Elegant hotel with antiques, fine dining, and beautiful gardens
Road, The Peacock at, Rowsley, Bakewell DE4 2EB, United Kingdom Get directions
"Occupying a prime corner site near the River Derwent, this foliage-clad former manor house is an inviting prospect as soon as you lay eyes on it. Inside, oak ‘Mousey Thompson’ furnishings and antique oil paintings are juxtaposed with modern lighting and contemporary art. The menus offer a broad spectrum, from light lunch bites like sandwiches, salads and ploughman’s, to a full dinner tasting menu with wine pairings – plus afternoon tea and Sunday roasts. Stay overnight in one of the antique-furnished bedrooms, then spend the next day exploring the Peak District." - Michelin Inspector
"To paraphrase Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that those in possession of a fine sensibility should be in want of an excellent place to stay. The Pride and Prejudice cast, who lodged at The Peacock while filming at nearby Chatsworth, would concur. Dating from 1652 and formerly the dower house for Haddon Hall, it opened as 'probably the oldest hotel in the world' in 1820. Sited in the village of Rowsley at the confluence of the Rivers Derwent and Wye, it's now an established base for exploring the Peak District, as well as for enjoying some of the best fly-fishing in the UK. After a lapse of 45 years, Lord Edward Manners (owner of Haddon Hall) reacquired the hotel and hired Paris-based interior designer India Mahdavi to give it a stylish makeover. The result is a striking yet homely marriage of traditional and contemporary design, with 15 comfortable guest rooms, a classy restaurant and a fire-lit bar and lounge. Mullion windows, antiques and family portraits sit alongside sleek lighting, discreet technology and bright splashes of colour: a pleasing meld of old and new. More recently, the Bakewell-based team at Longbow Venues have taken over day-to-day management, injecting a more local buzz in the bar, more flexible dining menus, and better value bedrooms. How gratifying to see new life being breathed back into this building once again. Highs Inventive, beautifully presented food, with local meat, succulent fish and excellent vegetarian options The cosy bar and lounge make lovely places to linger with a drink and a book, and the riverside garden is beautiful in summer The Peak District offers some of Britain's finest scenery, as well as impressive stately homes such as Chatsworth and Haddon Hall The hotel owns a 7-mile stretch along the Rivers Wye and Derwent, famous for their wild rainbow trout Lows Dinner is on the expensive side, especially the tasting menu; and note that it is not offered on Sunday or Monday The main A6 runs in front of the hotel: double-glazing cuts out most noise, but you might prefer a room at the back Mattresses are on the soft side Bathrooms are small, but they’re nicely fitted out with powerful showers and plenty of marble; some have tubs, too" - Nadine Mellor
"To paraphrase Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that those in possession of a fine sensibility should be in want of an excellent place to stay. The Pride and Prejudice cast, who lodged at The Peacock while filming at nearby Chatsworth, would concur. Dating from 1652 and formerly the dower house for Haddon Hall, it opened as 'probably the oldest hotel in the world' in 1820. Sited in the village of Rowsley at the confluence of the Rivers Derwent and Wye, it's now an established base for exploring the Peak District, as well as for enjoying some of the best fly-fishing in the UK. After a lapse of 45 years, Lord Edward Manners (owner of Haddon Hall) reacquired the hotel and hired Paris-based interior designer India Mahdavi to give it a stylish makeover. The result is a striking yet homely marriage of traditional and contemporary design, with 15 comfortable guest rooms, a classy restaurant and a fire-lit bar and lounge. Mullion windows, antiques and family portraits sit alongside sleek lighting, discreet technology and bright splashes of colour: a pleasing meld of old and new. More recently, the Bakewell-based team at Longbow Venues have taken over day-to-day management, injecting a more local buzz in the bar, more flexible dining menus, and better value bedrooms. How gratifying to see new life being breathed back into this building once again. Highs Inventive, beautifully presented food, with local meat, succulent fish and excellent vegetarian options The cosy bar and lounge make lovely places to linger with a drink and a book, and the riverside garden is beautiful in summer The Peak District offers some of Britain's finest scenery, as well as impressive stately homes such as Chatsworth and Haddon Hall The hotel owns a 7-mile stretch along the Rivers Wye and Derwent, famous for their wild rainbow trout Lows Dinner is on the expensive side, especially the tasting menu; and note that it is not offered on Sunday or Monday The main A6 runs in front of the hotel: double-glazing cuts out most noise, but you might prefer a room at the back Mattresses are on the soft side Bathrooms are small, but they’re nicely fitted out with powerful showers and plenty of marble; some have tubs, too" - Nadine Mellor
"This 17th-century house was built to serve the nearby Haddon Hall, but in the 21st century it’s been put to public-facing use as the Peacock at Rowsley, a classic-meets-contemporary country-style hotel. Antique artworks are contrasted with bold splashes of color, and while the rooms retain their unique floor plans and their period architectural details, the comforts have been brought up to modern standard. The restaurant makes extravagant use of local Derbyshire ingredients." - Tablet Hotels
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