The Artists Loft

Occupying a prime corner site near the River Derwent, this foliage-clad former manor house is an inviting prospect as soon as you lay eyes on it. Inside, oak ‘Mousey Thompson’ furnishings and antique oil paintings are juxtaposed with modern lighting and contemporary art. The menus offer a broad spectrum, from light lunch bites like sandwiches, salads and ploughman’s, to a full dinner tasting menu with wine pairings – plus afternoon tea and Sunday roasts. Stay overnight in one of the antique-furnished bedrooms, then spend the next day exploring the Peak District.

Within the grounds of the Peak District’s renowned Chatsworth Estate sits The Cavendish Hotel – and within that is this elegant restaurant where oil paintings fill the walls and there’s a palpable sense of history in the air. Ingredients from the Estate – including juicy, full-flavoured beef – play a key role in the cooking, in dishes that avoid overcrowding the delicious natural flavours of the produce. The breads and desserts are particular highlights, providing excellent bookends to your meal.