Nowadays children at Cottenham Village College get to go to China, Berlin and Peterborough for their expensive research trips into modern beer production. Back in ’78 it was Ilam Hall or nothing. I remember the highlight was being allowed to stay up to watch the Home International highlights with teachers well beyond 10pm. I presume it’s safe to admit that now.
The Manifold Valley always seemed to have fairly modest pleasures compared to the Dark Peak around Glossop, and the absence of Thor from his cave remains a disappointment.
The walks are as unspectacular as the pubs between Buxton and Ashbourne either side of the A515, which have remained stubbornly out of the Beer Guide over the years. The Quiet Woman at Earl Sterndale and Sycamore at Parwich, for example, are both squeezed out this year, presumably by the arrival of craft and micros up the road. As I never tire of saying, I trust local CAMRA to pick the best beer for the GBG.
There’s two distinct types of pub round here. A very basic and unchanging local, often with limited hours, and a full-on gastropub operation. You can’t assume the better beer and range comes from the former.
Wetton’s Royal Oak is clearly in the former category, though their black pudding sausage is my idea of gastro. I clearly had to pick the Hartington IPA, though as at Lichfield it had a slightly astringent taste I didn’t quite get on with. The pub and its folk music choice was very much to my taste, and no, it’s not too early to have a proper fire blazing away.
Service and seating are old-school, though we can argue about the cushions. Nothing flash here (that’s 12 miles north). Being warmly thanked on the way out after dropping in for a quick half is rare these days too.
At the other end of the scale, and the valley, the Old Dog is one of the smartest places I’ve been in, but at least it wasn’t reserved for diners (No Bookings at all in fact). Some home decoration ideas for Mrs RM here.
The area round the bar was a pubby enough spot to enjoy a very rich Alton Black Hole (NBSS 3.5) that warranted the branch POTY award on beer quality. Tasteful jazz here, if that’s not a contradiction.
QUIZ – WHAT HAS THE DOG LOST RECENTLY ?
The one thing these two were missing on a sunny weekday lunchtime were customers; just a couple of diners in both of them, despite plenty of cars and walkers about.
Use them or lose them, even in the Peaks.
retiredmartin 
We had a wonderful lunch once at the Sycamore in Par. Beautiful day with the sun shining. Seemed a well managed establishment. My idea of what a village pub should be.
LikeLike
Exactly my take. Robinson beer very good.
LikeLike
It’s odd what one remembers. I can still see our simple cheese sandwiches on white bread. Really tasty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quiz: beer mats?
LikeLike
True, but not what I was looking for.
Have you got the Castle Donington one yet. Clue – USSR.
LikeLike
Not yet on Castle Donington. Will use new clue. The cynical part of me wants to say what is missing at the Dog is good taste with the evidently recent remodeling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has lost everything that was on the walls. Not much to look at on those walls
LikeLike
Good point, wrong. It’s lost an animal.
LikeLike
Is that what that sheepskin is all about?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Brilliant. You can have as many points as you want for that. Actually, it used to be the Dog & Partridge. No idea why you’d lose the Partridge, with him being so popular and all.
LikeLike
Stop giving him and Tom all these free points. Make them earn them! Wit is only worth so much.
LikeLike
I’ve got a proper laugh-0-meter I use to award points Dave; it’s all above board.
LikeLike
That’s good enough for me.
LikeLike
I’ll take the points, I need them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Corkes Blonde but what is the third beer?
LikeLike
Storm brewery Beaufort Ale from Macclesfield. Pumpclip at a 45 degree angle !
LikeLike
Where is the Old Dog, btw?
Incidentally, on my legendary Stockport pub crawl last Wednesday with Paul Mudge (with whom I am sometimes confused), he was saying that he’d recently been in the Sycamore and found it strangely deserted on a Sunday lunchtime.
LikeLike
Old Dog is a couple of miles east of Ilam at crossroads for Tissington/Ashbourne. Used to be Dog & Partridge which is probably how it still shows on maps.
Interesting about the Sycamore, not really a dining pub and seemed to be relying on trade from the village store when I was there a few years ago, wen the Unicorn was very good.
LikeLike
I have been in four micro pubs this weekend,all had about four of five real ales on,but i would prefer The Sycamore in Parwich any day over those,a good pint of Robinsons Bitter and in the winter months Old Tom on the bar in a barrel,which went down a treat,not sure if they still do it,but if not it would be a shame.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here.
You can still get Old Tom in plenty of places, more so in winter
LikeLike
Paul Mudge was refused a pint of Old Tom in the Baker’s Vaults in Stockport last Wednesday. Presumably they saw who he was with and thought “oh no, it might kick off at any minute” 😉
LikeLike
If you street view it from Spend Lane, it still has a sign which reads Dog and Partridge.
LikeLike