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Cheshire Cheese Inn, Hope

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user reviews of the Cheshire Cheese Inn, Hope

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

This is a cosy, historic pub, by far the friendliest of the four I visited whilst on holiday in the area - landlord & landlady were both very engaging and welcoming. Ales on offer were Peak Ales Swift Nick, Adnams Lighthouse plus 3 from the nearby Bradfield Brewery.
HarryHawthorn - 2 Jan 2014 18:05
Really liked this place. Went in here on a lads walking weekend, muddy boots and all, and had very nice pints of Hawkshead Bitter and Peak Ales Swift Nick. There was a Bradfield brew on as well, with another pump unused. All of us enjoyed our food. The Yorkshire pud with sausage, mash and veg was very nice.
littledrummerboy - 19 Mar 2013 21:11
What makes you think that she ordered a plain cheese sandwich - she didn't want Stilton in her steak sandwich and she requested a change at the time of ordering - ie - before it was made. The barman, who was downright unpleasant rather than my euphemistic description, refused to pass on her request to the kitchen with the excuse I have stated already.
I dont think I'll be making a second visit.
GeofB - 11 Mar 2013 17:05
I find this review site quite strange as it seems to be that people are often getting a misguided impression or reviewing the wrong pub!
Just to confirm that none of our sandwiches are pre-prepared but asking for a change of what is ordered when it has just been made specially for you would mean that a meal would have been wasted and I am not sure that you would have wanted to pay for another meal. The price for a premium rump steak and stilton sandwich with salad and chips is £6.75, a cheese sandwich is less.

If you must insist on writing reviews, it would be better to use trip advisor where it gives us the opportunity to respond - alternatively make a complaint at the time and we will do something to rectify the situation. Thanks. Laura Offless
LauraOffless - 9 Dec 2012 11:34
I know that one isolated visit to a pub on an "off" day can lead to a totally unfair review so I am reluctant to make a judgement on this pub from our one hour visit.
The quaint interior had lots of pre-set tables for eating so I suspect they're concentrating on being a tourist eaterie rather than a pub. The food and drink prices were a little on the high side. The staff refused, when asked by one of our party, to swop the type of cheese in her sandwich as the cobs were "already made". Perhaps the chef was there to merely cook the few chips that came with pre-prepared cobs though I think if you're paying �6.75 for a cob, chips & salad they ought to be more amenable to the customer's wishes..
3 cask ales on offer at �3 plus per pint. I tried 2 and both were OK although the "Swift Nick" seemed to go flat and tasteless quickly. The barman seemed a bit disinterested in being sociable towards the customers as if they were an incidental annoyance to his job. Food was served quickly, Beer Garden was pleasant, The pot of tea was huge. The mate praised his cheese ploughman's lunch though to me it didn't look good value with its spongy looking cob and modest amounts of cheese and one onion & salad on a smallish plate.
I'll reserve judgement on this one pending a second visit though I didn't get a good intuitive feel for the place on this visit.
GeofB - 9 Aug 2012 21:29
Firstly, please accept my sincere apologies for leaving the wrong review over the weekend. I've rectified this with BITE and I hope it's not done any permanent harm to what is one of the few remaining genuine Peak District pubs where I've always received a warm welcome along with a decent, good value pint with food and service to match.

I'll definitely be back when in the area as I have been doing for the last 30 years.
vladtheimbiber - 23 Apr 2012 16:57
In response to Yello Hammer's post:
I apologise that you had a negative experience at our pub. We took over the Cheshire Cheese in December 2010 and having looked at the date this was posted I can see that it was at that time that we had a very close family bereavement. I am sure that you can understand that at times like these it is difficult to focus on the job in hand and although this is no excuse for bad service whatsoever, I hope that you will give us another go.
If you look at Trip Advisor you will hopefully see some other reviews which reflect our service better.
Some locals may not visit the pub as much as they used to but I believe that this may be more to do with increasing beer prices which have unfortunately affected everyone within the trade.
LauraOffless - 20 Aug 2011 12:42
Very nice rambling old building and some excellent beers from Farmer's Brewery. Food is bit expensive, but I suppose that's in keeping with the tourist area.

twohalves - 10 Jul 2011 17:23
We have called in at The Cheshire Cheese a few times a year for the past 10 years. We have just been in to find the landlord has changed (again) and not for the better. The bar (despite a crowd) was completly unattened (the barman was outside, smoking and chatting on his phone, despite several people waiting to be served). The landlady - pointed out by a local - was on the customerside of the bar, chatting and ignoring the uncollected glasses and the waiting customers. Food was mediocre, and when asking am told the locals have deserted in droves. Shame, this used to be the highlight of our walking trips, and is now a rapidly declining chain pub. We left after waiting 10 minutes for the barman or landlady to serve us at the deserted bar.
yellowhammer - 7 Jul 2011 17:10
what a cracking little pub. The Cheshire cheese is now under new management. I and all my staff welcome the new landlord and landlady to there new business venture. i shal be popping in from time to time.
kind regards Rick. (Old Hall Hotel Landlord)
oldhalllandlord - 18 Dec 2010 10:47
This is a wonderful traditional friendly pub. The beer is good, they have a great wine list, and the food is excellent.

Carol and Craig are great hosts, their staff are very professional .,It all bodes well for a wonderful evening. Remember to book or you wont get a sit down especially at the weekend.

Enjoy!
chasrabbit - 24 Mar 2010 08:01
maxipop

You have never been in my company. I rarely visit the Cheese, and I am not part of the group whose presence you found so offensive.

I overlooked your 'on your doorstep remark', but nowhere in my post do I claim to be 'sharp'.

I have lived in the Valley all my life. Is it possible to live anywhere any longer than that?

If you have lived here longer than me, then you, yourself, may in fact be a geriatric.

To sneer at someone as 'stuck-up' suggests that you feel inferior to them. If this is not the case then perhaps choose your words more carefully.
IntotheValley - 30 Jan 2010 17:56
Thanks �intothevalley� for your response.

It seems my comment struck it's intended mark thereby confirming its veracity!

It's very difficult to feel inferior when in the company of the likes of you, and if you were as sharp as you think you are, then you would have derived from my comment that I too live in the Hope Valley, probably for just as long as yourself. Great stuff and thanks for the laughs!
maxipop - 29 Jan 2010 15:56
This is a very fine pub. Good beer, good food, excellent service.

There appears to be a number of posters (IvanTabeer, donjohn, maxipop, doncaosdelander) who think that the Hope Valley is a theme park, and burn with chippy indignation that some people have the temerity to live here.

The clue to their attititude can be found in maxipop's use of the phrase 'stuck up'. "Eeh, by eck! The one thing they couldn't tek is t'chip off your shoulder"

The next time you venture into the countryside, I suggest that you leave your inferiority complex in the concrete jungle. You may then get a warmer welcome.
IntotheValley - 23 Jan 2010 16:30
we have been going in this pub for a few weeks now! the beers are farmers blonde,peak ales swift nick,copper dragon pippin and best. they are all around the 4% mark. there is no black sheep,landlord said the quality wasnt right. but the four he does have are very well presented. my wife says they have a good wine list. we have had dinner there the last few saterday evenings and enjoyed everything we have eaten,the staff professional and chef great. as for the locals, well it is their pub and will be there long after we have gone.
ronart - 5 Jun 2009 08:57
on a busy day, and with kids, we were made to feel very welcome by pleasant landlord and staff. well looked afer and well fed with good beer.
Recommended.
ichiban - 1 Jun 2009 11:57
Just got back from a great weekend in the Peak District during which time we visited this great little pub. Can't comment on the food as we just had a few packets of crisps but I can and feel I must comment on the "geriatric clique" as mentioned previously. Ivantabeer is dead right. Trying to get to the bar and make yourself heard above the din is a real bind and if the manager has any sense he'll have quiet word in the collective earhole of this unruly bunch who give the phrase "olldie" a bad name. Then maybe he'll get a few more customers who would like to stay on for a meal instead of moving on to somewhere more civilized.
donjohn - 4 May 2009 17:12
I heard that the previous landlord retired and sold his pub to one of the "plastic pub companies" thereby changing the pub from old fashioned family run to managers.
You can tell the rough date by the the change of reviews.

In the evening theres an older gentlemen who sits in his own chair at the end of the bar who will gladly talk to you and can translate phrases like "excuse me I'd like to get to the bar" for the lound mouthed geriatric clique who inhabit the very small and lovely old bar.

The food is notable for absolutly nothing.

I still like the place though, It's not the pubs fault !

IvanTabeer - 3 May 2009 20:13
This looked promising ; spotlessly clean ,real fires and good beer. A nice bottle of wine was not overpriced.

The specials on the blackboard looked enticing. When the food arrived it certainly was no better than average. Each dish had the same unimaginative vegetables. Nothing special at all.
Deserts still in their plastic wrappers but placed in a sundae dish.
randomer - 22 Oct 2008 18:43
This is a great little pub serving good mostly local ales but it seems that the welcome / ambience does depend upon the day you choose to go there.
The review by "doncaosdelanada" is only too true regarding the locals.
I had a similar experience recently when myself and my good lady popped in for a "quiet" Sunday afternoon pint. The small bar area was dominated by a bunch of stuck up, loud mouthed geriatrics who simply would not move out of the way so that others could place an order. They all seemed to know each other (somewhat too well it transpired) and the "private party" feel was unpleasantly tangible. I stayed on for couple more nevertheless, and found it amusing that as successive members of this rude and noisy bunch left the pub, they immediately became the subject of some very interesting gossip by those that were left behind.
Who needs soaps when you've got this on your doorstep? Cheers!
maxipop - 19 Oct 2008 15:47
Best pub in the Hope Valley. Good beer decent grub and run by a bloke who runs a good house.Recommended
superowl - 12 Sep 2008 15:55
Disappointing. Got a less than warm welcome when visiting on Sunday afternoon. Felt like we were interrupting a private party. Had to ask people to move their chairs so we could get to the bar, even though there was plenty of space, we were looked at with contempt. Beer (Peak Ales, Swift Nick) no better than average.
doncaosdelanada - 11 Aug 2008 18:16
This is a fantastic pub, best pub in the region. Our small group had just walked up Mam Tor but I managed to talk them into walking from nearby Castleton about two miles away. It sounded good in the GBG and we wanted some hearty food after a busy day. Bear in mind that there is a small walk near the pub without any pavement.
Five ales were on and some real ciders that pleased my mate. The beer was all very well kept. The food was a good selection and quite well priced. Our group of 4 were all pleased with the evening and the service we received. I am glad about that as most complained on the walk to the pub.
We managed to get a bus back at the end of the night from near to a much inferior pub back in the small town of Hope.

Love_good_ale - 5 Oct 2007 12:14
Great pub with that old pub feel.Everyone very friendly,tried three out of the five ales on sale and they were spot on !Keep going down the edale road and don't turn back until you come across it(we nearly did)
Don't bother with castleton's pubs,this is a little treasure well worth the finding.
jono194 - 26 Sep 2007 19:26
Lovely pub, quite a way outside of Hope itself, but worth looking out. old fashioned Pub feel with some decent beers and nicely comfortable.
The staff were a bit fierce on the day, I think they must have been stressed up, but this apart, very good.
imdownthepub - 4 Sep 2007 17:48
much impressed, very, very good beer and in a real pub too (what a bonus, so few `public houses` now remain) - the landlord should be given a knighthood and the power to roam the length and breadth of england closing any outlets that do not meet his exacting standards, a sort of pub `witchfinder general` - yes!, yes!, yes!
JOHNSs - 9 May 2007 22:36
Great pub, excellent beer and good food.
jake1642 - 1 Apr 2007 22:34
My previous comments:
"I have just spent a couple of days walking in Derbyshire and the guest house I stayed in was half a mile up the road from this pub.

That was very lucky. This is an excellent pub to have as your local. Five well kept real ales including guest beers. Good friendly local atmosphere. Walkers welcome complete with boots. Two log fires. Excellent food (booking advisable).

I will be staying just up the road (or actually at the pub) again."
still apply. So much so I am rating it again two years later after being to the peaks (and this pub) four times (x3) in the meanwhile.
redclanger - 8 Mar 2007 00:03
Stopped at Cheshire Cheese this Sunday, having had a real 'League of Gentlemen' experience in the Nag's Head at Edale and escaped. What a contrast. Small, no frills pub, down to earth landlord, good beer, decent food - mix of simple and more adventurous and an interesting mix of clientele - locals, ramblers, sunday lunchers. Big oak tables, sunday papers, friendly, prompt service. Perfect. Great Atmosphere. Mind you, anything would have felt fantastic after the other place.
Nags_Head - 26 Feb 2007 08:14
One of those rare excellnt pubs. Excellent ale and home cooked quaity food. Brilliant weekly quiz. Very friendly to the tourist like me - and I'm a southerner!
nevardmedia - 17 Feb 2007 10:25
3 of us were here in October 06 and have been meaning to post a note before now. We discussed the September 06 postings with the landlord's daugher as we visit Edale every year and had been a bit put off going back to the Cheese which had been great in 2005. However, it seems that the "situation" wasn't quite as the 3 Sept 06 postings outlined and doesn't give the landlord's side of things. We found the beer & food was fine, good friendly atmosphere and we shall be going back again next October.
Captain34 - 28 Dec 2006 13:30
The King speaks the truth.

Beers - Hartington, Wentworth and Imperial - all very well kept and reasonably priced.

Landlord - a gent. Likes to take the piss out of people but stick up for yourself and you should have no problem.

Food - freshly cooked, decent range of specials. Try the venison, it's rather good.
Mr_Flash - 12 Dec 2006 13:36
Can't quite see what all the fuss is about??!!! We stayed nearby and ate here two days in a row and the service was as good as the food.

We had a great time with Dave the landlord, a group of locals and the pub dog. We stoked the fire ourselves, drank several of each of the cracking selection of ales and set the world to rights.

What more could a man want? Get ye to the 'Cheese, NOW.
The_King - 12 Dec 2006 12:50
Stayed in this pub a couple of weekends ago had a throughly enjoyable time, room lovely, clean and tidy, staff very friendly and helpful and the food was some of the best I've had in a pub. Would recommend this place to all my friends, especially those who like their real ales!
anonymous - 22 Sep 2006 23:53
A classic pub of Britain; wonderful beer, characterful interior and superb setting. A pint in the garden or out the front in this summer is wonderful. A sensible beer range (Hartington is good in this heat). Old football programmes too !
mtaylor40 - 29 Jul 2006 18:21
Can only reiterate all other comments. Spent two nights here over the bank holiday weekend and this certainly lived up to all expectations. It's been a while since we encountered such a good-natured, friendly & welcoming atmosphere from ALL the staff of a pub. The room was smallish, but spotless and the bed was possibly the most comfortable I have ever encountered away from home. The food was excellent, the beer(and whisky)range was wide and varied and superbly kept - especially the Whim Hartington.
An absolute gem and deserving of all the accolades it receives, including runner-up in the rural Pub of The Year award this year from the Sheffield CAMRA branch.
Gristy - 30 May 2006 09:41
My sister, brother-in-law, husband and I have just spent two days at this inn. I can only reiterate what everybody has said. The accommodation was spotless and David and Anthea made us extremely welcome. David's cooked breakfasts were fantastic and the evening meals were excellent. Nothing was too much trouble and the young waiters and waitresses were extremely polite and efficient. We only wishes we could have stayed longer and cannot wait to return sometime soon. Please dont confuse this inn with Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Castleton, which is a dive!!!
cherylk - 23 Apr 2006 22:31
I agree with everything said previously. This is a fantastic friendly pub. Stayed for one night and will definitely be back. House-hunting in the are and would love to make this our local!
gemini_uk - 16 Aug 2005 14:13
Brilliant pub, full of character and characters. That rarest of beasts - a locals' pub in a tourist area which also enjoys having visitors round. The landlord and landlady are great and make the pub what it is: which is intimate, always jolly and with excellent beer and consistently great food. Thank god for the Cheese, otherwise Hope would be a bit of a soulless village for drinking ale.
North_Col - 22 Jun 2005 16:07
A good real ale pub , with friendly landlord and staff. I'm looking forward to visiting again.
history100 - 13 Jun 2005 18:29
I have just spent a couple of days walking in Derbyshire and the guest house I stayed in was half a mile up the road from this pub.

That was very lucky. This is an excellent pub to have as your local. Five well kept real ales including guest beers. Good friendly local atmosphere. Walkers welcome complete with boots. Two log fires. Excellent food (booking advisable).

I will be staying just up the road (or actually at the pub) again.
redclanger - 14 Feb 2005 20:41

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