The Cavendish Hotel at Baslow, Review

Location: Baslow, Derbyshire
Price: ££
Value for Money: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Perfect for: Exploring the Chatsworth Estate and the Peak District National Park

Location and First Impressions:

Surrounded by the beautiful Chatsworth countryside, The Cavendish Hotel is in the perfect location to enjoy what the Peak District has to offer. There are heathery moors and rolling hills as far as the eye can see, and upon checking in, the friendly receptionist pointed out the glorious Chatsworth House, which is a leisurely stroll away from the hotel.

The historic stately home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is a sight to behold and its 30 rooms are filled with stunning artwork and ancient artefacts spanning 4,000 years. We were eager to explore but we were also curious to see our lodgings for the night. The hotel itself is part of the Devonshire Hotels and Restaurants Group, a collection of house hotels, inns and cottages owned by the Duke of Devonshire himself. Throughout the hotel there are cosy lounge areas with comfy sofas and roaring fireplaces as well as original artworks and antiques from the Chatsworth Estate to really give you a sense of the history surrounding the area.

Our Room:

The hotel has 28 bespoke bedrooms, each with their own character yet keeping their quintessentially English charm. Our room certainly had character and style and I especially loved sitting on the comfy tub chairs facing the picturesque views overlooking the Estate.

Recently refurbished, the standard room has an impressive modern bathroom complete with underfloor heating and a spacious bath with that all important rainforest shower for ultimate luxury. There’s also fabulous Noble Isles toiletries and complimentary Chatsworth House biscuits to take home. The king size bed is extremely comfortable and we had a perfect night’s sleep without any issues.

All in all, it’s a room that welcomes you with open arms and offers all the peace and relaxation that you desire.

We soon left our lodgings to explore nearby Chatsworth House and Curbar Edge which promised spectacular views from high on up before returning for dinner at the hotel.

Dinner at The Gallery Restaurant:

Dining at the hotel’s in-house restaurant is certainly a must. The food is exquisite and is not only due to the local produce sourced from Chatsworth Estate producers where possible. The head chef, Adam Harper, is a Roux Scholarship finalist, and it’s not surprising that the restaurant holds 3 AA rosettes and is firmly on the way to Michelin star status.

After being seated in the lounge area with a complimentary glass of champagne, we were taken to our seats by our lovely server and served some delightful amuse bouches whilst we perused the menu. Everything looked enticing and it was hard to choose but I went for the Wild Skrei Cod with Satay Sauce, Chilli, Mango, Coriander, Coconut & Fennel and my husband went for the Chatsworth Estate Veal Sweetbread with Wild Garlic, Turnip, and Pine Nut. Both starters looked stunning and tasted divine. In the cod dish, each ingredient complimented the fish and everything worked harmoniously together to create one fantastic dish. The veal sweetbreads were cooked perfectly and were fantastic when eaten with the toasted pine nuts and the delicately cooked turnip.

There’s an extensive wine list to compliment every dish on the menu and our server helped us pick out a delightful Pinot Gris from Alsace which was fruity and crisp and went nicely with our food.

For mains, I decided on the Norfolk Quail Black with Truffle, Pommes Anna, Forest Mushrooms & Parsley and my husband went for the Truffle Potato & Egg Yolk Ravioli with Black Garlic, Wild Garlic, Spinach, Toasted Nuts & Seeds. Again, each dish was fabulous with a perfect melody of flavours.

I was really excited for dessert because I glanced at the options beforehand so I could choose first before my husband! I just had to go for the Banana, Caramel & Walnut Soufflé Banana with crème fraiche sorbet. When a souffle is on a menu you must answer the call and this one sounded heavenly. My husband had to ‘make do’ with the Chocolate Billionaire with Valrhona 70% dark chocolate sorbet. The souffle had risen high up out of the bowl and had a little wobble to it that lets you know it’s ready to be devoured. It was divine, light as a feather with plenty of decadent flavours. Of course, the chocolate billionaire delice was also delicious and as devilishly rich as you would expect.

The Gallery Restaurant is a must visit even if you are just passing through for a day or two. The food is exquisite with a unique mixture of flavours in each and every dish and the service is impeccable. Just make sure you leave plenty of room for dessert as it is bound to be a showstopper.

Laurent-Perrier Champagne & Seafood Terrace

The Cavendish have recently added an enticing dining option on the terrace. Their new fine-dining pop-up restaurant offers diners a wide selection of freshly caught seafood, including shellfish caught off the East Yorkshire coast. As well as seafood platters, diners also have the chance to enjoy a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne La Cuvée whilst watch the sun go down.

Open until early Autumn, booking is essential. Find out more on the website.

Breakfast:

After a pleasant night’s sleep after a truly satisfying meal, we were somehow ravished again and ready for breakfast which is served in the same room as dinner. The breakfast menu is very enticing with plenty of options to satisfy everyone. There is a Light Continental Breakfast with plenty of choice including Porridge (cooked to order), Freshly Baked Pastries, Fruit Juices, Seasonal Fruit Salad, Cereals, Pancakes, and Antipasti (cured meat, queen green olives, manchego cheese).

The Hot Selection is equally impressive and includes the likes of Smoked Haddock with Poached Eggs & Chive Oil, Grilled Kippers with Herb & Lemon Butter, Eggs Benedict with a Soft Poached Egg & Hollandaise Sauce, and Crushed Avocado on Granary Toast with Soft Poached Eggs. Hot drinks and juice is served on arrival.

After perusing the menu for a good few minutes, we finally decided on The Cavendish Breakfast and Smoked Salmon with Scrambled Eggs. The former is the hotel’s take on the classic big breakfast and includes smoked bacon, sausage, grilled tomato, mushroom, black pudding, hash brown, with eggs of your choice. Every individual ingredient was cooked perfectly and it was a great breakfast but some beans on the side probably wouldn’t have gone amiss. The smoked salmon was delicious and the eggs were lovely and creamy.

After a leisurely breakfast and a last stroll around the grounds, we were ready to check out to enjoy more of what the beautiful Peak District has to offer.

Overall:

We had a great time at The Cavendish Hotel and could have easily stayed for a few more days to explore the surrounding Chatsworth Estate and the rest of the lovely town of Baslow. It’s a beautiful and captivating area that I’m sure we will visit again in the future. The same goes for the hotel. Not only is it in the perfect location on the Chatsworth grounds, it is a hotel that soothes your bones and your soul as soon as you walk in and are greeted by the roaring fireplace and the friendly members of staff.

The rooms are cosy and charming and the lounges are perfect places to unwind and relax after a day exploring the Estate. Of course, the world-class dining is the cherry on top and it’s only a matter of time before they are awarded a Michelin star. When that happens, I will be the first to offer my congratulations (and to book a table!).