The Shire Horse, Edlaston

Pretty, traditional looking pub, with friendly locals and a separate restaurant area, from which you can look over farmland towards the Derbyshire Dales and peaks in the distance.

Food is typical pub offerings of pies, roasts, steaks and suchlike, but much better presented than you'll find in most places around Ashbourne. Prices were middle of the road and therefore The Shire Horse became our pub of choice locally, as it offered much better value than others in the area and was in a nicer setting than most.

Beer was good, Marstons Pedigree was on tap, probably the mainstay beer there and Sharps Doombar was the other bitter on the week we visited.

I think the pub had recently changed hands as there was a bit of building work going on, though it didn't affect the customers or their comfort.

Would certainly go there again.

6 Mar 2014 12:43

The Plough, Hyde Heath

Cricket on the green, a pint of locally brewed beer (Malt Brewery}, bench table and umbrella, fresh fish and chips and somewhere to walk the dog, can I ask for more? On this return to The Plough, I see it is busier than ever, but weather was scorching hot. The first thing I noticed was how varied the customers were, there was literally a broad cross-section of people, young, old and suchlike. It reminded me of how pubs used to be, meeting places for local people, somewhere to catch up on the local gossip. Frankly, there is little that I can find to fault the pub, except perhaps the tired looking pictures on the gents toilet walls. The Plough is a cracker of a pub, one that has moved into the 21st century with the best attributes of the past couple. I give it 10!

23 Jul 2013 09:26

The Cross Keys, Great Missenden

Saw the mixed reviews on The Cross Keys so thought I'd take a squint at it. Pub is an old brick and flint high street affair, like every place had, before people stayed in so much. Weather was hot so we sat outside, in fact everyone seemed to and garden terrace was packed. Everyone we spoke to said food was very good and as most of them were locals, it was interesting that they rated it one of just two in the village worth a visit. Menu looked interesting and restaurant was pretty and cosy looking, food prices looked very reasonable, so we will be back to eat here soon.

23 Jul 2013 09:13