Set against a backdrop of verdant rolling hills, in the picture-postcard hamlet of Whitehough, is the Old Hall Inn. The pub’s historical features have been beautifully preserved, but the offering is totally up to date. Behind the bar, eight hand pumps boast a regularly changing array of the best local craft beer – a selection that’s repeatedly won the inn the title of Derby CAMRA’s Pub of the Year. Alongside this, there’s fruity cask cider, 40 varieties of gin and an impressive hand-picked wine list. Wine connoisseurs in particular will enjoy the selection on offer, which is chosen through a regular series of wine tasting events. In the kitchen, eight talented chefs give imaginative twists to popular classics. You might sample Moroccan Scotch egg with homemade hummus, or creamy chicken
parfait with pistachio butter, rosemary focaccia and onion marmalade. To follow, choose from delectable seasonal mains like creamy pea risotto with a sprinkling of Parmesan, or perhaps spring lamb with courgette purée and black garlic hash browns.
The pub spills through into an adjoining Elizabethan manor house, and guests planning private parties can enjoy the use of several striking dining rooms or the unforgettable Minstrels Gallery. Visitors can also enjoy a restful night’s sleep in the characterful guest bedrooms, several of which include charming four-poster beds and free-standing baths.