Stone, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

“A gem in the middle of the country” – this Peak District inn presents itself as a “welcoming pub, but scratch the surface and you find a hearty flavour-driven menu without frills, plus a wonderful thoughtful wine list, and staff that want you to have a great time in their little corner of Derbyshire”. All-in-all it’s a definite “cut above a pub” with a “lovely location with indoor and semi-outdoor dining areas to suit the weather”. Top Menu Tip – “the cooking focuses on pub classics and modern British dishes that highlight local and seasonal produce. Dishes might include crispy pig’s head with Yorkshire forced rhubarb and smoked pancetta; chicken liver parfait with black-truffle butter; hazelnut cake with blood orange or rhubarb soufflé with cardamom custard. Prices do reflect the style and quality, which is understandable”.

In a small town to the south of Stoke-on-Trent, Sophie Hardman & Jake Lowndes’s well-established restaurant is one of the best options for a meal in the area: “the food is so well-balanced and there’s fantastic attention from the front of house”.