The Church Inn, Chelmorton
Refreshing locals and visitors since 1742, The Church Inn sits in the quiet and peaceful village of Chelmorton, which is just a short drive from Buxton. We visited as a family group (5 adults and Arthur in his pushchair) on a busy Bank Holiday Monday, 31st August. The rest of the family had previously dined here, but I’d never been so was particularly keen to try it out.
Parking outside The Church Inn is limited so we parked in the village and had to take a short walk uphill to the pub, but it was worth it…this is a lovely, traditional pub in a picturesque setting. It has a fantastic beer garden/patio area and a warm welcome awaits visitors once inside. Dogs are welcome too but restricted to the beer garden and bar area.
The pub itself is very clean and the tables were well distanced. After what must have been a difficult time during the lockdown, it was an encouraging sign that the pub was so busy. The Church Inn is family-friendly and it was lovely to see families with young children eating together.
A varied menu of ‘pub classics’ is on offer, along with a good selection of ‘specials’ on the board. Our meal choices included; Steak & Kidney Pie, Double Burger with Bacon and Cheese, Pork Medallions in a creamy peppercorn sauce and Beef Braised in Guinness with Stilton Dumplings. To wash it all down there’s a fantastic choice of continental beers, wines and spirits available alongside 5 cask ales, My choice was Moonshine from Abbeydale Brewery, a delightfully hoppy pale ale.
We did have to wait quite a while for our food, but this was understandable as the pub was so busy. It’s also quite reassuring having to wait as you know that your food is being freshly prepared.
The food was AMAZING. The Chruch Inn prides itself on using local produce and this is evident in the flavour of each dish…lovely, tender meat and delicious, fresh seasonal veg. We did have some minor complaints – the mother-in-law said that her pork medallions tasted a little bit dry (but not overcooked), the beef was a bit salty (though I’d say well seasoned) and the carrots a little too ‘al dente’ for some (though perfect in my opinion). I must also mention the REAL, HOME-COOKED CHIPS! These alone made our visit worthwhile.
Even though the portions are very generous, we still had room for dessert, and these were equally as delicious and well presented as our main courses. We enjoyed ourselves so much that the non-drivers rounded things off with a nice liqueur coffee.
Overall, The Church Inn is a lovely place to visit and set in nice surroundings. You’ll receive a warm welcome whilst having the choice to enjoy great-tasting, value for money food that can be washed down with a good selection of well-kept ales.
Review Summary
For more information please visit: http://www.thechurchinn.co.uk/
Looking for a great place to stay in Buxton? The Westminster Hotel is a family-run hotel that enjoys an enviable position overlooking the beautifully landscaped Pavilion Gardens. Just a short walk from the Town Centre, the hotel is perfectly situated for discovering all that Buxton has to offer.
Telephone 01298 23929 or visit https://westminsterhotel.co.uk/ to learn more.
