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

COVID Safety Measure:

• Social distancing in all public areas

• Hand sanitiser and hand wash stations readily available

• Enhanced hygiene and cleaning throughout

• Additional indoor and outdoor lounge space where possible

• Personal sanitation kit and amenities packs in each room

• Socially distant restaurant settings for all meals - pre-booked only

Location and First Impressions:

Located on the glorious Chatsworth Estate in the lovely quaint village of Beeley, The Devonshire Arms is a charming little bolthole that captures the essence of an English countryside getaway. The location itself is perfect and is a short drive or picturesque walk away from attractions like Chatsworth House and the market town of Bakewell, the home of the iconic Bakewell tart. 

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. On first impressions, The Devonshire Arms looks and feels like an old English country pub with low level ceilings supported by large black wooden beams and frames, traditional wood-burning fire complete with snap and crackle, and rustic flagstone floors and stone walls adorn and surround the whole space. 

Our Room:

The Devonshire Arms has 18 rooms spread across the Inn and three external properties, a hop and a skip away. Our room was across the road in the Dove Cottage on the first floor. The double bed was large and comfortable and the furnishings were rustic yet stylish. I especially loved the modern bathroom which was brightly lit and styled with black and white tiles to give it a real funky look. There is also a large bath and power shower along with luxurious Noble Isle toiletries that I have come to adore. 

The usual amenities are present along with a few lovely extras including tea and coffee making facilities with freshly ground coffee, fresh milk and complimentary Chatsworth House biscuits, and luxury bathrobes and towels. 

I didn’t see any of the other rooms but I was certainly impressed with our room and we had a lovely night’s sleep too. 

Dinner at The Devonshire Arms:

We were really excited for dinner as it has an AA rosette rating and we heard great things about the Chef, Lewis Thornhill, and his talent for elevating classic dishes and flavours. With an abundance of fresh produce from the Chatsworth Estate and the wider Peak District, I had certainly brought my appetite.

We took our seats by the fireplace and perused a menu that had a great choice of fish, meat and vegetarian/vegan dishes. For starters, I went for the comforting Roast Tomato Soup with Sourdough & Butter and my husband opted for the Wild Mushrooms on Toast with Chargrilled Pugliese, Poached Egg & Sauce Bearnaise. The tomato soup was surprisingly rich and filling with plenty of creamy tomato flavour that really warms you up during a cold evening.

The sourdough was the accompaniment, with plenty of butter, of course! My husband couldn’t stop singing praises about his starter, especially about the chargrilled pugliese bread which had a lovely smokey taste to it that resonated throughout the whole dish. The Bearnaise sauce and poached egg with Instagrammable oozing yolk complemented the wild mushrooms and brought a mellow creaminess to the whole dish. With a couple of beers from the tap and a roaring fire to keep us warm and toasty, we were more than happy with the beginning of our meal. 

For the mains, I decided on the Derbyshire Lamb Rump with Mashed Potato, Kale, & Rosemary Jus and my husband tried the Chatsworth Estate Reared Beef & Beer Braised Onion Pie with Confit Carrots & Mushroom Ketchup. The lamb was tender and delicious and the mashed potato was soft and creamy. The rosemary jus was silky smooth and full of rich flavour and went harmoniously with the lamb.

The towering beer and onion pie looked like a medieval castle that my husband was about to invade! The hot water pastry was crisp and crumbly and held the filling in impressively. According to my husband, “this pie is definitely one of the best pies I have had, and I’ve eaten a lot of pies!” In other words, it was a fabulous pie. With a side of triple cooked chips, it is the ultimate country pub dish. 

With our bellies full of good food and refreshing ales, we miraculously still had room for dessert. We went for the classic Sticky Toffee Pudding with Rum Soaked Raisins, Butterscotch Sauce & Rum Raisin Ice Cream and Coconut Parfait Toasted Coconut with Mango Sorbet & Chilli Infused Pineapple. Two very different desserts, both equally delicious in their own ways and a perfect end to a fabulous meal. 

Breakfast:

Breakfast is served in The Brasserie, a lovely contemporary space with large windows facing the stream into Beeley Village, funky and colourful paintings on the walls, and comfy bucket chairs surrounding each table.

The hot selection includes the traditional Full English ( and a vegetarian alternative), Traditional Derbyshire Oatcake with Two Eggs (poached, fried or scrambled), Wyre Valley Oaked Smoked Salmon with Scrambled Eggs and Traditionally made Oatmeal Porridge. I opted for the Smashed Avocado on Sourdough Toast with Poached Eggs and my husband went for the porridge and a ‘mini’ English breakfast of two bacon, one sausage and poached egg because he just couldn’t resist.

My breakfast was delicious and really set me up for the day ahead. The porridge was also fabulous and the locally sourced bacon and sausages were full of flavour. All in all, a fantastic breakfast in a lovely modern setting that contrasts and compliments the traditional space perfectly. 

Overall:

We had a really lovely time at The Devonshire Arms in Beeley and really enjoyed everything this former coaching inn has to offer. The staff are all super friendly and welcoming, the rooms are comfortable with modern facilities, and the food is some of the finest fare in the whole of the Peak District. It’s also in a superb location where you can enjoy the timeless beauty of the Chatsworth Estate and the Peak District.

If you are looking for a place to stay in the countryside that can offer great service, comfortable rooms and delicious food in a beautiful setting then I highly recommend The Devonshire Arms. You won’t be disappointed.

COVID NOTE: Please make sure to check and abide by government travel guidelines. Please also respect the rules and regulations of the hotel to keep you and other guests safe. Thanks!

Book your stay at The Devonshire Arms at Beeley
Address: Devonshire Square, Beeley, Matlock DE4 2NZ
Phone: 01629 733259

My stay was complimentary, all opinions are my own.

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