with my daughter in her pram, family breakfasts with her in her highchair, coffees, lunches and cocktails with friends.
It’s been wonderful seeing Bottle & Thyme go from strength to strength, eventually moving into much bigger premises in the new Elder Way development (literally just over the road).
And it’s been even better seeing the same team redevelop the old premises into Elder. There’s been a stunning refurbishment – with custom brickwork, a neutral colour palette and statement lighting. A new Wine Room has been created, offering a perfect space for a private gathering that still benefits from the buzz of a bar.
In many ways, Elder doesn’t feel like the new baby sister, she’s perhaps the older, wiser – and definitely more sophisticated, older sister. And an incredibly welcome addition to Chesterfield town centre, which – let’s face it – benefits hugely from these two brands being based here.
Elder the Wine Bar
Sip perfectly made coffees and Chai lattes by day, and then explore their wine list by night. There’s seven sparkling wines (an impressive five available by the glass!), a dozen whites (again, with seven available by the glass), reds, rosés and even orange wine, plus dessert wines and port. There’s a ‘Coravin of the week’, further widening the range of wines available by the glass, alongside draught beers, craft cans and a fully stocked bar.
Elder boasts a tantalising cocktail list. Indulge in a Blackberry Amaretto Sour, Marmalade Mojito or Sorbet Marg. There’s also some seriously appetising ‘no and low’ options like a Blackberry and Apple Nojito.
Food at Elder, Chesterfield
Elder’s menu is small, but what’s on there is exceptionally well executed. Think sharing boards of charcuterie and cheese; decadent grilled cheese sandwiches with the option to pair with delicious dipping soups; breads and flavoured butters plus some ‘small plates’.
What’s better than a drink with ‘picky-bits’? Elder’s menu feels like a clever fusion of Mediterranean dining – like authentic Spanish tapas that gets served as the drinks come out, or the wonderful Italian tradition of aperitivo – underpinned by the iconic American diner staple, grilled cheese.
And what grilled cheeses they were! Satisfyingly thick slices of bread filled with carefully selected cheeses, pan fried to perfection and served with a flavoursome dip. Our party opted for a Balsamic Black Cherry Grilled Cheese with Comté (a Gruyère-like cheese from the east of France), Elder’s signature house cheese mix and walnuts, which was paired with a lemon, garlic aioli – and a Hot Honey Grilled Cheese with nduja, chorizo, and a Hot Honey Grilled Cheese with nduja, chorizo, that delicious cheese mix and a hot honey dip. (Can anyone get enough of hot honey at the moment? I think not, quite rightly!)
Read my insider guide to the best places to eat in Chesterfield
I opted for a classic Croque Monsieur which was beautifully executed. Flavoursome smoked ham and Dijon mustard, creamy béchamel topped with a luscious, golden, bubbly blanket of melted Gruyère and accompanied by a piquant relish. Divine!
I wanted to explore the small plates menu so we also ordered the Neal’s Yard Cured Salami, which is freshly sliced and served with mushroom and garlic stilton and red onion chutney.
The food was faultless, as was the service which was friendly, welcoming and attentive.
I will definitely be back.
Go for:
An elevated bar experience of drinks (including perfectly made barista coffee) and grazing menu, plus gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches in a sublimely, stylish setting.
Details:
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm-late.
Walk-in.
Elder, 15-17 Knifesmithgate, Chesterfield S40 1RL.
Nearest car parks are Holywell Cross (inside “the donut” roundabout, S40 1UT) and Saltergate multi storey (S40 1UT) which is well lit.
Elder are currently running an Aperitivo offer. From Wednesday to Friday, 4-7pm enjoy spritz, wine, negronis and pints for £5 each.
