Peak Edge Hotel in Chesterfield | Review
Set in beautiful and serene surroundings on the edge of the Peak District is the 4-star Peak Edge Hotel. Regular readers would know that we had recently stayed at the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield. Both these properties are owned by Steve Perez and there is a very interesting story about the Peak Edge.
The Peak Edge has a modern hotel wing and an older pub/bistro wing called the Red Lion.
The Red Lion was originally built way back in 1788 as a small pub for locals and travellers. It was in 1966 that Santiago Perez, Steve's father, purchased the pub and restored it. After running it successfully for many years, Santiago Perez sold the business. The new owners then built the boutique hotel in 2010 and turned it into a popular wedding and events venue. When the property came back on the market in 2018, Steve purchased it back. He has since then expanded the facilities and renovated some of the areas; especially the bar and the restaurant. You can still see some of the original beams and stone throughout the property though, a subtle nod to the original heritage of the Red Lion.
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The exterior of the Peak Edge Hotel is not pretentious or flamboyant but walk in and you will be greeted by a space that is a combination of the traditional and modern with a very welcoming vibe.
Eclectic decor items, creative space segmentation, usage of local-themed artwork and use of interesting colours and textures have helped the hotel create a space that appeals to guests who want to experience unique accommodation. Combine all this with the location of the hotel and it has turned the hotel into a destination in itself.
The lounges in the pub/restaurant are beautiful. Big comfy sofas amongst the stone walls and exposed heavy wooden beams, the rich colours and opulent metallics, it's an atmosphere to savour!
.JPG "Lounge Area at Peak Edge Hotel")
The outside space is beautiful too. To the rear of the hotel are a little pond with an arched bridge over it, a couple of stag sculptures, a gazebo and several benches. It is the perfect place to relax and take in the beauty of the surroundings. It is also the ideal spot for wedding photography.
Peak Edge Hotel | Our Room
All rooms at the Peak Edge Hotel are beautifully decorated and include everything needed for a comfortable stay. You can opt for a Superior Bedroom, Family & Accessible Room or one of the many Luxury Suites.
We stayed in one of the hotel's Superior Bedrooms.
Styled with a teal-blue-grey-brown palette, the room had a tranquil and sophisticated look. The combination of cool, muted teal and grey with shades of brown worked really well and gave the room a cosy feel.
The room featured a king-size bed with a Hypnos memory foam mattress, a large dressing area, two comfortable chairs to sink into when relaxing and a large open wardrobe space. It was also kitted out with air conditioning, television, an iron & ironing board, a hairdryer and a secure safe. There were several device charging points and free Wi-Fi was provided.
Tea and coffee-making facilities were provided along with fresh milk and bottled water.
The ensuite was excellent - great size and contained a huge bath and separate fixed shower. There was a selection of complimentary toiletries which smelt totally divine. Towels had been placed on a shelf outside the bathroom.
The windows in the bedroom overlooked the rear gardens. The view was lovely!
Overall, the room was lovely, spotlessly clean and comfortable.
Red Lion Restaurant | Food and Drinks
The Red Lion is the Peak Edge’s 2 AA Rosette awarded restaurant, providing a relaxed space to eat and drink.
Recently appointed as Executive Chef for the restaurant, Ben Peverall has been working in kitchens for almost 30 years now. He started his career at the prestigious Gleneagles Hotel and during this time the hotel held a 5 red star rating and a 3 rosette restaurant accreditation. Since leaving Gleneagles, Ben has worked in a varied selection of restaurants across the country.
At the Red Lion Restaurant, Ben’s ambition is an ethos surrounding seasonality, sustainability and the source of origin of all the ingredients used. And the restaurant is already making strides in this journey by using fresh produce including vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat etc. sourced from Steve's Walton Lodge Farm.
Having heard a lot of good things about the Red Lion, we were looking forward to dining at the restaurant.
The Red Lion is a modern space with a number of different seating arrangements and a welcoming vibe. There’s also a terrace area for an even more relaxed dining experience.
As we looked over the menu, we could see that Ben had created a menu that was an embodiment of the food culture of the Peak District making use of local and seasonal produce.
For my first course, I picked the Homemade Ricotta with Heritage Beetroot, Beetroot Gel and Walnuts. It was the perfect starter. The fresh, smooth and creamy homemade ricotta paired very well with the earthy beetroot and beetroot gel. The walnuts imparted additional flavour and texture. The portion size was perfect and the dish was very ao moreish that I would have happily tucked into another portion of the starter.
Bhavin's choice was the Heritage Tomato and Goat's Curd with Tomato & Basil Consomme and Black Olive Crumb. It was a simple dish but so appealing visually with the highlight being the heritage tomatoes - juicy, meaty and flavourful!
My mains for the evening was the Grilled Violet Artichokes with Tarragon Gnocchi, Baby Courgette and Fennel. It was lovely - a combination of textures and with an earthy and buttery flavour. Adding contrast was the Pecorino cheese which had a slightly tangy taste and sharpness to it. The dish was delicious!
Across the table, Bhavin was enjoying the Watercress Risotto. It had a beautiful green colour (which we guessed was due to the watercress puree), a refreshing flavour and was topped with spiced Hazelnut crumbs. Bhavin had requested for the Feta to be substituted with a vegan version and the chef had used a non-dairy substitute instead.
The restaurant team were fantastic. They were unobtrusive but kept a discreet eye on all the tables, checking with the guests if they were enjoying their food. Plates were always cleared without any delay and the next course was served without having to wait too long.
For dessert, we tucked into a selection of Ice cream and Classic Rum Baba with Chocolate & Pistachio Ganache and Whipped Mascarpone. I was needing something sweet to wrap up my meal but something relatively light as well, so chose the ice cream trio. It was lovely with just the right amount of sweetness. Bhavin ordered the Classic Rum Baba. It had a lot going on in terms of taste and textures and was very moreish.
Peak Edge Hotel | The Local Area
Like I mentioned earlier, the Peak Edge is ideally located for exploring the Peak District National Park. There is a tranquil, natural haven right on its doorstep. Beautiful scenery, sweeping vistas and an abundance of countryside walks are there for all to enjoy.
If you fancy an active break then there are endless walking and cycling trails in the National Park. You can explore the Monsal trail by foot or on the bike taking in the lovely views of towns like Bakewell, Chee Dale and Blackwell Mill. Then there is the Chee Dale Stepping Stones walk which is a fantastic short walk taking in stunning scenery.
An interesting cycling trail is the Tissington Trail which is a 13 miles trail from Parsley Hay to Ashbourne.
Monsal Trail (below)
Love historical houses? With the likes of Chatsworth House, Hardwick Hall and Haddon Hall nearby, you will be spoilt for choice.
Around half an hour's drive from the hotel is Buxton. England's highest market town, Buxton is a popular destination with spa lovers. With three spas, a number of health and wellness specialists and shops, the town draws visitors for healing and relaxation. In addition, there are attractions like Buxton Opera House, Buxton Raceway and Poole’s Cavern to keep visitors entertained.
For the foodies, a visit to the town of Bakewell is recommended. It is known for its delicious Pudding that was apparently created by mistake, in the mid-19th century, by a local cook. Today you can sample it at various cafes and bakeries across the town. You could then head to Thornbridge Brewery to take a brewery tour and sample some of their popular craft beers.
These are just some of the things you can do in the Peak District. There's so much more to see and do in the area. You can visit it time and again and still find new things to do.
Final thoughts
If you are looking to explore the Peak District, then the Peak Edge Hotel is a great choice. It is also a fab place for a romantic getaway or to celebrate a special anniversary.
We absolutely enjoyed our stay at the Peak Edge Hotel and I think our readers would too. Our stay was very comfortable, the service was lovely, the food was fantastic and overall we had a very relaxed and enjoyable time. If we are visiting the area again, we would definitely return to the Peak Edge.
Book your stay at the Peak Edge Hotel in Chesterfield
Prices start from £170 for a Superior Double/Twin Room (Bed & Breakfast Rate).
The hotel also offers several special packages like the 'Secret Retreat Package' that includes an overnight stay, a relaxing choice of spa treatments, a bottle of prosecco on your arrival and a freshly cooked breakfast in the morning. Prices for this package start from £301/night depending on the room selected.
Other special packages include the 'Stay & Golf Package' - perfect for golf lovers and the 'Chatsworth Overnight Stay Package' that includes an overnight stay in one of the hotel's Superior rooms, a freshly prepared breakfast, £30.00 per person to spend on dinner at the Red Lion Restaurant and 2 tickets to Chatsworth House.
To book a room or one of the special packages, contact the hotel using the details below.
Peak Edge Hotel | Darley Road, Stone Edge, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S45 0LW
Phone | +44 (0)1246 566142
Email | [email protected]
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