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Overview:

The hotel’s history began way back in 1788 as a small pub known as the Red Lion on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District.  The current owner Steve Perez used to live there as a child as his father restored the pub back in 1966.  In 2018 Steve bought back the property adding 27 bedrooms and transforming the Red Lion into a luxurious 4 star boutique hotel.

Location:

The Peak Edge Hotel is located in the small village of Stone Edge (pronounced Stanedge).  It’s nestled on the edge of the Peak District National Park and is ideally placed for walking holidays and touring the nearby picturesque towns and villages.  The attractive market town of Chesterfield is just a ten minute drive from the hotel and is definitely worth a visit.

Arrival and check-in:

Getting to the hotel is quite easy as it is just 12 miles from Junction 29 of the M1 motorway.  The Peak Edge is clearly signposted from the Darley Road and benefits from a large car park.  Check-in is from 3.00 p.m. but we were pleasantly surprised to be able to access our room a couple of hours earlier which was a bonus.

The hotel has a large reception hall with cosy seating.  Complimentary mugs of hot chocolate were available on the reception desk, just perfect to warm up on a wintry day.

The Room:

Guest bedrooms are arranged on the ground and first floors.  Our superior room was located upstairs so we took the speedy lift to reach it.  On opening the door, we stepped into a gorgeous room, oozing luxury in a country house style.

The king size Hypnos bed was very comfortable and felt as if we were sleeping on a cloud.  Two armchairs were positioned at the foot of the bed for relaxing and watching television on the large, wall mounted screen.

The dressing table incorporated numerous power sockets and USB points and my husband had plenty of space to set up his laptop to work.  Large windows overlooked the hotel grounds with its pretty stream and with our hospitality tray stocked with high quality teas, coffee and biscuits we had everything necessary for a relaxing stay.

Our room had its own separate dressing area with lots of hanging space, thick fluffy bathrobes, slippers, an iron, board and safe.  Also located there was an in-room fridge in which we found a bottle of fresh milk (replenished daily) and slices of delicious home made fudge to enjoy with our cups of coffee.

Moving into the spacious bathroom, this came equipped with a free standing slipper bath, separate large walk-in rainfall shower, cosy underfloor heating and a useful Bluetooth mirror.

The mirror connected to our mobile devices enabling me to listen to episodes of my favourite radio programme ‘The Archers’ whilst bathing.  Mention must also be given to the hotel’s bath towels which were the most luxurious I’ve yet to encounter.

Dining:

Dinner is served in the hotel’s award winning 2 AA rosette Red Lion Restaurant.  The adjoining cocktail bar is the perfect place to curl up on a winter’s evening in front of its roaring log fires.  The restaurant is attractive too, with its mix of wooden booths, circular tables and window seats.

We were attended to by Chloé who handed us menus and told us about the daily specials.  After much deliberation, I settled on my favourite of pan fried scallops with a crispy bacon and pea purée whilst my husband opted for the Thai fish cakes with an Asian salad.

Both our starters tasted fresh and flavoursome and sipping our glasses of wine from a wide ranging selection to suit all budgets we soaked up the intimate atmosphere.  For mains I chose the rack of iamb which was succulent, served pink and cooked to perfection whilst my husband enthused about his loin of Derbyshire venison served on a bed of winter vegetables.

Having a sweet tooth, I find it almost impossible to resist a dessert and my apple and plum crumble served with vanilla ice cream was winter comfort food at its best.  Across the table, my husband selected Tarte Tatin which he must have enjoyed very much as it had disappeared before I had a chance to sample a spoonful.

Breakfast is also served in the Red Lion restaurant and as it was light we enjoyed views over the terrace and the hotel’s grounds whilst sipping our morning cappuccinos.  We helped ourselves to yoghurt, fruit juice and pastries from the buffet table before ordering hot dishes from the menu.

On the first morning I selected smashed avocado and poached eggs on toast whilst on the second, a selection from the Derbyshire breakfast.  Both of these were cooked perfectly with fresh eggs and produce from the hotel’s own farm, Walton Lodge.

The Facilities: 

The hotel features 27 luxuriously appointed rooms, suites and accessible rooms.  These are located on either the ground or first floor with all of them benefiting from stunning views of the surrounding countryside.  The Red Lion restaurant is a gastronomic delight serving meals throughout the day with non-residents most welcome.

There are several cosy lounge areas to sit and relax and with open fires lit from early morning until late at night it makes a perfect winter retreat.  Peak Edge has a large function suite and is one of Derbyshire’s most popular conference and wedding venues catering for both large and small group sizes.

I managed to glance into the function rooms and they are beautifully appointed for any occasion.  During the summer, drinks and meals be served out on the terrace making it an idyllic place for a cocktail as the sun is setting.  Wi-Fi is fast and reliable throughout the hotel and with numerous e-charging points in the car park, it’s ideal for those with electric vehicles.

Out and About:

Chesterfield

Start with a visit to the charming market town of Chesterfield and admire the Parish church with its famous crooked spire.  During the summer months it’s possible to take a guided tour to the top of this historic landmark.  The town has some beautiful Tudor architecture, good shopping and is a pleasant place to spend a few hours.

Just outside the town centre you will find Northern Tea Merchants, established in 1926 and through the generations the family have sourced the finest tea, coffee and cocoa worldwide.  Today the business supplies more than 3,000 establishments with its high quality products.  As well as selecting some high quality tea and coffee there’s also a lovely cafe where you can enjoy a selection of snacks, lunches or a delicious afternoon tea.

Denby Pottery Village: 

Located in the village of Ripley just a 35 minute drive from the hotel.  Visitors can take part in the Denby Experience with ‘Throw a Pot’ and ‘Paint a Pot’ activities available in the craft studio.

One hour factory tours take place Tuesday-Thursday and there’s also an interesting museum covering the history of Denby Pottery.  Visitors can pop into Bournes’s Coffee Shop and Bistro for a tasty snack or lunch and then browse the extensive factory shop which has a wide range of Denby perfect and second quality tableware.

Thornbridge Brewery

Discover the home of Jaipur IPA on a Thornbrdge Experience in the charming small town of Bakewell.  Afterwards enjoy stone baked pizza and a drink in the atmospheric tap room which is reminiscent of a German beer hall.

Matlock Farm Park

For a great family day out head to Matlock Farm Park located about a 15 minute drive from the hotel.  This family oriented park is an ideal place to visit for a trip out into the countryside and offers an opportunity to get up close to a variety of friendly animals.  There’s an indoor and outdoor adventure playground and an excellent cafe/ restaurant serving snacks and full meals at a reasonable cost.

Golf

Golfers are also well catered for as the hotel can arrange golf breaks with the Stanedge Golf Golf Club located just a five minutes drive along the road.

The beautifully maintained course is suitable for all levels and boasts stunning views of the local countryside.  There’s also a welcoming clubhouse serving delicious home cooked food.

Overall:

January may be a dreary month weather-wise in the U.K. but our stay at the Peak Edge Hotel was a wonderful winter escape with its roaring fires, stylishly appointed rooms and excellent food and service.  Staying there was a perfect rural retreat, high on the Derbyshire moors yet just a short distance from the charming market town of Chesterfield and the surrounding Peak District villages.

Details: Peak Edge Hotel, Darley Road, Stone Edge, Chesterfield S45 OLW

During our stay we were guests of Peak Edge Hotel and as always all views and opinions are entirely my own.

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