Haddon - Staffordshire Moorlands

Lovely restaurant, with beautiful views across dovedale, food was excellent, staff friendly and nothing too much trouble, eat here every night of our stay. All meals were delicious local produce cooked perfectly.

Two weeks ago, we were looking forward to an enjoyable lunch in the restaurant of the famous Izaak Walton Hotel; we had stayed in Derbyshire in the past and always said that we must go there. We were on holiday very nearby earlier this month,...so it seemed the ideal opportunity, and I emailed to make a booking for Sunday Lunch. The reply confirmed the booking, although said that they were not doing Sunday Lunch, but there were plenty of other nice things to eat I checked the website and the only menu displayed said that it was served to daily it indeed had plenty of nice choices for a meal, so we were quite happy. When we arrived, the first surprise was to be directed not to the restaurant but to a virtually deserted bar. The second was when we were given a menu with nothing but sandwiches and a few other bar snacks. When we said that we did not wish to order, the gentleman serving us seemed surprised that we were not aware of the limited offer available; we told him about the reply to our email, and what was on the website. He was very apologetic and did not charge us for our mineral waters. (He blamed the situation which I assumed meant the COVID restrictions, however we were fortunate to find a restaurant nearby that was doing a flourishing lunchtime trade, so there cannot be any lack of demand in the area The server said that he would mention the matter to the manager, and, since I had booked by email, I thought that perhaps he/she might contact me. However, they are clearly not worried that customers had left without eating because they had been misled both by the website and a personal communication from a staff member. So disappointing!

The food here is very hit and miss which is a shame because the faults are so so easily rectified! Sunday lunch was fine but we were only served two rather small pieces of beef and the parsnip was rock hard! The desserts were all...very good. Evening meal the next day was spoiled (I had blade of beef) because there wasn’t enough gravy or mashed potato and veg for the amount of meat-it was all very dry. The whole experience was ruined by the abrupt and rude manner of the front of house waitress who ordered us to “eat at the bar” because our booking wasn’t on her list. We tried to explain that we had changed rooms but she refused to listen. The receptionist had to intervene on our behalf before we were seated. Had she suggested pleasantly that we might like to eat in the bar (or in fact outside as it was so hot) there wouldn’t have been a problem. I personally felt uncomfortable during my evening meal-she wasn’t particularly friendly during Sunday lunch either-our son and daughter in law commented on her brusque manner.

Even though Covid restrictions have reduced the menu, we ate in the restaurant on consecutive evenings and all our choices were attractively presented, beautifully cooked and wonderfully tasty.

Food was okay but very salty and not really worth the premium paid at pounds for two courses. Beef served as an amuse bouche. I'm a vegetarian. Staff quite helpful though.