The Peacock at Rowsley

A lovely, cosy but stylish country inn with top quality food. The staff were very helpful and attentive - the chef whipped up a batch of scones for us when we came in from a chilly cycle ride along the Monsal Trail. Recommended for a weekend away

I've only ever visited The Peacock for a drink, whilst on a walk, once earlier in the year when I was doing the Derwent Valley Heritage Way and again today after a short ramble from Chatsworth.

On both occasions I enjoyed my visit, the beer was excellent and the staff were friendly. A nice warm fire in the public bar area adds to the cosy feel of the place.

The building itself is fascinating, dating from the 17th century, and the period features are exquisite.

I look forward to another visit.

We really enjoyed our stay in this beautiful hotel. It is cosy and welcoming- the staff were all very friendly, cheerful and helpful (despite us overhearing other guests speaking to them in a condescending manner at times).

The small bar area is lovely with a big open fire and good quality wines and glasses (I hate cheap glasses!) . The restaurant is very nice- we enjoyed our meal and the wine was very good for a sensible price. The food is expensive, which we don’t mind as it was good quality, but it’s nudging the top end of cost for what it was, in our opinion. Breakfast was a little inconsistent, but the ingredients were all good quality, and again staff were helpful and friendly.

Our room was fairly small, which is ok as I booked the cheaper room option, but very nicely done with a lovely bathroom- good quality soap/ shower gels etc were appreciated along with quality teas/ coffee/ lovely chocolates. Everything was perfect, apart from the crucial bit… the bed! I’d guess that more has likely been spent on the beautiful curtains than the bedding which was not quite the standard we’d expect for the hotel: the pillows were synthetic and not very comfortable, the mattress had a gap between it and the headboard, and the bed slopes to one side due to the uneven floor (expected in an old building, but the bed could be levelled I’d think). I also think the hotel could reduce their heating bill- our room was very hot with radiators on despite it being fairly mild outside so we had to leave a window open all the time.

If the bed was better, I’d happily give 5/5!

We recently stayed here to celebrate my wife’s birthday and from start to finish our stay was excellent, this is a classic English hotel with lovely ambiance and decor the food is delicious and the staff are brilliant what ever the season this is a wonderful place to stay.

Stayed here for a wedding anniversary treat . Having passed by lots and lots of times, I was looking forward to staying at the Peacock and what an experience it was! It is probably the best hotel experience I’ve ever had - anywhere. Everything about the place is top notch; the atmosphere, the food, the room, the service, the comfort and the attention to details- just wonderful!

A one night getaway as a treat to ourselves. Well worth the trip. The hotel is a mix of old world charm and comfortable guest experiences. Our room was lovely, with a view out of the front of the hotel. Dinner was excellent, from the canapes to the dessert and breakfast was similarly good - one of the best Eggs Benedict I have ever had.
Staff were great - very friendly, but also quietly efficient.
I think we'll be back!

Just got in after Sunday lunch - never been before but let me just say if I could give 20 STARS ...I would.
What a great place....amazing food and the BEST people.
Old world charm...classy....but very friendly ....and thats so important isn't it?
If you get chance to visit the Peacock - don't pass it up.
You'll be missing something special I can tell ya...

We are long-standing visitors to the restaurant at the Peacock. It has been our favourite local go-to place to have lunch for many years. We were nervous when it got taken over this year, but pleasantly surprised by seeing the tasteful and sympathetic renovation when it re-opened. More importantly we were relieved to see the new management had retained Dan Smith, the outstanding chef whose dishes we love (his fish of the day creations were exquisite).
But, sadly, we were informed he no longer works at the Peacock, and our lunch today with friends disappointed all of us.
The confit duck was tiny, slightly greasy and had no crispy outer skin. The rosti was more like a small (single) croquet potato, and apart from three tiny slivers of apple that was it (£27). Other choices in our group were equally disappointing. Waiters used to bring out different varieties of bread and home-made butter to nibble on while you waited for your meal, but not any more. Gone are the free petit-fours with the coffee too. The menu has increased its amount of standard pub fare such as burgers/fish and chips etc. For us it has lost its unique and special dining experience, both in terms of the menu and the extra little touches (portion size was always on the smaller size, but quality of cooking and a few extra bits meant you could always come away satisfied without the need for three courses).
The staff (although there seems to have been a big turnover) were as lovely and attentive as always but, at the moment, they have no overall chef and it certainly shows.

Peacock Hotel review

We spent two nights at the Peacock in a lovely room high up on the second floor. This was not very sensible from the point of view of the stairs (the second flight is very steep and narrow), but we decided to book the only room that has a walk-in shower – it was apparently put in because they couldn't fit a bath in the space. With my mobility issues, I attempted to minimise the number of times I had to go up and down said stairs. But the room and furnishings are lovely, with Penhaligon toiletries and hand-made chocolates, cute little boxes of tea and fresh (sterilised) milk in bottles. It's also really quiet, even though the hotel is on a main road (there is secondary double glazing on the windows.)

The young lady who checked us in was pleasant and efficient, and made sure our cases were carried up and down. (Thanks Katie.)

The drinks in the bar were excessively expensive; when we came to pay our bill, we found we'd been charged £36 for two gin and tonics! We chose the Chatsworth gin, but even so... I fear the hotel is Having A Laugh where drinks are concerned.

Food was generally excellent; the chocolate fondant was a particular standout. If I have some slight criticisms, I felt that the baby artichokes were rather overwhelmed by the pastry base, and my glass of rosé wasn’t chilled – but then I should have asked for that to be remedied.

There was a good choice on the breakfast menu, including the croissant with smoked salmon, cream cheese and scrambled egg shown below. Service was pleasant and attentive.

More could be made of the history of the hotel – I’m sure other guests as well as myself would be interested.

Booked for Diner,bed and breakfast as a Birthday treat for my wife. The room which was described as a De-Lux room was located at the back of the hotel with a view over outbuildings and a car park. It had a tiny bathroom with no expel air and a heated towel rail that did not work.Disappointing to say the least. The evening meal menu was very limited (4 main courses) but to be fair the food was very good and was backed up by first class service. The "Full English" breakfast consisted of One item ie Sausage,bacon,half a tomato and one mushroom with a small spoonful of scrambled egg. Not what I would call a Full English. With a total spend of nearly £500 we were left feeling very disappointed.

Lovely hotel, fantastic food and super staff.

Fabulous supper. We were not booked in for dinner but the staff were very happy to accommodate us. We sat in the bar area as we had a little dog with us(who felt very welcome). The food was incredible, highly recommend.

The hotel staff were all well trained but friendly and helpful at the same time. Food and wine were excellent and the atmosphere at the Peacock was calm and serene with a comfy feel about the place. Felt very welcoming and the car park was not too far away for all our luggage! Had a lovely stay and all was as it should be and more.

Very comfortable bed and helpful staff. Antique furniture in the room might be nice to look at but it’s not always comfortable to use. Would’ve been nice if there had been a couple of comfortable chairs in the room. Also, having only a small cafetière in the room means that it has to be cleaned out after each use. That includes disposing of coffee grinds. Where do you put them?

My husband and I booked dinner at Peacock at Rowsley to celebrate our wedding anniversary; it was our very first time dining here and it couldn’t have been more special!

Having previously worked at Longbow Venues, we were exited to see some familiar faces; and it truly felt like a warm homecoming.

The evening exceeded all expectations, from the impecable service of Josh and his team to the beautiful setting and exquisite food.

Thank you so much for making our celebration so memorable! 🖤

The peacock at Rowsley was excellent on all levels,clean,lovely location,really enjoyed my stay ,all the staff are so friendly and always smiling.

This place is just beautiful! I love a historic property and this one ticks all the boxes for me. We came for an anniversary lunch and it felt so special. A very pleasant glass of fizz in the garden followed by a lovely lunch indoors. Staff were friendly and helpful and we had a lovely welcome as well as an anniversary card on our table. I just hope I will be able to stay one day!

The room was quiet and cozy making us feel like we were really on vacation. The beds were the comfiest we experienced on our 6-day roadtrip. My only disappointments were that they charged for the paper in the morning but there was no mention of the charge when I ordered it the night before (I guess I'm living in a bygone era in my mind when papers were given freely), and my poached eggs on toast came out on burnt toast and the yolks were almost hard (not at all runny). Otherwise, it was a great stay.

What an amazing hotel! We got a bargain price using Booking.com a day or two before we arrived so I think that's why we got such a good price. This was luxury! BEAUTIFUL room, elegant building, friendly and helpful staff, perfect wifi and ambience. AMAZING breakfast. HIghly recommended.

We've stayed at a number of hotels similar to The Peacock and can say confidently that it is best in class.

Located just outside Bakewell, The Peacock sits comfortably beside the Derwent and has well kept grounds. It's beautifully decorated, spotlessly clean and somebody has excellent taste in period furniture. It fits with the 400 year old fabric and feel of the building.

The welcome is remarkably warm and friendly, which sets the tone. Somehow they have managed to instil that je ne sais quoi with all of the guest-facing staff. That is a huge achievement in hospitality and not easy to either deliver or replicate. Well done team Peacock, it has been noticed and appreciated. Please keep it up. It makes a big difference.

It's certainly worth eating here. The food is, without exception, first rate. A really nice touch was the unexpected amuse bouche with pre-dinner drinks in the bar. Breakfast also was fabulous and shouldn't be missed.

Yes, it is a wee bit pricey. However, that is more than matched by the entire experience.

I should also say that the pink SMEG kettle in the room was an inspired inclusion. It's light years ahead of the usual anonymous article placed as an afterthought in most hotel rooms. Quirky is good!